Pregnancy is a beautiful journey, one filled with excitement, joy, and a fair share of new experiences. As you prepare to welcome your little one, it’s easy to get caught up in the to-do lists and planning. But here’s something truly important: making time for relaxation.
... but what do we mean by relaxation
Relaxation is a state of physical and mental ease where tension, stress, and anxiety are reduced or eliminated. It involves calming the body and mind, allowing muscles to loosen, breathing to slow, and thoughts to settle. Relaxation can be achieved through various techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, mindfulness, progressive muscle relaxation, or engaging in activities that bring comfort and joy.
Physiologically, relaxation helps lower heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and promote the release of feel-good hormones like endorphins. Mentally, it fosters clarity, emotional balance, and resilience against stress.
In contexts like pregnancy and childbirth, relaxation plays a vital role in easing discomfort, promoting smooth labour progression, and enhancing overall well-being.
Taking moments to unwind isn’t just about feeling good in the moment; it has incredible benefits for both you and your baby, let’s explore why it matters!
Why Relaxation Matters for You and Your Baby
Relaxation isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. When you take time to unwind, your body and mind reap amazing benefits. Don't just take my word for it, see what our local health boards have to say:
✨ Emotional Well-being – Practicing relaxation techniques can lower stress and anxiety levels, helping you feel more at ease as you prepare for birth. Research from NHS Lothian shows that relaxation can improve mental health and emotional resilience.
✨ Physical Health – Regular relaxation has been linked to lower blood pressure, improved glucose tolerance, and overall better physical well-being during pregnancy (NHS Lanarkshire).
✨ Healthy Baby Development – When you relax, your baby benefits too! Studies suggest that maternal relaxation is associated with healthier birth weights and improved neonatal outcomes (NHS Lothian).
✨ Better Sleep – Struggling with restless nights? Relaxation techniques can help you fall asleep faster and return to sleep if you wake during the night (NHS Lothian).
✨ Less Muscle Tension – Pregnancy can bring aches and discomfort, but relaxation can help ease tension and promote physical comfort (NHS Lanarkshire).
💛 Join My Free Pregnancy Relaxation Class! Held online from the comfort of your home, this class is designed to help you relax, connect with your baby, and feel more prepared for birth. You can join at any point during your pregnancy! Sign up today and give yourself the gift of calm. 💛
The Science Behind Relaxation & Stress Reduction
When we experience stress, our bodies release cortisol and other stress hormones. While this response is natural, chronic stress can have unwanted effects on both you and your baby. Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, mindfulness, and guided meditation, activate the parasympathetic nervous system, the body’s “rest and digest” mode, helping to lower stress hormones and create a sense of calm.
You may be familiar with the optimal positions for labour and birth, which can be highly beneficial. However, it's just as important for your mind and body to work together in sync to ensure labour progresses smoothly. Staying calm plays a crucial role in stimulating the production of endorphins and oxytocin, key hormones that support labour.
Preparing for Labour: The Power of Relaxation
Easier Labour – Relaxation techniques, like breathing exercises and visualisation, help manage pain and reduce tension, making contractions feel more manageable.
Fewer Medical Interventions – Studies show that women who practice relaxation techniques may have lower rates of assisted births.
Better Coping Strategies – Staying relaxed during labour can help you handle contractions more effectively and may even speed up the process (NHS Forth Valley).
The key is practice! Relaxation is like a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it becomes. It can feel strange at first to take some time out for yourself and just 'be', but if you start with just a few minutes a day, soon it will feel like second nature.
💛 Join My Free Pregnancy Relaxation Class! Held online from the comfort of your home, this class is designed to help you relax, connect with your baby, and feel more prepared for birth. You can join at any point during your pregnancy! Sign up today and give yourself the gift of calm. 💛
Creating a Relaxing Birth Environment to Support your Headspace
Where you give birth plays a crucial role in how relaxed you feel. Here are some options that can enhance your comfort:
Home Birth – Surrounded by familiar sights and sounds, a home birth can feel incredibly comforting and personal and may make it easier for you to relax the mind.
Midwife-Led Units – The Alongside Midwifery Unit (AMU) in Forth Valley provides a serene space with large rooms, birthing pools, and supportive midwives who focus on holistic care.
Birth Centres – The Lothian Birth Centre in Edinburgh is designed with relaxation in mind, offering a comfortable, home-like environment where you can feel more at ease and in control.
Your birth space should feel right for you, whether that means soft lighting, calming music, or the comforting presence of your birth partner. Discuss your options with your midwife to find the best fit for your needs but remember you need to be focussing on reducing stress and anxiety and promoting calm for your body to labour effectively.
Your Pregnancy, Your Calm
Taking time to relax during pregnancy isn’t just about self-care—it’s about creating the best possible environment for you and your baby. Whether it’s through deep breathing, meditation, or a warm bath, every little moment of calm makes a difference.
Unsure where to start or just want to take some time out to connect with your baby and wind down from the pressures of the day, join my FREE Pregnancy Relaxation Class to experience guided relaxation from the comfort of your home.
Let’s create a peaceful, positive pregnancy together. 💛
Sign up today and embrace the calm!
Hi, I'm Joy—a passionate antenatal educator, hypnobirthing practitioner, breastfeeding counsellor, and perinatal trauma support worker based in West Lothian. For nearly 20 years, I've been supporting expectant parents with evidence-based, practical, and fun approaches to preparing for labour, birth, and early parenthood. If you're looking for engaging and informative birth preparation and support, both in person and online, head over to my website to find out more!
References
NHS Lothian. (n.d.). Relaxation and pregnancy: The benefits for emotional well-being and fetal health. Retrieved from [NHS Lothian website]
NHS Lanarkshire. (n.d.). Physical health and relaxation techniques during pregnancy. Retrieved from [NHS Lanarkshire website]
NHS Forth Valley. (n.d.). Labour and birth: How relaxation can ease the process. Retrieved from [NHS Forth Valley website]
NHS Lothian. (n.d.). The benefits of improved sleep during pregnancy. Retrieved from [NHS Lothian website]
Lothian Birth Centre. (n.d.). Creating a calming birth environment. Retrieved from [Lothian Birth Centre website]
Alongside Midwifery Unit, Forth Valley. (n.d.). Supporting natural birth in a relaxed setting. Retrieved from [Forth Valley website]
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