So you skimped on Lamaze, thinking all that learning-how-to-breathe stuff was bull — but now you're starting to wonder, what if I was wrong? Don't worry, Britney, you can still manage without all the classes. Basically, it's about coordinating breathing with certain types of movement — the same principles as yoga, which, if you took those prenatal classes, means you're more than ready. The slow, deep breaths, where you take about two or three times longer to exhale as you do to inhale, cause a reduction in cortisol and adrenaline, improving the way you respond to pain and making your muscles work more efficiently. It also helps you understand the reflexes at work: You can't take a deep breath and contract at the same time, so the breathing forces you to relax the muscles so you can then bear down. You can try this at home, with either a Lamaze or yoga DVD to prep; consider it your "rehearsal." And since you're on a spiritual kick, try to imagine you are "singing a soothing lullaby as you cross a calm, shallow river," says Walter Makichen, author of "Spirit Babies: How to Communicate With the Child You're Meant to Have," to create a peaceful transition for the baby into its new world. It'll also make labor easier, which is always bonus.
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