Calendar      News      Affiliates      Forums      Resources      Videos

Lamaze

The mission of Lamaze International is to promote, support and protect normal birth through education and advocacy. Our vision is a world of confident women choosing normal birth. Lamaze International believes that woman who are fully informed, confident and supported will want normal birth. Lamaze International believes that caregivers should respect the birth process and not intervene without compelling medical indication. These evidence-based practices adapted from the World Health Organization promote, protect and support; no routine interventions; non-supine(e.g. upright or side-lying) positions for birth; no separation of mother and baby after birth with unlimited opportunity for breastfeeding.

Philosophy:

• “Birth is normal.”

• 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 is either enhanced or diminished by the care provider and place of birth.
• Women have a right to give birth free from routine medical interventions.
• Birth can safely take place in birth centers and homes.
• Childbirth education empowers women to make informed choices in health care, to assume responsibility for their health and to trust their inner wisdom.

 Length of course:

Lamaze class series vary in length and format by instructor, but must meet the following standards:

• Small, individualized classes of 6 to 10 couples and a maximum of 12 couples
• At least 12 hours of instruction, including time to practice skills and comfort measures as well as time for class discussion;
• Commitment to the Lamaze Philosophy of Birth
• Taught by a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE). An LCCE certified educator promotes, supports and protects every woman’s:
• right to give birth
• confidence in her own ability
• freedom to find comfort in a wide variety of way
• right to be supported by her family and all members of the health care team.

 

Local Instructors

Tammy Jordan

Christine Springer

Nola Cottom

Mary Ann Hazlett

Patter Cross

Christine Hughs

Pam Rattan