Lamaze technique

"Lamaze" redirects here. For other uses, see Lamaze (disambiguation).

The Lamaze Technique, often referred to as Lamaze, is a prepared childbirth technique developed in the 1940s by French obstetrician Dr. Fernand Lamaze as an alternative to the use of medical intervention during childbirth. The goal of Lamaze is to increase a mother's confidence in her ability to give birth; classes help them understand how to cope with pain in ways that both facilitate labour and promote comfort, including focused breathing, movement and massage.

Dr. Lamaze was influenced by Soviet childbirth practices, which involved breathing and relaxation techniques under the supervision of a "monitrice", or midwife. The Lamaze method gained popularity in the United States after Marjorie Karmel wrote about her experiences in her 1959 book Thank You, Dr. Lamaze.

The rise of the epidural by 1980 and the widespread use of continuous electronic fetal monitoring as standard care practices changed the nature and purpose of the Lamaze method. Today, Lamaze International is an organisation which promotes a philosophy of personal empowerment while providing general childbirth education. Modern Lamaze childbirth classes teach expectant mothers many ways to work with the labour process to reduce the pain associated with childbirth, and to promote normal (physiological) birth and the first moments after birth. Techniques include allowing labour to begin on its own, movement and positions, massage, aromatherapy, hot and cold packs, informed consent and informed refusal, breathing techniques, the use of a "birth ball" (yoga or exercise ball), spontaneous pushing, upright positions for labour and birth, breastfeeding techniques, and keeping mother and baby together after childbirth.

The Lamaze technique is not an evidence-based medical therapy. Its effectiveness benefit could be explained by a placebo effect, or simply by diverting the woman's attention from the pain of labour to the breathing exercise.

The philosophy is increasingly becoming relevant in India, specially in the metropolitan areas, with the high rate of Caesarean sections being declared abnormal by the World Health Organisation. A majority of caesarean births in India being reported from private hospitals and gynaecologist - indicating the financial advantage that is derived by them in promoting such births - was highlighted by CNN-IBN on national television.

Lamaze Healthy Birth Practices

• Let labour begin on its own. Letting the body go into labour on its own is considered by followers of Lamaze to be the best way to know that the baby is ready for birth and the body is ready for labour.

See also

• Natural childbirth

External links

• Official site of Lamaze International