Breathing? Easy...!?!
Breathing. You do it all day, every day, without giving it much thought.
But how you breathe can actually change what's happening inside your body, which is one of the reasons I talk about it so much in Hypnobirthing.
And no, it's not hippy. There's proper science behind it.
What happens when we're stressed?
When your brain thinks something might be wrong, your fight-or-flight response can kick in. Your heart beats faster, your muscles tense and your breathing often becomes quicker and shallower.
Very useful if you're actually in danger. Less useful when you're lying awake at 2am worrying about tomorrow's appointment.
The clever thing about breathing is that although your body does it automatically, you can also deliberately change it.
Slowing your breathing, particularly your out-breath, can help move your body towards the calmer rest-and-digest side of your nervous system. Your heart rate can slow, your body can soften and everything can start to feel a little less intense.
It won't magically remove whatever is worrying you, but it can help turn the volume down.
And that's why we use breathing in Hypnobirthing
If you're frightened or overwhelmed during labour, your body can respond in exactly the same way. Your breathing gets faster, your shoulders tense, your jaw clenches and suddenly your nervous system is shouting WE HAVE A SITUATION.
Having a breathing technique you've already practised gives you something simple and familiar to come back to.
Slow your breathing. Drop your shoulders. Unclench your jaw. Give your body a chance to settle.
It's not about breathing your baby out or promising you a pain-free birth. It's simply a practical tool that can help you feel calmer and more in control.
And you don't have to save it for labour. Use it before an appointment, when you can't sleep, when you're overwhelmed, or when everyone in your house apparently needs you at exactly the same time.
Want to try it my way?
I've created a free Relaxing Breath guide which talks you through the breathing technique I teach my Hypnobirthing clients.
You can use it during pregnancy, in labour, before an appointment or whenever life feels a bit too much.
Breathing isn't magic and it isn't a cure for stress or anxiety. But it is a simple way of working with your nervous system, and it's a tool you already have with you wherever you go.
It's not hippy. It's science... and so much more.
Sophie x