Today's Lamaze!  (Not Your Ma's Lamaze!!)
What about the breathing?	Whenever anyone hears the word Lamaze, too often Hollywood images of women in the throes of outrageous labor pains, panting and hooing and hawing are the first images that come to mind. Hollywood does not portrait birth well nor does it do justice to today’s Lamaze. In the early days, Lamaze was a method but in the 80’s, Lamaze changed from a method to a philosophy. But change takes time to implement and Lamaze is still trying get the word out.     We haven’t thrown breathing out! But we now encourage women to find the pattern of breathing that works for them as opposed to prescribing a set pattern. We know that slow paced breathing is the most relaxing, so we encourage women to labor with breath awareness. Is the way they are breathing working for them, helping them find their rhythm, ritual and relaxation? (Pennny Simkin’s 3 R’s) As labor intensifies, her body will adapt the pace of her breathing. The only wrong way to breath in labor is to hold your breath! You’ll pass out! Sometimes it helps to focus on the exhale, sometimes the ritual may be a deep exhale every 3 or 4 breaths, sometimes it’s singing, moaning, groaning that becomes integrated in her breathing pattern.     So we still talk about breathing. But we also add so much more: positions, massage, movement, support, etc. etc.
Lamaze Competencies for Childbirth Educators	Promotes the childbearing experience as a normal, natural and healthy process which profoundly affects women and their families. Assists women and their families to discover and to use strategies to facilitate normal, natural and healthy pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and early parenting. Helps women and their families to understand how complications and interventions influence the normal course of labor and birth. Provides information and support that encourages attachment behavior between babies and families. Assists women and their families to make informed decisions for childbearing. Acts as an advocate to promote, normal, natural, healthy and fulfilling childbirth experiences for women and their families. Designs, teaches, and evaluates a course in Lamaze preparation that increases a woman’s confidence and ability to give birth.
Key Practices for a Healthy Birth	Let labor begin on its own. Walk, move around and change positions during labor. Bring a loved one, friend, or doula for continuous support. Avoid interventions that are not medically necessary. Avoid giving birth on your back, and follow your body’s urges to push. Keep mother and baby together. It’s best for mother, baby, and breastfeeding.
Philosophy of Healthy Pregnancy	Pregnancy is a normal, natural life event. Women’s bodies are perfectly designed to nourish and nurture their babies through pregnancy. The months of pregnancy are necessary for babies to develop and grow, for women's bodies to prepare for birth and for women to become mothers. Pregnancy provides an opportunity for mothers and fathers to begin forming life-long bonds with their babies. A good support system, a healthy lifestyle and the ability to cope with the stresses of life promote a healthy pregnancy, a healthy birth and a healthy baby. The health care system and care provider can increase or diminish women’s confidence in the normalcy of pregnancy and in their ability to have a healthy baby. Lamaze education empowers women to gain confidence in their bodies, to trust their inner wisdom and to make informed decisions about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenting.
Philosophy 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 birth centers, homes 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.
Philosophy of Parenting	Good parenting is vital to the physical, emotional and spiritual health of our children, ourselves and our society. Parenting is joyful, important, challenging and deeply satisfying work that is worthy of everyone’s best efforts. Parenting begins before birth. The intimate connection between children and their parents must be respected and protected from the moment of birth throughout life. Mothers and fathers play unique, irreplaceable roles in their children’s lives. Babies and children thrive in close, consistent interaction with their parents. Parenting is a learned art; our most important teachers are our own parents, our family, and our children. Parenting requires the support of family, friends and community. Knowledge and support enhance parents’ confidence and ability to make informed decisions that meet the needs of their children and themselves.