As part of the preparation for having a baby, taking a childbirth class can help parents prepare for the labor and birth. The mother will often read childbirth books during pregnancy, but often the partner has no guidance until the class is taken. There are many different kinds of classes to take. It is important to choose a class with a philosophy that you like, so that you will get the most out of it. Knowing the options that are available will aid you in choosing a class that is right for you. Here are a few of the main organizations that are widely known and offer classes across the nation.
International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA)
ICEA teaches “freedom of choice based on knowledge of alternatives in family-centered maternity and newborn care.” Other than a commitment to this statement, educators who are certified in this method teach whatever they choose. The curriculum is completely open, so from teacher to teacher, you will not be getting the same class.
ICEA-certified teachers are often hospital-based. Often the hospital places its own agenda onto the class and you are bombarded with hospital policies instead of just learning about the birthing process and how to cope with it.
Lamaze
The mission for Lamaze International is: “The Lamaze Institute for Normal Birth was launched to support initiatives that provide credible, relevant and useful information about normal birth. Together with Lamaze International, the Institute for Normal Birth envisions “a world of confident women choosing normal birth.”
Lamaze supports normal birth. Normal birth is nature’s simple plan for birth. This class focuses on the mother’s natural ability to trust her body and birth her baby. In recent years, Lamaze has updated their program. The old Lamaze teaches out-of-date breathing techniques. Occasionally with Lamaze classes, you will find an instructor teaching the older methods. Again, if you find this class to be hospital-based, you may find some hospital politics within this class as well.
The Bradley Method
The Bradley Method is a Natural Childbirth class. The Bradley Method says “Our classes stress the importance of Healthy Baby, Healthy Mother and Healthy Families. We attract families who are willing to take the responsibility needed for preparation and birth.”
This class is 12 weeks in length and covers everything from pregnancy nutrition, to stages of labor, the newborn and breastfeeding. The class teaches relaxation techniques for labor, and important prenatal exercises. In addition, it is highly focused on teaching the partner how to support the laboring woman. Many women who experience this extensive class go on to have a natural childbirth.
Hypnobirthing/Hypnobabies or Hypnosis for Childbirth
One specific person coined the term “hypnobirthing” but you will find that there are several organizations that teach hypnosis for labor and birth. The theory behind this class is that hypnosis is a totally natural state that offers deep concentration and health stimulating powers along with pain relief. In short, “hypnobirthing” is any form of natural childbirth with hypnosis. Many women who choose hypnosis for birth report that their labor felt like “work” or “powerful” but do not use the word “painful” to describe it. Some women even report a painless childbirth! This technique works best when the deep relaxation state of hypnosis is practiced regularly before labor begins. Don’t be skeptical about hypnosis as a viable option. Do your research on the different methods of hypnosis for birth.
Birthing From Within
Birthing From Within Mentors (teachers) believe that childbirth is a profound rite of passage, not a medical event. Here’s what Birthing From Within says about their method: “We teach parents the power of birthing-in-awareness, even when their birth experience is not what they had anticipated. We balance practical, useful information with introspective, multi-sensory experiences. We teach about birth from four perspectives: mother, father, baby and culture. We help parents build a pain-coping mindset so they may fully participate in birth’s rite of passage.”
The essence of this type of childbirth preparation is self-discovery, not assimilating obstetric information. Parents create birth art and use other creative processes during this self-discovery based class. Parents’ individual needs and differences determine class content. This method believes that active, creative self-expression is critical to childbirth preparation.
There are even more methods out there, but these are the most widely-known organizations that train and support instructors. Whichever method you choose, preparing for your birth experience, not just the baby, will help to ensure that you have a memorable and satisfying birth experience.
Sources:
http://www.lamaze.org/
http://www.icea.org/
http://www.bradleybirth.com/
http://www.birthingfromwithin.com/