Why does Abdominal Breathing work?
Because of its slow nature, abdominal breathing is calming and reassuring. A mother who feels “helpless” may begin to feel that she has the power to respond to contractions when she can control her breathing, reducing the fear in labor. Abdominal breathing has the added value of increasing the oxygen the mother gets with each breath. Increased oxygen can improve her energy level and help her muscles to work effectively.
