Childbirth Preparation Methods

There are several different “methods” that are taught.

Informed Choice Orientation. Many organizations, hospital educators, and independent educators do not really teach “a method.” They instead focus on using a broad variety of techniques to teach women how to cope with labor, and teach partners how to best support a laboring woman. They often draw from several of the methods described below. Instructors also discuss medical options in birth, and how to make informed choices. Emphasis is on “freedom of choice based on knowledge of alternatives.” A major national organization with this emphasis is the International Childbirth Educators Association, www.icea.org. In Washington state, Great Starts practices this.

Birthing from Within: Focus on birth as a journey and profound rite of passage. A balance of practical information, self-discovery techniques, birth art exercises, and pain-coping practices prepare couples to birth in awareness. Creative learning exercises build confidence and engage parents in discovering their intuitive wisdom. Pain medication is viewed as a reasonable option for particularly long and difficult labors. www.birthingfromwithin.com

Birth Works: Recognizes that there is no one right way to labor and birth. Preparation for both the physical and emotional aspects of labor. Does not teach breathing techniques, except slow deep breathing as one way to facilitate relaxation. Moms gain confidence in their ability to birth, birth companions become aware of ways they can make labor safer and more comfortable. On their website list of topics, they don’t list pain medication; unclear whether this is covered under “physical and psychological interventions.” www.birthworks.com

Bradley: usually a 10 to 12 week series. Emphasis is on trusting in the labor process, using deep relaxation and natural breathing techniques to cope with contractions. Also called “husband- coached childbirth”, this method teaches active participation by partners in continuous emotional and physical support. Emphasizes natural childbirth without pain medication, and strongly advocates against medical interventions. More at www.bradleybirth.com, www.babycenter.com/refcap/631.html

HypnoBirthing: A natural childbirth technique that uses deep relaxation, slow breathing patterns, and self-hypnosis to decrease fear, decrease pain, and encourage release of endorphins, the body’s natural opiates. Students learn the principles of self-hypnosis for birthing, the origin of pain, how fear affects labor and birth, visualizations for labor, preparing the body for birth, and the importance of bonding. www.hypnobirthing.com/ www.joes.com/home/HYPNOBIRTHING/

Lamaze. At least 12 hours per series. Emphasizes pain management through relaxation, imagery, and breathing exercises. In addition, class emphasizes knowledge, preparation, and your role as an informed patient. Provides information about pain medication choices to enable parents to make the best choices for themselves. www.lamaze-childbirth.com

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c. Janelle Durham, 2004