Final answer:
The relaxation technique used is imagery, which involves creating a mental picture to distract from labor pain and aid relaxation during the stages of labor, particularly cervical dilation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relaxation technique being utilized by the woman's partner is imagery. This method involves guiding the woman to envision a calming and detailed mental image, such as her favorite beach, which can help distract from the pain and induce relaxation during labor. Imagery is an effective technique for managing pain and anxiety, which can be beneficial in the context of labor and childbirth, as it can potentially reduce the perception of pain associated with uterine contractions and myometrial hypoxia. In the context of childbirth, the stages of labor include cervical dilation, expulsion of the newborn, and the passage of the afterbirth. Utilizing relaxation techniques like imagery can be particularly useful during the first stage of labor when the cervix is dilating and the woman is experiencing contractions that become more powerful and frequent over time.