Does Lamaze promise painless childbirth?
The fear of pain is common in many women. Our classes explain the nature of the pain and how and why contractions become intense and how pain is a normal part of childbirth. Responding to the pain of contractions – by changing positions and moving, by massaging, – actually strengthens the contractions, helps the baby settle into the pelvis and move through the birth canal, and reduces pain perception. Women, while pregnant, are already responding to what they are feeling. They move or shift in response to a discomfort or pain. Our classes help women understand the value of pain and focus on the positive aspects of labor. Our couples learn how to respond to pain in ways that both facilitate labor and increase comfort.
