Perhaps an odd question...

[meemee]

With my daughter I had gas and air during labour which I found amazing, not so much for the way it kind of blanks you out but more for the way it controlled my breathing. Seeing as I'm having a home birth this time around the midwife can't bring the gas with her...
What I'm wondering is if there's anything to replicate the controlled breathing? Because I'm finding it hard to do it by myself even with just my cervical pains that I get now and again
I'm planning to use essential oils and I was thinking that I could center my breathing around breathing in the oils but I'd really love to know if anyone has any other ideas or advice?
Thanks!

 

[booflebump]

Have you looked in to hypnobirthing or pregnancy yoga? They both focus on breathing techniques

xxx

 

[bunda]

Why can't the midwife bring any gas and air with her? My midwife has said midwives arrive with a canister and can order more from the hospital if they need it.

Have you double-checked with your midwife about the rules? I see you're in New Zealand so the rules may be different from UK.

 

[MindUtopia]

I'd definitely recommend something like hypnobirthing. I've started doing hypnotherapy already during pregnancy and found it's really great for keeping me relaxed and centered.

 

[LolaAnn]

Hey I'm moving back from UK to NZ - Do they not bring gas and air? Bummer... I was hoping I would get to use it again haha!

 

[meemee]

Thanks for the replies I am doing hypnobirthing but the breathing is quite difficult because I'm much more of a mouth breather than a nose breather which is making it a little harder than I first thought which is why I was wanting a back up
Do you think maybe co-breathing with DH would help so that he can help control it with me?
LolaAnn - Yeah I thought that they could but apparently they have to hire it out (which I'd have to pay for) and it's very rarely done which is a bummer! And my midwife thinks that I'll have such a quick labour that I wouldn't end up having time to use it anyway - last labour was 3 hours

 

[tinytabby]

I hope this doesn't sound too silly, but what about blowing up balloons or playing on a recorder or singing songs to control your breathing? Lots of the hypno techniques are based around visualising these things, I don't see why you couldn't do it with the actual things.

 

[meemee]

Thanks Tinytabby, that's exactly what I'm looking for! The recorder thing might be perfect, I'd just cover up the part that makes the noise (could imagine that driving me and everybody else up the wall, especially as the contractions get closer together )
I'm open to all other suggestions like that!

 

[Sam Pearson]

I've always found controlled breathing difficult when I've tried to do yoga techniques. I'd reckon that's the kind of thing that gets better with practice? Watch out not to go too hard with essential oils. I did use Clary Sage for the labour pains and they worked a treat but I was careful to wash it off before bub arrived so she wouldn'yt be blasted by a strong smell and so we could properly smell each other.

 

[tinytabby]

Glad I could help. I'm now thinking of getting some party blowers for my labour!