The Alexander Technique was developed by F.M. Alexander in the 1940s, teaching women how to modify movement in order to release muscle tension and calm their systems overall. The Bradley Method, developed by Dr. Robert Bradley that same decade, emphasizes nutrition and relaxation techniques, while hypnosis, also developed in the 1940s, is said to bring the woman into a state of relaxation, calm and control during the labor.
Women commonly practice lamaze, a breathing technique that offers a distraction from the pain during contractions, and water births have become more common, as the warm water helps a woman relax and the buoyancy decreases discomfort and pressure.
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