Labor Breathing

It is not a coincidence that the neck is called the cervical spine and the lower, narrow portion of the uterus is called the cervix (Latin for neck).  When the throat is open, this opening is reflected in the throat of the uterus, the cervix.

OPEN THROAT, OPEN CERVIX

Cervical Spine = Neck = Throat = Voice

Cervix = Narrow Portion of the Uterus = Dilation = Birth

{Expression of voice and primal sounds relax and soften the cervix and pelvic floor}

As women, our Throat Chakra and Sacral Chakra hold imprints of traumas past and present… How we’re supposed to show up in the world, what people expect of us, our emotions and sexualities often judged and exploited. Let’s return to our power and pleasure, let it ROAR 🦁

When your body is tight, when you’re in fear or your sympathetic nervous system is activated, your voice is short, high pitched, or maybe you get a lump in your throat and are unable to speak.

This tension hinders the normal progression of labor by constricting the space your baby needs to move down and through. It also causes more pain for you as you fight against the flow of birth.

Have your birthing partner or doula notice your voice in labor and remind you to lower your pitch, by humming, ahhhh, ommmm, moooo.

EARLY LABOR

Send oxygen to your baby, preparing them and yourself to meet them earthside.

Relax, promote oxytocin in whatever way feels best for you.. watching a funny movie, cooking, cuddling, having sex, going for a walk..

Breath work:

Calming breath - Inhale to a count of 4, exhale for 6-8

Dirga Pranayama - 3 part breath, like filling up a glass of water, then pouring it out. Starting from the belly, rising to the ribs, then the chest.

ACTIVE LABOR

Activate all your favorite pay measures as needed (combs, essential oils, MOVING, counter pressure, aroma therapy hot packs, warm oil massage, nipple stimulation, orgasm, Quaker listening, tub or shower)

Breath work:

Surge Breath - Count to 20 in your mind rapidly on each inhale and exhale, 3 rounds for a surge (60-90 seconds)

TRANSITION

Breath work:

Down Breathing - imagining the J of the birth canal that your baby with move through, let out sounds of Om, Moo, or Ah as you exhale

Horse Lips - helps to release tension and soften the jaw and pelvic floor

Your breath will lead you to your baby, Mama.

Love,

Keri