The Best Breathing Exercises While in Labor

Have you noticed that all hospital bedsides have oxygen tanks beside them? It’s hospital protocol to always have the patient prepare an oxygen cannula or mask. Why is this so? It’s simply because the fastest and easiest way to start relieving pain is to provide oxygen. For mothers who opt to give birth at home or at the birthing center, you can do away with the irritating cannula if you know how to do proper deep breathing. 

Here’s a little bit of medical information. When we breathe deeply, a surge of oxygen enters our body. It buffers acid wastes and toxins in our body and also pushes fluid out of our tissues. This results to better oxygen-nutrient exchange. Usually, though, when one feels pain, we breathe shallowly. It doesn’t help. Breathing deeply relaxes our muscles and reduces the stress. This is very helpful for mothers who are experiencing excruciating contractions in short intervals. 

For mothers in labor, deep breathing lessens the pain and makes them more relaxed. Aside from these, it also provides self-control and increases their strength and energy which they need during the second stage of labor where they push the baby out. 

Inhale while thinking of the syllable “re” and exhale while you think “lax”. This breathing technique reduces the tension in the muscles when one is stressed. Next is counted breathing where you count to four as you breathe in and do the same when you breathe out. Lastly, you can do pursed lip breathing. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth with your lips pursed. 

It’s better to practice doing these breathing exercises while you’re still expecting. It would be easier for you to apply them the moment actual labor begins. If you’re planning to give birth at home or at a birthing center, you can always have someone to coach you. The Spartanburg midwifery team is more than willing to teach you proper breathing techniques. Being ready for labor makes everything better. Remember that it also prevents complications from happening. If done right, you wouldn’t need to give birth in the hospital and you can have the natural childbirth that you’ve been aiming for.

Keep Calm and Breathe through the Pain

Breathe in; breathe out. A new life is about to be welcomed into the world. Before you can hold your baby in your arms, there are still a lot of challenges you have to go through, but we know that it’s all worth it in the end. The most pressing and perhaps the most daunting aspect of child birth is the labor a mother has to go through. After all, it’s not called labor for nothing.

It is a well-known fact that pain is synonymous with childbirth, but it’s not something to fear, especially when you’ve come prepared and ready for the hours of labor to come. The first thing to keep in mind when you’re going through labor, especially if you are a first-time mother-to-be, is to relax. Next is to find an environment that’s soothing and comfortable for you during this time, while at the same time securing a team of capable experts that you can trust.

It is also true that some mothers are actually wary about giving birth in a hospital because it’s not a comfortable place where they feel safe and secure. This is why more and more expecting mothers and couples opt for the option like the Spartanburg Birth Center where they know they are both in good hands of professionals while remaining in a place that feels like home.

Giving birth is no easy task and managing the pain that comes with it can get exhausting, but don’t keep it all to yourself. Talking to someone you trust and rely on can help you calm your fears. Practice your rhythmic breathing and focus on something that makes you happy during contractions, this can take your mind off the pain.

Just relax, breathe, and surround yourself with people you trust. Before you know it, you’ll be cradling that bundle of joy you’ve been expecting for 9 months.

When Spartanburg midwifery specialists make childbirth comfortable

Every mother wants the arrival of their newborn to be without hassle. Even your mom’s stories about how they gave birth to you can pale in comparison to what you or someone you know will experience when in labor. However, medical trends are shifting from delivering at hospitals with help from gynecologists to smaller healthcare centers in the hands of people like Spartanburg midwifery professionals. There are a number of reasons to enlist the services of a midwife.

 

Devotion, Dedication

Midwives are trained to look after mothers with low risk of miscarriage; as such, they are tasked with spending a lot of time addressing your needs during and after the pregnancy. They are willing to answer important questions and give you and your partner enough space to take stock of the answers and arrive at a decision. In many cases, the father should also be present as midwives will also guide them on vital points.

 

Woman’s Intuition

A woman’s natural tendency is to feel safe around fellow women – and a mother-midwife relationship is no different. Their presence may calm the mother during critical stages of the pregnancy; it can be a bonus if the midwife is also a mother. A team of midwives you entrust with your welfare at a credible Spartanburg birth center can pull together to ensure your pregnancy is stable, like a doting set of elder sisters. Motherhood is an exciting time to prepare for. Your preferred midwife will help you through the process.

Have a Spartanburg Birth Center Help with Your Natural Childbirth

Giving birth to your child is a special occasion. For many women, this is usually done in hospitals with the assistance of doctors and medication. Admittedly, labor and the birth itself can be a painful experience. However, quite a few pregnant moms have eschewed anesthesia and decided to go for natural childbirth.

The Benefits

Deciding to undergo natural childbirth may seem foolhardy in this day and age, but doing so has several hidden benefits. First, without an epidural dulling the pain, labor is shorter. This is because the contractions help indicate the best times to push. Second, there is less chance of the need for medical intervention. Modern anesthesia disrupts the flow of labor and can necessitate the need for a C-section or similar methods.

Third, babies are born more alert; this is because the epidural that is often given to mothers is passed on to their children during labor. With more aware babies, breastfeeding can start earlier. Fourth, women can recover quicker. Anesthesia can put new mothers under a haze, while the natural endorphins produced by childbirth help calm them down and relieve pain naturally.

 

Preparing for It

For women who want to have a natural birth, there needs to be a bit of preparation. First, a birth plan is needed to ensure it goes smoothly. The plan should answer where you want to give birth and who will be attending you, whether it is a midwife or a doctor. An excellent example of a place to have your natural birth is the comfortable Spartanburg birth center, Labors of Love. Staffed with experienced midwives, it is a fine choice.

