24/09/2025
โจBreathe your way into birthโจ
Did you know that an extended exhale isnโt just calming, itโs backed by evidence?
Research shows that lengthening your out-breath activates the parasympathetic nervous system, the โrest, digest and feed and breedโ state.
โจ And this matters because birth unfolds best when your body feels safe, calm and supported.
โจ Itโs a simple tool, but in labour it can help reduce tension, ease intensity and create the conditions for your uterus to do its amazing work.
๐ก This technique works beautifully in early labour, when you still have the cognitive control to use breathing strategies consciously.
As you move into the intensity of active labour, your body and birth hormones will take over and thatโs exactly how itโs meant to be. At that point you may not be able to think about your breath, but the groundwork youโve laid earlier still supports you.
So next time you practise your breathing, try:
โก๏ธ Inhale gently through your nose
โก๏ธ Exhale slowly and fully (longer than your inhale)
โก๏ธ Feel your body soften with each breath out
Your breath is always with you and in labour, it can become one of your most powerful allies. ๐
