Childbirth Techniques

As you are preparing for the birth of your baby, you may be overwhelmed by the array of childbirth preparation classes. There are at least ten certifying organizations for childbirth educators and each has a unique approach to childbirth. To choose the right one for you, begin by deciding how you want your labor and delivery to proceed, who you want to help you deliver, and where you want to give birth.

Beginning in the 1930s, "natural childbirth" began to gain popularity. Dr. Grantley Dick-Read of England wrote a book stating that women who are informed about what is happening to them during labor and delivery experience less fear. He believed that fear of the unknown creates tension, which in turn creates pain, which elicits more fear, which produces more tension. Dr. Dick-Read called this the fear-tension-pain syndrome and blamed it for women's painful deliveries. Many of our modern childbirth preparation methods are based on his ideas. During the 1960s and 70s, women began to demand more control over their bodies and the birth of their babies and several prepared childbirth techniques were developed.

Prepared childbirth refers to any of the various methods women use to cope with childbirth and understand the natural sequence of events in labor and delivery. This allows the woman to make informed choices about how she wants to have her baby, and helps her partner be a better coach. There are several types of childbirth methods and many hospitals and clinics offer general childbirth classes that incorporate aspects from more than one method.

McMoyler

McMoyler Method is the brainchild of veteran labor and delivery nurse Sarah McMoyler. According to McMoyler, the goal of every birth is a healthy mom and healthy baby, however you get there. Asking for pain medication when you intended to have a natural birth is not a failure and having an unplanned c-section is not cause for regret if the end result is a healthy baby in your arms. They are simply means to an end; viable options you can use to reach your goal. After all, McMoyler states, "[childbirth] is not a competition." McMoyler Method gives you the information and skills you need to cope with contractions, remain flexible during labor, communicate and work with your health care team and make decisions along the way in order to achieve that healthy mom-healthy baby goal. In her classes, McMoyler uses the partners, instead of the moms-to-be, to demonstrate coping and relaxation maneuvers to ensure they fully understand the concepts so they are able to be effective coaches on the big day.

While other childbirth techniques focus almost exclusively on coping with difficult contractions, McMoyler considers the time between contractions to be just as important. Those precious few moments are the only chance you have to mentally regroup, reorganize and recharge, so the McMoyler Method includes a number of effective relaxation techniques you can use to help you "release and let go" between contractions and prepare for the work ahead.

McMoyler Method has already helped more than 10,000 couples manage their labor and delivery with confidence and a sense of control and is quickly becoming the childbirth method of choice for OBs around the country. For more information, go to The Best Birth.

Lamaze

The Lamaze method is the oldest and most popular technique of childbirth preparation in the U.S. Each year, over one million babies are born using this method. Lamaze uses distraction through active concentration, patterned breathing techniques, and focal points to help women escape the pain of childbirth. The method teaches women that through controlled breathing they can control pain. Lamaze partners are taught coaching techniques and massage to help reduce the perception of pain even further. Women also learn about labor and birthing positions, communication skills, as well as information on the postpartum period and breastfeeding. For more information, go to Lamaze International.

Bradley

The Bradley Method emphasizes an extremely natural approach, disavowing the safety of sonograms, episiotomies, and regional anesthesia, and encourages the use of midwives instead of doctors. The Bradley Method was initially nicknamed the Husband-Coached Method for its then-revolutionary idea of including the husband in the birthing room, and believes that women cope better and have more positive birth experiences with their husbands present. Practitioners also believe that father-infant bonding develops faster when he is present at the birth. The Bradley Method encourages good nutrition and exercise throughout pregnancy to ease discomfort and prepare the muscles for birth, and instructs the woman to turn inward to relax and work with the contractions while continuing to breathe normally. For more information, go to The Bradley Method.

HypnoBirthing

HypnoBirthing is a fairly new technique, but it is gaining in popularity around the country. It advocates exercises to condition the body for labor, self-hypnosis to achieve a state of peace and calm during the birthing process, and abdominal breathing. For more information, go to HypnoBirthing.

There are countless other techniques and organizations worth investigating to find the right methodology for you, including the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA), the National Association of Parents and Professionals for Safe Alternatives in Childbirth (NAPSAC), the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN), Birth Works, the Kitzinger Method, the Gamper Method, the Alexander Technique, Imagery, the Simkins method, the Noble method, the LeBoyer method, and the Odent method.

Many hospitals and birth centers offer general childbirth preparation classes that teach a combination of several relaxation methods, guided imagery, aromatherapy, massage techniques, and other coping tools to use in labor. They also provide information on pain medication and epidural anesthesia. The locations and schedules for the classes are nearly as varied as the techniques themselves. Classes may be held at the hospital or birthing center, at a private facility or in your home. There are even birth preparation videotapes and DVDs available to watch in the privacy of your own home and at your convenience. There are special classes for parents expecting multiples, women who are attempting a vaginal birth after a cesarean section (VBAC), and refresher classes for second or third-time mothers. Classes are usually held in the evenings during the week or all-day classes on the weekends and generally run from a couple of weeks up to 12 weeks.

Any class you choose should explain the stages and characteristics of labor, relaxation and breathing techniques, as well as some information on breastfeeding and newborn care. To find childbirth classes in your area, ask your health provider, hospital, or birthing center, or get referrals from friends and relatives.