Child Birth

Child Birth: child birth assistance, classes and resources in your area.


When you see laboring women on TV huffing and puffing through clenched teeth, they're practicing the Lamaze technique of childbirth. It was popularized in the early 1950s by French obstetrician Dr. Ferdinand Lamaze, who discovered the psychoprophylaxis technique on a trip to Russia. These days, however, Lamaze is much more than simple breathing techniques: It emphasizes pain management through relaxation and breathing exercises. The theory is that a woman in labor can condition her responses to contractions through breathing and imagery to minimize her pain. In addition, the class emphasizes knowledge, preparation, and your role as an informed patient.

The Bradley method is just one of numerous childbirth classes expectant parents can take before their baby is born. Developed by Dr. Robert Bradley in the late 1940s, the method emphasizes an extremely natural approach, with few or no drugs and little medical help during labor and delivery. In fact, up to 85 percent of women who use the Bradley method deliver their babies without medication. The method stresses good diet and exercise during pregnancy, teaches deep relaxation techniques to manage pain, and educates a woman's husband or partner so he can be an effective coach.

Water Babies are babies that are born while the mother is submersed in water. Also called underwater childbirth, there have been about 25,000 waterbirths worldwide.