Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Childbirth Education Options

Childbirth Education Options

Lamaze- The Lamaze philosophy- believes that birth is normal, natural, and healthy. The experience of birth profoundly affects women and their families. Women’s inner wisdom guides them through the birth. Women’s confidence and ability to give birth is either enhanced or diminished by the care provider and place of birth. Women have a right to give birth free from routine medical intervention. Birth can safely take place in homes, birth centers, and hospitals. Childbirth education empowers women to make informed choices in health care to assume responsibility for their health, and to trust their inner wisdom.

“Breathing” is no longer the hallmark of Lamaze. In Lamaze classes, the birth partner learns how to provide quiet, gentle, encouraging support, and learn basic comfort measures that help most women in labor. The goal of Lamaze classes is that every woman gives birth confidently, free to find comfort in a wide variety of ways, and supported by family and health care professionals who trust that she has within her the ability to give birth.

Hypnobirthing: Is as much a philosophy as it is a technique. The method teaches you that, in the absence of fear and tension, or special medical circumstances, severe pain does not have to be an accompaniment of labor. You will gain an understanding of how the birthing muscles work in perfect harmony- as they were designed to- when your body is sufficiently relaxed and you trust birth. You will not be in a trance or a sleep, you will be conversant and in good spirits-totally relaxed but fully in control. You will experience birthing in an atmosphere of clam relaxation, free of fear. In this calm state, your body’s natural relaxant, endorphins, replaces the stress hormones that constrict and cause pain.

Bradley Method- Bradley Classes Teach a natural childbirth method, the techniques are simple and effective. They are based on onformation about how the human body works during labor. They provide the student with a 125 page workbook, provide excellent coach/doula training, offer comprehensive education, keep classes small, and the training is over 12 weeks. The classes are designed to educate and motivate coaches and make them a valuable part of the birth experience. The twelve classes are: Introduction to Bradley Method, Nutrition, Pregnancy, The coach’s Role, First Stage of Labor, Second stage of labor, Planning your birth, Variations and complications, Advanced first stage techniques, Advanced second stage techniques, Being a great coach/are you ready?, and Preparing for your new family.

Birthing From Within: The closest class is available only in Indiana, but we thought it would be worth mentioning due to the difference in content. In these classes you will learn how to experience a birth as a rite of passage, build confidence, protect your birth space, tame your “Birth Tigers” and open your mind before and during labor with self-hypnosis and visualization among other things.

Hospital Based Classes: These classes offer a variety of different methods and learning styles, they vary in what each covers, but they do usually explain the stages of labor, what to expect, when to call your care provider, pain relief etc. Contact your place of birth to find out what classes are offered.

Local References

Lamaze: Diane Easthon (937) 269-1312 heart2heartbirthmatters@yahoo.com

Hypnobirthing: Jennifer Martin (937) 789-5511 www.oasisbirth.com

Bradley Method: Julie Harless (937) 433-7328 julieharless@sbcglobal.net

Birthing From Within: Sara Jane Bolen 574-233-3968 South Bend Indiana


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