EBB 352 - Calming Breathing Techniques for Pregnancy with Dr. Shilpa Babbar, Obstetrician and Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist

Dr. Shilpa Babbar, a double board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialist and OB/GYN, joins Dr. Rebecca Dekker to discuss the role of integrative obstetrics in pregnancy and birth. Dr. Babbar shares her journey into maternal-fetal medicine, how she became interested in yoga and breathing techniques, and the growing body of research on prenatal yoga. They discuss how breathwork can support pregnant individuals, the physiological effects of deep breathing, and how birth workers can incorporate these techniques into prenatal care. Dr. Babbar also shares her experience using alternate nostril breathing to manage blood pressure during pregnancy and her vision for making integrative therapies a standard part of obstetric care.

 

(01:41) Dr. Babbar’s Journey into Maternal-Fetal Medicine

(04:16) How Yoga and Prenatal Yoga Research Began

(09:37) Studying the Effects of Prenatal Yoga on Pregnancy

(12:46) Yoga’s Impact on Labor Duration

(14:33) The Role of Breathwork in Pregnancy

(17:48) How Dr. Babbar Used Breathing Techniques for Her Own Pregnancy

(22:30) The Science Behind Alternate Nostril Breathing

(28:52) Guided Demonstration of Deep Breathing Techniques

(35:10) Applying Breathwork During Pregnancy and Labor

(39:08) The Future of Integrative Obstetric Care

 

Resources

Learn more about Dr. Shilpa Babbar’s work at .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}