Deep breathing

One of the things that often helped me through a good part of the contractions was deep breathing. I didn't have any special method or anything, I just started focusing on my breathing in and out and that helped me to stop fighting the contractions.

This last labor was an interesting experience for me with deep breathing. I was so exhausted and I would find myself feeling out of control. Then I would remember to stop close my eyes and breathe. I become aware of the fact that if I would just do this, I would feel much more in control and my contractions became much more bearable.

It is interesting to me how sometimes just stopping what we are doing and focusing ourselves is a great liberator in times of stress. I think this can take many forms. In labor I used deep breathing, but throughout my life I have used many other ways. I have prayed, I have given myself time outs:) The other day I had children screaming around me and I was going crazy with sleep deprivation. I just left the room for a little bit and did my deep breathing. It was amazing how much of a difference this made.

During labor, stress can push us to the edge. We find the same within our own lives as mothers. So I would encourage us all to just step back and breathe.