Today we’re going to learn about listening to how a woman breaths in labour.
Since we can’t practise labour, we have to go through a series of simple experiences instead, sort of like exercises.
Since all humans are essentially the same, we can easily learn from the same experiences.
So in these three exercises or experiences, you will breathe in your nose and out your mouth, in the first two experiences you will create, so listen to the positive breathing patterns.
In the last experience you’ll create, so listen to a stress breathing pattern, this is the one that women use when they’re not coping well in a contraction, usually the facial expressions will change first and then the breathing.
Are you ready now, we’re going to do experience one, take a deep breath in your nose and slowly and relatively quietly blow out your mouth, keep your forehead relaxed, now Dad’s if she has a relaxed forehead and is breathing in this way you can feel pretty relaxed that she’s feeling in charge of the contraction. So experience two, take a deep breath in your nose again and exhale with a slack jaw and make a deep sighing sound.
This type of breathing also indicates the woman is coping with a contraction, in fact either one of these two types of breathing are the positive breathing patterns to use particularly during intense contractions.
Either one provides a great way to focus your breath, which is great coping skill.
We all know childbirth can increasingly hurt as dilation progresses, so Dad’s she might love you to breath with her at certain phases of or throughout the whole contraction, she may shut her eyes or she may want to look deeply into yours.
Now for the third experience, wrinkle up your forehead a wee bit, still breathing in your nose and exhale out your mouth.
Don’t make it sound relaxing but don’t go over the top, if you’re over the top no one helps you soon enough.
So now listen to the differences between experiences one and two and experience three, even though the woman in all three experiences is breathing in her nose and out her mouth, you should be able to hear the difference between whether she’s coping or having some difficulty and needs your teamwork skills.
Childbirth is called labour because it’s hard work, a woman doesn’t need to work alone, as you get better at seeing and hearing how the birthing woman is responding to each contraction, then you will have answered your own question, I know when she needs my help.