hyperventilation

Hi Marjon,

You can counter hyperventilation by breathing properly. Sometimes it helps just to sing for about 15 minutes (under the shower or something). Then you breathe differently, from your belly.

And indeed, stress less. Just think about yourself for a moment and put everything else aside.

Belly breathing helps you take deeper breaths, so you won’t end up breathing shallowly and feeling short of breath. An aromatherapist or prenatal massage therapist could also help.

Tricky, Marjon!

Everyone here on the forum is probably rolling their eyes: "Here she goes with her herbs again!!"
Chamomile tea works very calming! And the scent of vanilla or lavender helps.

But here's also some direct help if you feel like you're going to hyperventilate:
Sit or lie upright with your knees pulled up:
--Breathe in calmly for 7 seconds, letting your belly expand more than your lungs (Even more?? Wooo-ha-ha!!!)
--Hold for 3 seconds
--Exhale as slowly as possible through your mouth
It should be gone after 10 minutes!!

Anyway, it's a good general exercise for us all!!

Take it easy, okay!!

Enjoy it!!
(You can also get good incense, it's a bit of a search for good stuff. That's why it's not more expensive, right?)

Enjoy it!!
(You can also get good incense, it's a bit of a search for good quality. That's why it's not more expensive, right?)

No, really... No one is rolling their eyes here. Really good advice!!

I got chamomile tea and now I drink a cup of it before bed at least. Yesterday my little boy had to go to the doctor, and it was a substitute doctor I hadn't seen before, a really nice woman. I asked her if she knew anything about hyperventilation, told her the story, and ended up crying. She told me pregnancy yoga helps. I also have an appointment with the social worker because I'm not really feeling great in my own skin and I don't want to fall into depression, so she made an appointment for me. And for yoga, the doctor advised me to call my postpartum care provider to ask where there's a yoga group. I did that, and this woman was also very kind because the course starts on August 20th here in Hoogvliet, but she said if I wanted, I could come by on Friday yesterday, and she could already do some breathing exercises with me. So I did that. She also said if I want to call again later this week, she can practice with me over the phone. That really calms me down. She also said it won't be gone in one go, and last night I saw "bears on the road" again before going to sleep—oh no, I'm going to have an attack—but then I think about the exercises. It won't disappear all at once, but I feel a bit calmer now, and later I'll do some lovely pregnancy yoga, and later this week I'll also work on some distraction. Thanks Julie for your sympathy and tips. Greetings, Marjon

You have to look at it this way, Marjon:
It's practice for the birth soon.
You'll need your breathing to puff away the contractions, so it's actually good that you're learning to deal with the tension now.
Then you'll definitely know exactly how to keep yourself calm,
and it'll have its advantages!!

haha yeah I see that too, indeed. Although I'm not really scared of the birth since it's my 4th baby, when I start hyperventilating I think, "please, 11 more weeks, you can come now," because then I'll have more space in my belly again. Luckily, I can go back to work on Monday, which gives me some distraction and helps me fall asleep easier. I'm really glad that everyone around me and here on the forum reacts positively. At least then you feel understood. Thanks everyone!