Category Archives: Lamaze International

I’m home!

Posted on September 18, 2007 by Robin

I know you missed me. ;-) I went to the ICEA conference after I left Phoenix. It was really nice to see even more women dedicated to helping families. I heard some really great speakers on really great topics and truly enjoyed rooming with Teri from Passion for Birth and CBE Blog. I also managed to score some new bloggers! Look for more exciting posts to come…

And a shout out to the The Lactivist for her support of Lamaze International!

And, if you’re in NYC, Mama Knows Breast is doing a book signing, her site has the details.

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Podcast with Allison Walsh from Lamaze International

Posted on September 10, 2007 by Robin

I’ve already told you a bit about the exciting conference in Phoenix this weekend. Today, Allison Walsh, the newest president, agreed to tell me a bit about her vision of Lamaze and what is in store for everyone this year.

Allison Walsh Interview

You can also find more information about the programs and grants she talks about at: lamaze.org Continue reading →

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Gather in the Spirit of Birth

Posted on September 8, 2007 by Robin

Greeting from the Lamaze International Conference in Phoenix, AZ. I am having a blast, despite being insanely exhausted. But that’s what happens when you spend your days attending information packed classes with some of the brightest minds and souls in birth and your evenings playing with the same.

Here is a bit of what I’ve seen and heard so far:

  • Maureen Cory from Childbirth Connection on the Listening to Mothers Survey
  • Penny Simkin on When Pain Becomes Suffering in Labor
  • Dr. Michael Klein on Maternal Request Cesareans: Whose request?
  • Karen Gromada talked about multiple birth and how one size doesn’t fit all
  • Birth networks group – starting and maintaining a birth network
  • A Native American Dance group

I am about ready to head to a class on using sign language in labor and then breastfeeding the near term infant. You also have to love the activist hearts around here, some of the moms with nursing babies are going to go to a local Applebee’s for a Nurse-in. And a shout out to The Lactivist. I was pleased to find her blog advertised in the bags they handed out at registration!

I am so excited because today I’m going to be talking about how celebrity babies influence women’s ideas about birth. I did speak about using the internet yesterday. Then we’ll talk about The Birth Survey and transparency in maternity care.

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Share Your Birth Story!

Posted on April 4, 2007 by Robin

Lamaze International is looking for birth stories that talk about one or more of the six care practices. Please consider taking their survey of birth stories. Continue reading →

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Call for Birth Stories

Posted on September 18, 2006 by Robin

Share Your Birth Story and Support Birth Education

Do you have a birth story to share? As part of our ongoing effort to promote normal birth, Lamaze International is compiling a collection of birth stories to post on our Web site. We are seeking stories from women in their own words. We are particularly interested in stories that illustrate the Six Care Practices that Support Normal Birth:

1. Labor begins on its own
2. Freedom of movement throughout labor
3. Continuous labor support
4. No routine interventions
5. Non-supine (e.g., upright or side-lying) positions for birth
6. No separation of mother and baby after birth with unlimited opportunity for breastfeeding

Birth stories are excellent tools to provide expectant women and their families with real-life information, preparation and support for their birth experience. Through written accounts of birth, we hope to illustrate that birth is an incredible, yet normal, everyday process filled with triumph and joy.

A Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator will provide commentary to be posted along with each birth story. Again, our intention is to show how women have used different care practices to keep their births normal. We believe the best way to do this is through stories written in your own words with thoughtful and concise commentary that highlights the choices you made to achieve a satisfying and healthy birth experience.

Submit your own birth story or, if you’re an educator, encourage your students to write about their birth experiences. Submit all stories to editor@lamaze.org. You must include a statement with your story that you give Lamaze International permission to publish your story online. We reserve the right to edit your story for grammar, punctuation, spelling and length if necessary. If your story is selected, you will have the opportunity to approve any edits as well as any commentary that will appear with your story. Continue reading →

Posted in Birth Stories, Lamaze International | 2 Comments

Lamaze Myths

Posted on September 7, 2006 by Robin

Women once learned about birth from their mothers, sisters and friends. Birth took place at home with family rituals and traditions to help women feel confident in their ability during labor. Today, a process, which is by definition natural, has become rigidly structured and controlled. There is much misinformation about birth. So much so, expectant parents can’t determine what is true and what is a myth.

Listed below are the top 5 myths about Lamaze:

* Myth #1: Lamaze is all about breathing.
* Myth #2: Lamaze promises painless childbirth.
* Myth #3: Lamaze childbirth means you can’t have an epidural.
* Myth #4: Lamaze doesn’ t work.
* Myth #5: Lamaze is not for everyone.

For more information on Lamaze and the myths, see: lamaze.org


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