Labor and Delivery Abdominal Breathing for Labor and Birth By Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH twitter linkedin Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH is a professor, author, childbirth and postpartum educator, certified doula, and lactation counselor. Learn about our editorial process Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH Updated on May 21, 2019 Print Photo © sarahwolfephotography/Getty Images Whenever you say the words labor or childbirth you will usually imagine a woman huffing and puffing her way through labor. This patterned paced breathing is most commonly ascribed to Lamaze Childbirth Classes. Though this is not typically what is taught in most childbirth classes, including Lamaze classes these days. The breathing that most childbirth classes concentrate on is deep, abdominal breathing. This form of breathing actually promotes relaxation. It also helps supply you and your baby with the most oxygen in labor. This is a very natural form of breathing, so it is not difficult to master. The key is to watch your abdomen rise as you inhale and contract as you exhale. Doing so slowly will ensure good oxygenation of your blood and will begin to relax you without much effort at all. This type of breathing is the most important form of breathing for labor and birth. Cleansing Breath You may also hear people talk about a cleansing breath. This is a deep breath at the beginning or end of a contraction to help center your mind on the work of labor or to release any residual tension. It is also a good way to let those around you know that a contraction has begun or ended. It is simply a deep breath in and out. Sometimes you need to do this more than once to achieve the desired effects. You may also hear this referred to as the greeting or parting breath. You can practice this type of breathing at any point throughout the day. Some women choose to practice with their partners just before bed, learning to add other forms of relaxation with the abdominal breathing. You might also try this at points in your day that you find stressful. Learn to create brief rituals that help you relax. This will serve you well in labor. Once you get the hang of the deep abdominal breathing, you can use it in many instances, not just labor. This is a nearly perfect relaxation took because it works well for almost anything that requires you to calm yourself. This is also a great thing to teach to children. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit