A number of these postures are ideal to consider using during the birth for comfort and to relieve back pain, and for massage by your birth support.

The Yoga Breathing (pranayama)
The yoga breathing techniques are in many ways the most important aspect of yoga to have knowledge of during pregnancy and in preparation for birth, as they provide you with an inbuilt support system that is constantly with you, every moment of your life. With a better understanding of how to breathe and the potential within the breath, you have the best foundation from which to base all other birthing skills. The yoga breathing naturally move you towards the initial stages of deep relaxation and the breath in its most simple form is the foundation of all meditations, and the most potent. Whatever circumstances present during birth, the yoga breathing exercises give you the means from within yourself to focus more easily and to move through the birthing process with a clear and centred mind. When you have a firm understanding of the breath you can more effectively influence the way the prana, or energy in the breath, moves through the body and realise the mental and physical strength it gives you. These traditional practices have assisted thousands of women during their birth experiences, helping them to trust more in themselves and move through the various stages of birth with confidence, especially when used together with positive states of conscious awareness.