Natural Methods of Childbirth
Of the natural methods of childbirth, Lamaze is the most widely-known. Dr. Fernand Lamaze introduced this method in France circa 1951 after observing childbirth techniques used in Russia.
Originally, this
method
consisted of education classes, relaxation and breathing techniques and
emotional support from a birth companion and a trained nurse.
This
method spread to the US in the late 1950s in direct result of the book,
Thank You Dr. Lamaze, a book written by Marjorie Karmel detailing her
birth experience as assisted by Dr. Lamaze. Ms. Karmel went
on to partner with Elisabeth Bing in 1960 to form ASPO/Lamaze, which
became Lamaze International, a non-profit organization dedicated to
teaching the Lamaze method and certifying Lamaze childbirth educators.
Trademarks
of the Lamaze method
included its breathing techniques. These have been widely
depicted and in some cases, misconstrued across the media.
Another main tenet of the method was the belief that pain was an
integral part of childbirth, but that a woman could learn to be
distracted from the pain by focusing her concentration on an object
during labor.
Lamaze has undergone the most significant changes since its inception. Lamaze breathing techniques are no longer the trademark of this method as they once were. However, many misconceptions still persist.
For more
information
on the Lamaze method, contact Lamaze International at
www.lamaze.org.
