LAMAZE – THE HISTORY
Lamaze is not about “breathing” anymore but about a sound philosophy rooted in the teachings of Fernand Lamaze, a French obstetrician who developed a method of breathing and relaxation techniques in the 1950s.
His particular concern was education, believing that a woman giving birth would be better prepared if she and her partner were well educated and learnt basic tools such as breathing and relaxation techniques to cope with the associated pain of childbirth. His basic reasoning was that fear of the process itself was likely to induce more and unnecessary pain, and so it was that he developed his “technique” which then became the “Lamaze method” also known as psychoprophylaxis and was transported to the U.S.A. via Marjorie Karmel and her groundbreaking book “Thank You Dr. Lamaze”.
Since the 1960s women have used his methods and have expanded on his ideas developing the current Lamaze philosophy of birth which consists of 7 points...
LAMAZE PHILOSPHY OF BIRTH
• Birth is normal, natural and healthy.
• The experience of birth profoundly affects women and their families.
• Women's inner wisdom guides them through birth.
• Women's confidence and ability to give birth is either enhanced or diminished by the care provider and place of birth.
• Women have the right to give birth free from routine medical interventions.
• Birth can safely take place in maternity units and homes.
• Childbirth education empowers women to make informed choices in healthcare, to assume responsibility for their health and to trust their inner wisdom.
ABOUT JANE HOWARD
I am a Chartered Physiotherapist specialising in Women’s Health and a Childbirth Educator, and have been teaching ante-natal classes since 1975, following the birth of my first child. I have practiced both here in London and California, where I originally trained as a Lamaze teacher. Over the years I have taught classes at the Portland Hospital in London and at the Active Birth Centre founded by Janet Balaskas and I am also familiar with Gowri Motha and her philosophy of “Gentle Birth”.
I am passionate about birth, having had four children, including one home birth, and view it as every woman’s right to give birth in the appropriate setting for herself and her birthing partner.
In my own classes I include “tools” such as breathing, positioning, acupressure, visualization, and relaxation techniques as well as information on medical pain relief, in the belief that the more the couple know the better, and what I’m hoping for is a positive birth experience whatever the outcome.
Birth may not go according to plan but the eventual outcome is the birth of a healthy baby and a couple who feel they had input, and some element of control in the decision making. I am an obstetric physiotherapist with an interest in acupuncture and pain relief and I understand the value of optimum positioning both for mother and baby. I also introduce other methods of natural pain relief, such as TENS, and protocols for safeguarding the integrity of the “pelvic floor” during delivery.
Birth may well be a “natural and normal event” but your ongoing health is my concern and sound abdominal muscle strength together with a strong pelvic floor may well limit future problems such as chronic back pain and incontinence. I believe the health of the mother doesn’t stop with the birth of her baby but continues long after this most amazing and special event.
Classes are run at Bababoom on Thursday evenings from 7pm – 9pm. The course is a 5 week course and costs £210. Why not come along to one of our free information evenings? Call Bababoom now for more information on this and any other queries that you might have. Places for the courses are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.
|
