There is no dearth in the pieces of advice moms get to hear or read to reduce the intensity of pain during childbirth. However, when the time to push arrives, all that comes to a mother’s head is to bring the baby out by hook or crook and be done with the agony of birth.
It is common to administer a series of pain relieving drugs and drugs that trigger labor during the labor process. Probably, if the mother wanted a painless birth, things might not turn out as she was expecting.
A debate always gets cornered in the rush of getting the baby out—whether it is okay to breathe the baby out or keep pushing with vigor until they are born.
Before going further, it should be known that either of two approaches may not work for one mother while being the best choice for another. The method of pushing the baby out whether feeling the urge or being guided by your midwife or doctor is already known.
Let’s us understand what breathing the baby out really means.
If the baby would move with every exhale, the birth would be a matter of minutes—certainly a preposterous way to put it.
More or less, breathing the baby out actually means that—your baby can deliver themselves with little pushing. All you have to do is breathe and your uterus will do its job of expelling the baby out of the mother’s body. Most of the times, it is misunderstood or sounds unbelievable, but in certain cases, active pushing can only prolong the labor and leave you in pain.
How Breathing Baby Out Works
Your body is well equipped to carry the process of birth. The pain may make it tough, but you may just have to feel your body work unlike pushing and forcing the baby out.
Here are some steps to help you understand how this really works.
1. Having Patience Is The Key
You must wait for as long you possibly can. The uterus will gradually contract to push the baby out. You will feel the descend and an urge to push. Hold in right there and feel your body doing the work for you. Have patience and give your body some time.
2. Hold On The Urge To Push
There will be a point when your baby will descend down and you will feel a strong and irresistible urge to push. Gather yourself for that moment—don’t go on an automatic mode and start pushing immediately. Your body will signal the right time when the baby would need an extra force to emerge out.
3. Let Out Your Breath
When you are pushing, you tend to clench your fists and press your jaws—such gestures come instinctively. Breathing out avoids that.
And, did you know that you tend to hold your breath while pushing? Breathing the baby out involves taking a deep breath and exhaling out slowly letting out the air in an “Ahh”. You are not breathing hard or pushing out the air, you are breathing slowly and deeply.
4. Exhale Lowering Your Belly
When you breathe out, letting out the air with “Ahhs” you will feel your lower abdomen move downwards. Exhaling this way can contribute to the pushing and help the baby move out. Make sure you breathe out deeply, moving your lower belly downward.
5. Relax Your Face Muscles
Making a face when you are in pushing and in pain happens naturally. However, your face tension has a connection with your pelvic muscles. Relaxing your jaws, face, neck, and shoulders will relax your pelvic area as well. There is no scientific reason behind it. You will probably notice it when you are trying hard to poop.
Benefits Of Breathing The Baby Out
You are only letting your uterus work and not forcing your baby out. Let’s see how that benefits you and ease the process of birth.
Increased Oxygen For Your Baby
Pushing hinders the oxygen supply to your baby the moment you hold your breath once you start pushing. When you are breathing deeply, you aren’t depriving your body of oxygen unlike otherwise where you will be gasping to catch your breath.
Prevents Tearing
Perineum tearing is common when you force push your baby out against the pace of your body. Your body can surely stretch enough to let the baby pass out but it is rather a slow process and waiting for the uterus to do the work all alone is tough. While you breathe your baby out, you let your body take over—when you are on this autopilot mode, the risks of tearing is reduced.
You Save Energy
Oh yes, you do. Pushing can exhaust you in no time. If the baby is not moving at all, it could be discouraging and tiring.
When you learn and feel how your body is working to birth your baby, there will be less of pushing and you will conserve a lot of energy.
Less Stress For The Baby
The pressure that your little one has to endure when being forcefully expelled out of their comfortable space is inexplicable. Instead of pushing if the baby comes out slowly sliding through the birth canal, the stress experienced by them is comparatively lesser.
For moms, who are confused with their bodily sensation that strongly urges them to push as soon as their baby starts descending down slowly, here is what you should know. If you are sitting on the toilet seat and trying hard to poop, you may bruise yourself or feel exhausted or tired in the end. Instead, what you do is let your digestive track work on the stool and push it out gradually.
So wait till your body takes over and you can feel the work is being done. Here is summing up the points to be easy on your body and your baby.
Have patience and wait until the urge to push becomes irresistible. Exhale deeply and release your breath in “Aahs”. Feel your belly lowering when breathing out. Avoid stressing your face, neck, or shoulders it will strain your pelvic muscles. Staying calm and understanding how your body is working will lead you through an easier labor and a less painful birth.