Secondly, a mother should prepare themselves for the birth emotionally, physically, and mentally. This is done by consulting midwives and reading about natural birth. Additionally, there are Lamaze classes that help ready women for the experience.

Be Natural

For South Carolina residents seeking assistance with their natural childbirth, the experienced Spartanburg midwifery of the staff at Labors of Love can help make things easier. So do not hesitate in choosing nature’s option.

What a Natural Childbirth at Spartanburg Birth Center Means to Mothers

Some mothers-to-be can’t help feeling fear over the thought of giving birth, and how childbirth is portrayed in pop culture has not exactly helped alleviate the fear of these moms-to-be. Parents have an option to give birth at a hospital setting. A natural childbirth at a Spartanburg birth center is also an option, and here are the advantages these moms-to-be can expect.

Freedom of Movement

Unlike hospital settings where the moms-to-be are asked to lie on their backs in hospital beds, natural childbirth allows them to move as freely as they choose to. This way, these would-be parents can use gravity to their advantage. Of course, an experienced midwife will still be there to assist these individuals and get whatever they need.

All-out Involvement

Giving birth in Spartanburg hospitals allow pregnant women to choose medications so they can manage the pain associated with childbirth. However, such medicines limit their senses and make them feel groggy to the point that they are unclear on what is happening to them. With natural childbirth at a Greenville birth center, moms-to-be have an opportunity to be involved 100 percent in the process, making them empowered.

Quick Recovery Time

With medications like epidurals, moms-to-be take time to fully recover and get back to their old self at which time they miss out on special moments. With natural childbirth with a midwife’s help, these moms are quick to bounce back; some can even take a walk right after giving birth if they so please. For this reason, these women who just gave birth can get right on with spending time with their precious babies and maybe even take a selfie or two for their social network accounts. After all, giving birth is a life-changing event.

Labor is not exactly a walk in the park, but it should not be such a struggle either. While hospital settings give moms plenty of options when it comes to medications, the potent effects can result in mothers not fully experiencing what labor is like. For this reason, natural childbirth is a good and equally safe alternative, but it affords priceless benefits.

Spartanburg Birth Center to Alleviate Strain on U.S. Healthcare System

For Mothers who’ve been undergoing a decent, healthy pregnancy, a hospital birth isn’t really an option if the child could be delivered within the familiar comforts of the home and the community. Couples feel a greater sense of camaraderie, friendship and community joy, and are entirely free to choose when and who could see and hold the baby in their arms, as opposed to most hospitals with their uptight restrictions.

If you’re an expectant mom wanting a home birthing within your community in Spartanburg, a birth center is your best bet. Specialized birthing centers are designed to exhibit the authentic feeling of giving birth within the familiar surroundings of home, while not compromising health care quality for both mother and child. Picking the most reputable center in your area wouldn’t be easy, but still can be done by taking note of several important details.

 

Factors to Consider in Choosing a Birth Center

Before choosing a birth center, always ask questions. Confirm if the birth attendants working with the center are licensed health care providers (i.e. physicians, nurse-midwife, and licensed midwife). Of course, you wouldn’t like being tended to by an inexperienced, unlicensed attendant when bringing the baby about.

 If possible, ask the center if they are duly accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers. A licensed Spartanburg midwifery and birthing center is likely to have top-notch facilities, health care practices, and customer recommendations. Aside from the basic health care facilities, they are recognized for their adequate safety amenities like fire hazards, smoke alarms, and emergency exits/plans. This way, your safety is assured in case something suddenly goes awry.

 

 As soon as the basic concerns are met, the expectant couple should be allowed an orientation and tour of the entire center. Take note of the facility’s cleanliness, organization, health care specifications, and if the staff are both professional and friendly. Once the final expectations are fulfilled, it’s time to get down to business and plan for the big day.

What to Expect When You're Expecting... to Give Birth in a Birth Center

Despite all its known advantages, there would still be moms or couples that couldn’t bear the prospect of giving birth in a hospital. Sometimes, it would even be looked at as a place reserved for sick people, which can ruin the mood of the momentous occasion of childbirth. However, delivering a baby at home may not be so appealing either; the lack of professional health care can lead to increased risks.

So, where do picky moms go from here? The answer is simple: a birth center. Cozier and more relaxed than a hospital setting but not lacking adequate health care facilities, the birth center is a great choice for expectant mothers who have undergone fairly healthy pregnancies.

What to Expect From a Birth Center-Based Childbirth

For hopeful couples living in bustling cities like Spartanburg, a birth center is their best bet if they’re looking for an “in-between” child delivery. Designed to be less restrictive and cheaper than hospitals, birth centers do not compromise healthcare quality. Licensed physicians, midwives and/or nurses are all available to tend to Mommy and baby at a moment’s notice.

Generally, only women with low-risk pregnancies are admitted into a birth center in cities like Spartanburg, with midwifery a readily-accessible healthcare option (if a physician or nurse isn’t available). Healthy pregnancies often result in smooth childbirth, and if such an event occurs, the family is allowed to go home shortly–maybe even a few hours–after delivery. They can stay longer, too, if they would like to rest for a bit.

Immediate medical assistance is available if needed, but only for minor concerns. After all, while birth centers can offer a choice of transfer to a hospital, they’re mainly about happy, smooth deliveries, not to mention sending the family home to be with each other from day one. In the end, minimal birthing complications and a happier day is what everyone aims for, right?