Childbirth Education

What kinds of classes are available to pregnant women?

Childbirth Education

Helps you work through labor pain in a positive way. If you know what to expect, you`ll be more accepting of the pain. You will be more likely to understand that what you`re experiencing is normal, even if it hurts. Perhaps that`s one of the reasons women who`ve participated in prepared-childbirth classes ask for less medication for pain. Consequently, they and their babies have fewer unwanted side effects from anesthesia.
Actually can reduce your labor pain. Certain techniques you learn in class even may block pain sensations from reaching the brain. One such technique is massage. Its success stems from the "gate theory," which says that an injury sends its pain message to the brain along three kinds of nerve fibers. The theory says that if you can send a different message - a touch message, for example - on the fastest nerve fiber, it will reach the brain before the pain message and will close the "gate" behind it.
Builds your confidence. One of the aims of prepared childbirth is to teach you that you can give birth successfully, even though you`ve never done it before.
Teaches you breathing and relaxation techniques. These techniques can help break the cycle of fear, tension, and pain.
Helps your partner understand labor. Certified Childbirth Educators can show your partner important ways to provide you with both physical and emotional support.

Most expectant mothers eagerly await baby`s birth, but at the same time dread the labor and delivery. To learn how to maximize the birthing experience - and minimize the dread, enroll yourself and your spouse in childbirth classes. These classes will give you a real understanding of what`s happening to your body. Knowing what to expect can make labor and delivery less frightening.

You`ll find childbirth classes conducted at hospitals (check with the hospital where you`re planning to deliver), in church basements, and at other community centers. Your health-care practitioner also can direct you to local classes. You`ll want to check the credentials of the person presenting the class. Your best bet is to find a Certified Childbirth Educator. These certified professionals have achieved a certain level of knowledge and competence in areas tested by the International Certified Childbirth Association.

The Bradley Method
Relies on an abdominal-breathing technique to relax you and thereby reduce your need for pain medication. You`re taught specific exercises for muscle development and are shown how to synchronize your breathing with your uterine contractions. Your partner plays a major role in the delivery by acting as the labor coach.

The Lamaze Method
Based on the theory that if you understand the nature of labor pains, you`ll be less afraid. Instead of anguishing over each contraction, you`re taught to think of it as a necessary step in dilating the cervix and the eventual birth of the baby. Lamaze says that if the negative aspects of labor pains can be neutralized, you can be taught to respond to them as a signal for a special type of breathing. The breathing acts both as a distraction from labor pains and as a way of easing the pain itself.

The Leboyer Method
Focuses on the baby during labor, as well as on the mother. It first attempts to reproduce a womblike environment as the baby is being born. The delivery room is warm and dimly lit so the baby won`t be shocked when she leaves the mother`s body. The infant is placed immediately on the mother`s abdomen, so she feels warmth and comfort. The umbilical cord isn`t cut until it stops pulsating, allowing the maximum amount of oxygen to pass into the body. Finally, the baby`s back is massaged and she`s placed into a body temperature bath.

The Reed Method
Teaches you about your anatomy, your physiology, and what`s involved in labor and delivery. You`ll learn relaxation techniques and breathing exercises to help you reduce your fear of labor and thus alleviate pain. You also are put on a program of general physical fitness. Finally, this method asks the baby`s father to become involved in labor and delivery and to help meet the mother`s psychological needs.

Comments: Childbirth Education

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lotusmoonuk@yahoo.co.uk - 946 days ago.
Holographic Breathing is making some head way in the area of childbirth. It is great for reducing the pain of labour and generally helping in childbirth. In 2009 I taught the midwives at The Birth Centre - founded by Caroline Flint in south London. This was the first birth centre to be formed and Caroline Flint is a founder member and activist of the natural birth movement. This has also inspired others, and now over 30 birth centres and hospitals have become involved and are passing Holographic Breathing on to mothers. In the new year I will be starting therapist trainings for people who want to be therapists in this breathing/healing system either for birth, meditation or healing. Free Audio Seminars and lectures can also be downloaded from my web site at www.holographic-breathing.com

naturalchildbirthguide - 988 days ago.
Hi all, i am new here. Just learning my way around. Thought i would introduce myself. I am a mother of three boys. Two of which were wonderful homebirths. The last one was a c-section because of a prolapsed cord. I have been studying about pregnancy and natural childbirth for about 10 yrs and my dream is to someday be a midwife.