Breathing is something which is an involuntary action. You do not need to pay attention to your breathing as it will happen anyway. When you are pregnant, however it will be more important to pay attention to your breathing.
When you are pregnant, you are breathing to get enough oxygen for you and your baby. As you progress, breathing become snore difficult as your baby grows larger and needs more oxygen, and it will also start to press against the vital organs for breathing. You will also need lots of help breathing for labour.
It is best to start early. Breathe slowly and take deep breaths at least once every day. Doing this for ten to fifteen minutes is a very good practice. As you move forward in your pregnancy, you can work this into your exercise routine.
It is important to practice breathing exercises for labour. In your first stage, your contractions will be far apart, and last for a short while. When you feel a contraction, you must start to take two very long breaths and exhale slowly, and then take long breaths and hold them for a few seconds before exhaling. Finish with two long breaths in and out.
In your second stage of labour, the contraction will become closer together and last for up to one minute. Here you must start with two long breaths in and louder, long breaths out. Then take two deep breaths in and out, and then two faster breaths. Make sure that you breathe out through your mouth as it will help you take in more air when you breathe.
By the time you are in the third phase, your contractions will be very close together, and last for up to two minutes each. Here it is useful to take shorter, faster breaths. After two short breaths, you can pant a little. This will help ease the pain and pressure on you. You can finish with two long breaths when you feel the contraction passing. Panting will also help you when you need to push the baby out.
It is not about doing this when in labour. You must practice this at home even before, since it will help you prepare for it. It is a good idea to do it with your spouse a few times so that he can help you and remind you about it when you are actually in labour. It helps.
