Want a smooth delivery? It's not about having your husband present! Not about daily exercise! Not about pulling strings! Women—you truly have to rely on yourselves at all times, especially for something as crucial as childbirth. No one can do it better than you!
Today, we're giving expectant moms a powerful tool for natural birth! Learn it now—let's dive into Lamaze breathing!Don't assume breathing doesn't need learning—once you master it, you'll see how vital it is for your delivery!
Why "Lamaze Breathing"?
Introduced to Asia from the US after 1960, this technique immediately gained attention from obstetricians worldwide, including China. Developed by French physician Dr. Lamaze in 1951, it became known as the Lamaze method for its emphasis on breathing during childbirth.
After偶然 encountering the "psychoprophylactic method," Dr. Lamaze further researched and discovered the practical "Lamaze breathing technique" for using breath to distract from and alleviate labor pain.
Begin Lamaze breathing training around the seventh month of pregnancy. Having your husband accompany you enhances effectiveness. Let's first explore its five steps.
Basic Posture
Practice on a blanket laid out on the living room floor or on the bed. Play soothing prenatal music in the room. The expectant mother can sit cross-legged. As the music plays, she should first completely relax her body and fix her gaze on a single point.
The Five Steps of Lamaze Breathing
Typically, expectant mothers begin Lamaze breathing training during the seventh month of pregnancy. Having the husband present during practice yields better results. Let's first explore the five steps involved.
Typically, expectant mothers begin Lamaze breathing training during the seventh month of pregnancy. Having the husband present during practice yields better results. Let's first explore the five steps involved.
Basic Position: Practice on a blanket laid out on the living room floor or on the bed. Play soothing prenatal music in the room. The expectant mother can choose to sit cross-legged. As the music plays, she should first completely relax her body and fix her gaze on a single point.
Stage 1: Chest Breathing Technique
This method is used during the onset of labor, when cervical dilation reaches approximately 3 centimeters. It involves slow, controlled chest breathing.
Expectant mothers may feel uterine contractions occurring every 5 to 20 minutes, each lasting about 30 to 60 seconds. They should learn to take a deep breath through the nose, initiating inhalation and exhalation with each contraction. This pattern is repeated until the pain subsides, at which point normal breathing resumes.
Chest breathing is an effortless and comfortable pain-relief technique. When intense contractions begin or end, expectant mothers can use this method to accurately communicate contraction details to family or medical staff.
Stage Two: Shallow Breathing Technique
The shallow breathing technique is used when the baby is rotating and slowly descending through the birth canal (before 7 cm dilation).As contractions start, use deep chest breathing. Switch to shallow breathing during intense contractions, then resume deep breathing as contractions ease.
When dilation reaches 3–7 cm, contractions become more frequent—occurring every 2–4 minutes and lasting 45–60 seconds each.
First, completely relax your body and fix your gaze on a single point. The expectant mother inhales a small breath through her mouth, maintaining shallow breathing. Ensure the volume of inhaled and exhaled air is equal. Breathe entirely through the mouth, keeping the breath high in the throat, as if making a "hee-hee" sound.
When uterine contractions intensify, accelerate your breathing; conversely, slow it down.Ensure the volume of exhaled air matches that inhaled.
Begin with 20-second sessions, gradually extending until you can sustain a 60-second breathing cycle.
Stage Three: Panting Breathing Technique
When cervical dilation reaches 7–10 cm, contractions occur every 60–90 seconds. This marks the most intense and challenging phase of labor.The baby is about to be born, with each contraction lasting 30–90 seconds.
After exhaling completely, take a deep breath. Then perform 4–6 rapid short exhalations, as if blowing up a balloon—even shallower than the "hee-hee" shallow breathing. Adjust the pace according to the intensity of contractions.
During practice, gradually extend each breathing cycle from 45 seconds to 90 seconds.
Stage Four: Hissing Breathing
As the final phase of the second stage begins, the mother instinctively wants to push the baby out. However, the doctor instructs her not to push to prevent vaginal tearing, instead waiting for the baby to emerge on its own. At this point, the mother can use the hissing breathing technique.
As contractions begin, the mother takes a deep breath, followed by short, forceful puffs—like shallow exhalations of "1, 2, 3, 4"—then expels all remaining air with a powerful, blowing-like effort. She practices rapid, continuous panting until the urge to push subsides, aiming for 90-second intervals during training.
Stage Five: Pushing
With the cervix fully dilated, the midwife will instruct the mother to push when the baby's head is visible. Take a deep breath, hold it, and push immediately.
Tuck the chin slightly forward, lift the head a bit, and forcefully push the air from the lungs down toward the lower abdomen while completely relaxing the pelvic muscles. When needing to breathe, maintain the position, exhale immediately, then take a full breath right away. Continue holding the breath and pushing until the baby is delivered. Once the baby's head has emerged, the mother can use short, quick breaths to ease the pain.
Each practice session should involve sustained effort for at least 60 seconds.
Key Techniques for Lamaze Breathing
Early stage of contraction: Begin with a regular pattern of 4 "hee" breaths followed by 1 "hoo" breath.
As contraction peaks: Shift to approximately 1 "hoo" breath per second.
As the contraction weakens: Return to the 4 "hee" breaths followed by 1 "hoo" breath pattern.
At the end of the contraction: Take one chest breath—inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth.
Expectant moms~ Don't wait until labor to learn this! This breathing technique requires practice! I've started practicing and am slowly getting the hang of it... Yes! That's the feeling. Let me reiterate: Mastering this breathing method is more effective than attending countless prenatal classes or workshops!