The Power of Breath
I talk A LOT about proper breathing during pregnancy and postpartum (and honestly for EVERY human) Did you know on average you breathe 25,000 times a day?!
Many of you may think I’m crazy but if you have not tried it yet, I double dog dare you to try it today k?
Some reasons you SHOULD be implementing proper breathing through your diaphragm during pregnancy as it brings:
- Balance to your core (remember your core is your main stabilizer!)
- Core strength 10x
- Proper Digestion
- Parasympathetic state- your natural calm state
- Supports Pelvic Floor Health
- Reduces/Eliminates Diastasis Recti
- Reduces/Eliminates Umbilical hernias
All of these ‘things’ can be achieved by simply breathing.
Breathing can also shift your sensation of PAIN. Think of what that could do for you while you are in labor. Natural pain meds?! Hook me up right?!
During labor, if you are unaware of how to connect to your diaphragm the stress on your body will increase. When you are stressed, your baby is stressed, we don’t want EITHER of you to have added stress, you have enough to worry about during the labor process.
So lets break down a few things:
Parasympathetic Nervous System(PNS):
Breathing properly through your diaphragm brings your body back to its parasympathetic state. Diaphragmatic breathing benefits include:
- slowing the heart rate,
- lowering blood pressure &
- proper digestion.
The opposite of (PNS) is the sympathetic nervous system, your fight or flight mode. When this is active your heart rate increases, blood pressure goes up and your digestion is at a stand still. This means your nervous system takes place so that certain bodily functions can take place without conscious thought; such as breathing.
When you breathe through your chest your body and central nervous system is unconsciously in that state of sympathetic nervous system meaning your body is in a taxed state. During labor and birth one must stay in a calm relaxed state so that your body can go through the functions it was designed to do in order to birth you baby.
When a birthing momma is in a heightened state it can lead to more stress. It can also lead to stalled labors which may or may not lead to unwanted interventions. (Obviously all cases are so different and sometimes things are beyond our control)
Pelvic Floor & Breath:
When breathing properly, (please read this post for visuals) your pelvic floor draws up and then relaxes, or should I say in a perfect breathing human. STRESS will, believe it or not cause the pelvic floor to tighten or become too lax. When you are preparing to push out your baby the last thing you want is for your pelvic floor engagement to be tight. The baby will have a harder time passing through which could lead to interventions such as forceps or tearing. Practicing breathing exercises to relax your pelvic floor for this is essential in your third trimester!
Reducing Diastais Recti & Hernia
A key piece to solving/healing diastasis recti, an umbilical hernia and/or pelvic floor dysfunction is through proper breathing mechanics. Diastais Recti is a result of too much pressure in the wrong places. Pressure can come from inaccurate breathing, poor posture or stomach tension.
Therefore one of the first things a woman should do when pregnant or postpartum, is learn proper breathing mechanics!
In Conclusion:
Understanding proper breathing techniques takes patience & practice, yet when achieved your bodily systems will be go back to their proper alignment which will leave you feeling better than ever before.
Breathing through your diaphragm (or not) has a direct correlation on:
- Ease of labor & birth
- Pain in your body
- Stress
- Pelvic floor health and
- Diastasis Recti
Leave a Reply