Is the same technique used in childbirth?

Yes, exactly. Special breathing techniques have helped millions of women to give birth more effortlessly. Controlled breathing and deliberate concentration on breathing during the act of childbirth can lead to a more relaxed state and can help to alleviate some of the pain and discomfort of giving birth.
If you are giving birth, taking a deep breath - usually in through the nose and out through the mouth - before and after every contraction can help you concentrate more on the breathing as a tool to help the birth process. This technique also allows your baby to receive more oxygen.