Lamaze Method

From Encyclopedia of Sex and Sexuality

One of the methods of “prepared” childbirth. The basic theories behind prepared childbirth are self-awareness, self-control through programmed exercises, and reduction of pain through educational understanding of the labor and delivery process. The Lamaze method prepares mothers and their helpers to deal actively with labor contractions and the emotional, intellectual, and physical aspects of childbirth. A primary goal is to have a healthy and aware mother delivering a healthy baby. Lamaze offers psychological techniques, or tools, to use during labor to make it a more shared, enjoyable, and meaningful experience.

The basis of the Lamaze method originated in Russia, where women were conditioned or trained to respond to their contractions with relaxation. In the 1950s Fernand Lamaze, a French physician, adapted the Russian techniques and introduced this method of prepared childbirth in the metal workers’ clinic where he worked. The conditioned, or automatic, response is still the basis for the method but Lamaze added special breathing techniques to the Russian model. In the United States the method has been expanded to include fathers (or others) in a coaching role, allowing couples to share actively in the birth of their child. Today the Lamaze method is a very popular technique for managing labor pains.