For over 60 years, Lamaze has evolved as an educational approach and practice to equip families to experience all things relevant to anticipating birth and becoming parents. The tag line of the Lamaze mission statement — “We are more than just breathing” — persists; but let’s take care to not overshadow this most essential place to begin. During my childbirth classes, as I help expectant parents prepare with relevant information and techniques to navigate the birth process to be as positive as possible, I begin the breathwork practice section with a simple question: Why do we breathe?

At times there is a moment of silence, and someone sheepishly speaks up with the simple response, almost as a question, “To live?” I reply emphatically, “Yes!” Breathing brings in much-needed oxygen not only for the one giving birth but the baby as well. Replenishing the bloodstream with much-needed oxygen as the birth process progresses is vital to two things:

1. Energizing the body to keep going, and

2. Ensuring the muscles have the opportunity to relax.

This tandem result allows essential hormones to circulate throughout the body and back and forth from the brain to empower the nervous system to keep calm and carry on. More specifically, during the effort of a vaginal birth, when we breathe in, our pelvic floor muscles expand and open. As we breathe out, our pelvic floor muscles relax and release. This is vital action to give the pelvis, as a structure, the space needed to welcome baby deep within to help labor progress. And with progressive fetal descent, dilation and effacement can progress as well.

This multi-faceted effect so awesomely begins with a breath. There are times when vaginal births are not the safest option for babies to meet the world, and a cesarean birth is warranted. Whether this birth moment occurs as a planned event or unplanned scenario, I instruct parents to remember they always have their breath. The birth process as a whole can feel overwhelming and intimidating. People doubt they will have control over anything. This is exactly why Lamaze as an educational entity was started. The reality that no matter what feels out of one’s control, remembering to breathe is the No. 1 factor to focus on.

This past spring, I received a note from a former class attendee with a beautiful story that summarizes this epic point. Her birth process began as a vaginal effort, but things quickly turned serious with baby’s heart rate showing grave distress. She was rushed into the OR for an emergency C-section. The surgery team was preparing to use general anesthesia for the birth. She admitted she was so scared and felt like she had no control over what was happening. But in a stream of consciousness, she could hear my voice from class telling her to “remember to breathe”. She started focusing on each breath, in and out, and told me that a very palpable peace and calm came over her as she went under general anesthesia. Later in the recovery room, when she began to stir and come-to, she reported still feeling that serene sense of mind and was more easily able to meet and cuddle her little one. She attributed her successful transition into and out of surgery because her breathwork kept her oxygenated to help her more aptly ease out of her medicated haze and be present with her baby. She noted her sense of calm continued and, despite the sudden and scary twist of events, she recall months later meeting her baby in a positive way. For this valuable reason, this is why one of the most important purposes of our role as childbirth educators begins (and dare I say ends) with the fundamental principle “remember to breathe”.

References

The Lamaze Podcast: Breathing During Labor

The Lamaze Podcast: Pelvic Health

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