Everything You Need to Know About the Lamaze Method

Lamaze is one of the oldest and most popular methods of childbirth preparation in the United States. It began in the 1950s with Dr. Fernand Lamaze, who was inspired by the natural relaxation and emotional support strategies for childbirth he observed in Russia.

While it may not be right for everyone, proponents of the method tout that Lamaze offers many benefits to birthing people such as reduced pain, fewer medical interventions, and potentially, even faster labor. Keep reading to learn more to help you decide whether Lamaze is right for you.

What Is Lamaze?

Lamaze is a method of childbirth preparation that educates pregnant people and their partners on the process of childbirth, including evidence-based information about drug-free pain management techniques. The approach aims to build confidence and teach coping mechanisms that encourage birthing parents to move around during labor to reduce pain and decrease the need for medical interventions.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) also advocates for educating pregnant people about "nonpharmacologic pain management measures," in order to enhance coping with pain during labor and reduce unnecessary interventions.

Lamaze is popularly known for its rhythmic breathing exercises that reduce heart rate, anxiety, and pain perception during labor. The exercises work because when breathing becomes a focus, other sensations (such as labor pain) move to the edge of awareness. Conscious breathing is an especially useful labor tool because it keeps you and your baby well-oxygenated and it's simple to learn and use.

Best of all, breathing is one coping strategy that's always accessible to you—even if you end up in bed attached to an electronic fetal monitor and intravenous fluids.

Teachers of the Lamaze technique also stress consumer awareness, and they introduce medication as an additional labor tool by explaining its pros and cons.

Most importantly, Lamaze teachers encourage students to discuss all birthing preferences and medical interventions with their providers and labor support team ahead of time so they can make well-informed decisions during labor. It can be more challenging to make decisions in the throes of labor, so Lamaze focuses on education and empowerment by preparing as much as possible ahead of time. The ACOG also recommends creating a birth plan for this purpose.

Lamaze Birth Practices

According to Lamaze International, the foundations of this method are based on six research-based principles, called "The Lamaze Healthy Birth Practices."

1. Let labor start on its own

Letting labor begin naturally means avoiding inductions and allowing all components (including your body, your hormones, the placenta, etc.) to signal that they are ready for birth.

2. Keep moving during labor

Stay active during labor by changing positions, moving around, and walking. Movement can help people cope with contractions, and it also encourages your baby to move into an optimal position for delivery.

3. Use a labor support team

Receive continuous support during labor from a doula or a loved one. The idea is that a trusting, loving environment makes childbirth easier and more comfortable.

4. Avoid non-vital medical interventions

Lamaze International says that unnecessary interference harms the "natural process of labor and birth." That said, if the health of the baby or pregnant person is at risk, then medical interventions should be used as needed.

5. When delivering your baby, avoid lying on your back

Instead of lying on your back during labor, assume whatever position feels most comfortable and push whenever it feels right.

6. Stay together after birth

If possible, the parent and baby should remain together immediately after birth and initiate nursing and/or skin-to-skin contact. Skin-to-skin contact, also called kangaroo care, promotes bonding and breastfeeding success, among other benefits.

Benefits of Lamaze

Management of pain without drug intervention gives the Lamaze method widespread appeal among parents who seek a non-medicated childbirth experience, which some people also refer to as "natural birth." When allowed and encouraged, someone in labor will often move, moan, sway, change their breathing pattern, and rock their body to cope with contractions, eventually finding the right rhythm for their unique needs.

This active comfort-seeking during labor helps the baby rotate and descend, and it also prevents labor from stalling. Then, as contractions get stronger, the body releases endorphins—nature's narcotic—to ease pain.

After taking Lamaze classes, many pregnant people feel more confident about labor and delivery. They also better understand what to expect and how to navigate the maze of modern obstetrics, which helps them have a healthy birth in their desired way.

Potential Drawbacks of Lamaze

While there are many potential benefits of learning Lamaze, it can still be helpful to understand some possible cons of relying solely on Lamaze for pain management during labor and delivery. Here are some of the possible drawbacks to consider when looking at Lamaze.

Lamaze is often perceived as anti-epidural

Lamaze says it aims to provide pregnant people with "balanced and accurate information about the risks and benefits of epidurals." While this is great in theory, Lamaze does have a reputation for being anti-epidural.

One of the foundations of the Lamaze method is the belief that unnecessary interference harms the natural process of labor and birth—and considering that epidural anesthesia is mentioned among the interventions listed under Lamaze's "healthy birth practice 4" ("avoid interventions that are not medically necessary"), it's not difficult to see where the reputation comes from.

Former Lamaze International president Deb Woolley has gone as far as to say, "Like the rest of life, childbirth isn't as good when it's experienced through a haze of drugs or fear." While epidurals certainly don't come without their risks, using medication to manage labor pain doesn't need to detract from the birth experience. In fact, many people attest that using pharmacological pain relief during labor facilitated focusing on—and enjoying—the birthing process rather than getting bogged down by discomfort.

If a non-medicated, low-intervention birth is your goal, Lamaze may be a great fit. If you're interested in using medication to help manage labor pain, you may experience less support for that choice in Lamaze.

There may be unexpected changes to your labor

A lot of Lamaze depends on planning ahead and staying in control of your situation, but with labor, unexpected changes can happen very quickly. While Lamaze can help you stay calm and informed, it can be more challenging in situations where you may be uncertain of what's happening, scared, or have to change delivery plans, such as prolonged labor or needing to switch from a vaginal birth to a C-section.

It may be less effective without a labor partner

Not everyone who practices Lamaze needs a birthing partner, but the method is generally considered more effective with lots of support through labor. If you're going through birth solo, or facing a situation where your partner can't be with you, it may be more difficult to employ the method. That said, you can consider calling on a close friend or family member or hiring a support person like a doula to fill that role.

The intensity of labor pain is very individual

For first-time birthing people, or even those experiencing subsequent births, it can be hard to predict how you will experience labor. In fact, it's very common for the childbirth experience not to align perfectly with the birth plan. Labor and pain itself are very individual and personal processes. In other words, while some people find labor pain tolerable, others may find it excruciating, a difference you won't necessarily know until you experience it.

Essentially, how each person experiences the pain of labor is unique. For instance, things like your overall health, how much sleep you've gotten, your baby's position, your intentions and priorities for childbirth, your frame of mind, and your comfort in your environment can all affect your perception of pain. Labor can even be very different among people who have given birth before, so it can be hard to predict how Lamaze will help you as an individual.

Lamaze can be inaccessible for some people

Lamaze is a specialty type of childbirth preparation, which means it's different from standard childbirth classes. That means that it may be harder to find a teacher near you, the cost may be higher, and it may take more classes to learn the technique than other childbirth education methods. The program also just may not resonate with you. For some people, accessibility will be a barrier.

When to Take Lamaze Classes

If you do decide Lamaze is right for you, Lamaze classes are typically offered weekly over the course of five or six weeks for a total of about 12 hours of instruction. It's recommended that you take them toward the end of pregnancy, but consider starting the course just into your third trimester to give yourself a few weeks cushion before your estimated due date. In some areas, you can take a full Lamaze series in a single weekend.

Though most ASPO-certified childbirth educators (ACCEs) are nurses, Lamaze teachers can have a background in teaching, social work, counseling, clinical psychology, or physical therapy. Call Lamaze International at (202)-367-1128 or visit the organization's website for a referral to a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator in your area.