Hug Your Baby – Abdominal Breathing

When you breathe out you release stress hormones from your lungs and make space to breathe in more fully. Use abdominal breathing to release stress hormones, feel more relaxed, calm and in control of your mood and energy.

To breathe in this way, focus on the next two or three breaths. If you start to feel dizzy or uncomfortable in any way then stop breathing deeply; return to your ordinary breathing.

Abdominal Breathing

• Focus on breathing out

• When you breathe out, breathe out s l o w l y

• Empty your lungs completely

• Imagine your lungs like paper bags: squeeze them to release air and stress hormones

• As you breathe out, bring your belly button in towards your spine

• Give your baby a big hug while you breathe out

• Wait for your in breath

• Feel your belly expand upward: belly, abdomen, chest

• Repeat

This is good for you and your baby. You both benefit from more oxygen in your system. In fact, many pregnant women report feeling their babies move in response to abdominal breathing. Of course there is less space with your baby inside. Each breath out is a hug for your baby. Enjoy feeling close to your baby during Abdominal Breathing.