About Lamaze Breathing Exercises

It's no secret that childbirth is a painful process. As an expectant mother, you have several different options for dealing with it, including pain medication and focused birthing methods to help you manage the pain. Lamaze is a technique that focuses on helping you work through the pain with breathing, relaxation and focus.

  1. The History of Lamaze

    • Lamaze is a birthing method developed by French doctor Fernand Lamaze in 1951 after observing births in Russia. The original Lamaze method incorporates childbirth education, relaxation techniques, breathing exercises and the support of the father and a nurse familiar with the method. The birthing techniques made a debut among American women preparing for childbirth in the late 1950s, after Marjorie Karmel gave birth with the assistance of Dr. Lamaze and wrote the book, "Thank You, Dr. Lamaze." Karmel then met and collaborated with Elizabeth Bing, cofounder of Lamaze International, to provide childbirth classes based on the Lamaze method in 1958.

    Lamaze Breathing

    • One of the main components of the early Lamaze method was controlled breathing to help focus the mother through the pain of childbirth. The focus was on following a strict pattern of breathing including the recognized "hee-hee-hoo-hoo" breaths. Today, the techniques of Lamaze no longer focus on specific breathing routines, but instead encourage expectant mothers to find a breathing method that relaxes them, depending on their needs, according to Linda Harmon, executive director of Lamaze International.

    When to Start Lamaze

    • The first half of your pregnancy, you have a lot on your plate: getting through your first trimester, adjusting to your growing body and figuring out your plans for after your baby arrives. This time is also perfect for scheduling your childbirth classes. Planning in the first half of your pregnancy helps ensure that you are able to attend the class of your choice. Schedule your first class at the beginning of your seventh month of pregnancy, suggests BabyCenter.com. Choose a course that takes place over several weeks instead of a packed weekend, recommends Lamaze International.

    Finding the Right Educator

    • It is important to research all of the childbirth educators in your area. If you are interested in the Lamaze method, choose a childbirth educator with a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) certification. Ask the educator about the methods taught during the course; Lamaze International recommends choosing one who presents several different methods for handling pain, giving birth and communicating with your health care team. While Lamaze focuses on a woman̵7;s power to give birth on her own, the organization does not forbid the use of pain medication if the mother makes a well-informed choice.

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