Myths about Lamaze®

Myth #1: Lamaze® is all about breathing
Reality: The goal of Lamaze® classes is to increase women’s confidence in their ability to give birth. Lamaze® classes help women discover the inner wisdom they already have for giving birth. Women learn simple coping strategies for labor, including focused breathing. But breathing techniques are just one of many things that help women in labor. Movement and positioning, labor support, massage, relaxation, hydrotherapy, and the use of hot and cold are some others.

Myth #2: Lamaze® promises painless childbirth
Reality: Many women are afraid of the pain that is a normal part of childbirth. The pain of labor and birth, like other pain, protects us. Responding to the pain of contractions—by changing positions and moving, by massaging, by moaning—actually strengthens the contractions, helps the baby settle into the pelvis and move through the birth canal, and reduces pain perception. Some women find that experiencing and coping with the pain of labor and birth is similar to the hard work demanded by dancers and athletes. Lamaze® classes help women understand the value of pain and learn how to respond to pain in ways that both facilitate labor and increase comfort.

Myth #3: Lamaze® childbirth means you can’t have an epidural
Reality: Lamaze® classes provide information about natural pain relief options as well as epidural anesthesia. Eliminating pain completely makes it difficult to respond to contractions in ways that facilitate labor and birth. Women who have epidural anesthesia are required to have IV fluids and continuous electronic fetal monitoring. They may be encouraged to stay in bed and may need medications to increase the strength of their contractions. The ability to use many of the comfort techniques learned in Lamaze® classes, such as changing positions, walking, and hydrotherapy may be limited. Lamaze® education will assist women in making personal decisions that are right for them.

Myth #4: Lamaze® doesn’t work
Reality: Lamaze® that “works” has nothing to do with feeling pain, taking or avoiding medication, or developing complications that necessitate medical interventions. Lamaze® teaches women that nature has designed birth simply and close to perfectly, and that women already know how to give birth. Lamaze® is working if women trust the natural process of birth, have confidence in their ability to give birth, have the freedom to work with their bodies as labor progresses, and are supported by health care providers, family and friends who wait patiently for nature to do its incredible work. Lamaze® “works” if birth is allowed to work.

Myth #5: Lamaze® is not for everyone
Reality: Women have always prepared for the birth of their babies. Until recent times, women learned about birth from their own mothers and sisters. Birth took place at home with family rituals and traditions to help them feel confident in their ability to give birth. Women were surrounded by family and wise women who provided comfort and encouragement through labor and in the days and weeks after birth. Today, Lamaze® childbirth classes provide the knowledge, skills, and support that help women give birth with confidence and joy as they have done for centuries. Lamaze® preparation is for everyone!

Reproduced with kind permission from Lamaze International

Lamaze in the 21st Century