Labour isn’t about getting through your contractions with a clenched jaw and gritted teeth, in fact it should be the complete opposite. It’s about working with those amazing contractions, not against them.
One of the best ways to do that is by learning to RELAX.
That might sound strange, especially when your body is doing something so powerful and intense. It’s natural to want to tense up but that tension can actually make things way harder. When your body is tight, it creates resistance, which often means more pain. Relaxing helps your body do what it’s designed to do.
Why Relaxing During Contractions Really Helps:
Here’s just a few reasons why –
- Less pain – When you tense up, your body works against the contractions. Relaxing helps things flow more smoothly and can ease the pain.
- Better breathing – Staying calm helps you breathe deeply, which gives more oxygen to both you and baby.
- Helpful hormones – Relaxation encourages the good hormones (like oxytocin and endorphins) that support labour and reduce pain.
- More energy – If you’re not clenching or fighting each contraction, you save your strength for when you really need it.
- Feeling more in control – Relaxation helps you focus, stay grounded, and work with your body, not against it.
When you’re relaxed, your uterus is free to do what it’s designed to do. Your muscles work more efficiently, the cervix can soften, thin and open, maintain a good blood flow and the whole process can feel more manageable.
But here’s the thing, relaxing on cue isn’t something we’re inherently good at. It’s actually very hard to do, it’s a skill. And like any skill, it requires practice.
That’s exactly why I focus on teaching real, tangible relaxation techniques in my Hypnobirthing Courses.
These are practical, portable, tried-and-tested tools that help you actually feel in control during each contraction.
Practise Now, Relax Later
Incorporating these techniques into your routine during pregnancy is crucial. Which is why we suggest Hypnobirthing from 20 weeks, so you have lots of time to practise. The more you practise, the more natural they feel in your body. By the time labour begins, you won’t need to think about what to do, your body will know.
Regular practice helps you stay familiar with what relaxation actually feels like in your muscles, your breathing, and your mind. It means you’re not starting from scratch when things get intense. You’re building trust in your body’s ability to soften, release, and relax.
It also gives you the chance to notice what works best for you. Maybe it’s a certain breathing rhythm, a calming visual, or a affirmation that brings you back to centre. Pregnancy is the time to explore and settle into these tools.
The incredible ladies I have had the pleasure to support, often tell me that when labour started, they felt a sense of “I know what to do here.” That confidence doesn’t come out of nowhere, it’s built in the quiet moments beforehand.
Relaxation in labour is about creating the conditions under which your body can perform optimally. Learning to relax properly can transform your experience into one where you feel empowered and in control.
If you’re curious about how to master this essential skill, my courses offer guidance and support. You’ll learn not just to survive contractions, but to view them differently, work with them, which allows for your labour experience to be as positive and manageable as it can be.
A lovely recent review from someone who joined the last My Bump & Chill Pregnancy Relaxation Course.
“Had a really pleasant experience at these thoughtfully planned sessions with Lindsey and the group of lovely expectant mums. It was a really relaxed paced course with excellent guided meditative aspects, time for questions and resources to take away. This course put me at ease, provided some dedicated ‘me’ time to focus on chilling and learning to really practice effective breathing. Would highly recommend to any expectant mum if hypnobirthing is something of interest to them. Thank you, Lindsey”
Interested in learning more? Explore my upcoming courses, events and workshops where you can learn these essential relaxation techniques first-hand.
Empower yourself for labour and birth with tools that truly make a difference. Explore courses and sign up here