Watch any film or TV show that features a birth and you are almost guaranteed a scene in which the birthing Mama is screaming at the top of her lungs... 

Unfortunately these scenes often feed into the perception that birth is scary; a terrifying medical event that is to be feared. In reality, birth is a life event that is wonderfully exciting! The sounds you choose to make in labour will often be a reflection of whether you perceive birth as something to be feared or something to embrace. And those sounds will either help or hinder the progress of your labour! Different sounds use different parts of your lungs, and tell your brain different messages. The bottom line is that in order for your body to release this beautiful baby, it needs to feel safe. So let's have a closer look at your options:

Literally 'screaming at the top of your lungs' 

• High pitched sounds
• Uses upper chest, shallow breathing
• Activates your fight/flight system
• Slows the progress of labour
• Wastes energy

Uninhibited labour sounds

• Low pitched, deep, 'moo' like sounds
• Uses diaphragmatic breathing
• Activates your calm and connection system
• Speeds up the progress of labour
• Conserves energy

The good news is that you have a choice. Even if you don't go into birth feeling fearless, choose to tell your brain otherwise! Activate your calm and connection system through long, deep, calming noises. Share this information with your partner or birth support so that they can help remind you if find you loose your way a little during labour. Practice low noises and diaphragmatic breathing before your baby's birth-day so you feel more comfortable using these skills on the day. And most importantly TRUST yourself. Deep, low sounds are the noises that most birthing mothers will make if they feel private, safe and unobserved during labour. So if you feel those sounds coming, dive deeper and trust your body knows exactly how to birth your baby.