Whatever happened to Lamaze?

jalaiaa · February 2012

All I hear about these days is the Bradley method. Whatever happened to Lamaze?

I'm mainly curious because my mom is going to act as a doula for me (she is a retired L&D nurse) and has a good understanding of Lamaze but doesn't have a lot of experience with the Bradley Method. Does anybody still use Lamaze?

mkflower3000 · February 2012

The one thing that I've read about it is that the quick and specifically rhythmic breathing actually tenses you more than relaxes. The more relaxed you are, the easier it is to deal with contractions, but Lamaze sort of mimics the quick and sudden breaths that someone in a panic takes. Also, the rehearsed rhythmicity isn't necessarily what the body needs at the time (again, according to what I've read).

jalaiaa · February 2012

mkflower3000:
The one thing that I've read about it is that the quick and specifically rhythmic breathing actually tenses you more than relaxes. The more relaxed you are, the easier it is to deal with contractions, but Lamaze sort of mimics the quick and sudden breaths that someone in a panic takes. Also, the rehearsed rhythmicity isn't necessarily what the body needs at the time (again, according to what I've read).

Interesting.

L0L0 · February 2012

I think Lamaze classes are still around but have changed a whole lot since we were all born, and fallen out of favor to a large extent. The special breathing patterns in particular aren't considered a good idea anymore.

wheelsonthebus · February 2012

I have read about both and did not find the quick breaths to be helpful at all during labor with DS. The idea of staying focused is valuable though.

skibunny59 · February 2012

mkflower3000:
The one thing that I've read about it is that the quick and specifically rhythmic breathing actually tenses you more than relaxes. The more relaxed you are, the easier it is to deal with contractions, but Lamaze sort of mimics the quick and sudden breaths that someone in a panic takes. Also, the rehearsed rhythmicity isn't necessarily what the body needs at the time (again, according to what I've read).

Lamaze is totally not like this anymore. We are taking a Lamaze-based childbirth class and our doulas (who are also the childbirth teachers) are trained in Lamaze and they even told us that those breathing techniques are really outdated and no one uses them anymore.

skibunny59 · February 2012

intheflowers:

A MW that used to work at HB practice I go to blogs for Lamaze.

I think they have modernized quite a bit since the old breathing techniques. They actually say right on the site to be wary of classes that put a focus on those techniques.

From their website, they promote the following birth practices: https://www.lamaze.org/Default.aspx?tabid=90

Let Labor Begin on Its Own

Walk, Move Around, and Change Positions Throughout 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

Most of our classes have been about these 6 birth practices. We did a couple breathing exercises but they were all deep breathing. Nothing like the short rapid breaths that most people associate with Lamaze.

Nechie122 · February 2012

I took Lamaze. I agree that it's changed over the years and has become a bit more like Bradley. The cynical part of me says various laboring "techniques" come into and out of vogue just like parenting practices. In 10 years from now, no one will be doing Bradley and everyone will be doing something else.

Anyway. What I found most helpful was learning about various laboring positions and pressure points to relieve pain. Many of the positions were similar to what I was learning in prenatal yoga and I used the two together. I just tuned out everything hokey; DH and I still laugh about the ridiculous "focal object" I chose (I'm not even sure that it made it with us to the birthing center.)

PineApple85 · February 2012

I'm a FTM taking Bradley, so obviously I've never taken Lamaze, but I what I read about both indicated to me that the two most significant differences is Bradley is very pro-intervention-free while Lamaze is kind of nuetral to interventions and Bradley teaches to accept and work with the pain while Lamaze uses distraction techniques for pain management.

Again, just what I've read. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

skibunny59 · February 2012

PineApple85:
I'm a FTM taking Bradley, so obviously I've never taken Lamaze, but I what I read about both indicated to me that the two most significant differences is Bradley is very pro-intervention-free while Lamaze is kind of nuetral to interventions and Bradley teaches to accept and work with the pain while Lamaze uses distraction techniques for pain management.

Again, just what I've read. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I also read this in the book Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. (Love that book!) I don't completely agree with this statement though. I definitely wouldn't say that Lamaze is neutral to interventions. In the class I am taking there is definitely a slant towards having an unmedicated birth although the instructors would never judge any woman who wants pain medication. And they talk all the time about how it's best to avoid interventions unless they are absolutely necessary. Most if not all of the couples in my class are planning an unmedicated birth.

jalaiaa · February 2012

Thank you for all of your replies and I welcome more. I haven't researched too much on how lamaze has changed. I still think of it as the "he he hoo, he, he hoo" that i have seen in movies

gy86 · February 2012

I found with my labor slow/relaxed breathing was great, until about 8cm and I really needed more Lamaze-type breathing to get me through contractions. The deep breaths just weren't cutting it anymore! So my L&D nurse led me through some hee-hee-hoo type breaths which was incredibly helpful.

tokenhoser · February 2012

I read the latest Lamaze book and really liked it. It very much jived with all the other reading I did, and was very pro-natural birth.

The hee-hee-hoo breathing is not part of the philosophy any longer.

I would guess a lot of the Bradley popularity vs. Lamaze is marketing, not any real advantage one way or the other. Bradley classes cost a lot... someone is making money.

mkflower3000 · February 2012

That's good to know! My response was based on something I had read in another natural birth book, so not having any personal experience that's all I could contribute. Sounds like the new Lamaze would fit in well with Bradley, actually!

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