Lamaze is not about “breathing” anymore but about a sound philosophy rooted in the teachings of Fernand Lamaze, a French obstetrician who developed a method of breathing and relaxation techniques in the 1950s.

His particular concern was education, believing that a woman giving birth would be better prepared if she and her partner were well educated and learnt basic tools such as breathing and relaxation techniques to cope with the associated pain of childbirth. His basic reasoning was that fear of the process itself was likely to induce more and unnecessary pain, and so it was that he developed his “technique” which then became the “Lamaze method”also known as psychoprophylaxis and was transported to the U.S.A. via Marjorie Karmel and her groundbreaking book “Thank You Dr. Lamaze”.

Since the 1960s women have used his methods and have expanded on his ideas developing the current Lamaze philosophy of birth which consists of 7 points...

LAMAZE PHILOSPHY OF BIRTH

• Birth is normal, natural and healthy.

• The experience of birth profoundly affects women and their families.

• Women's inner wisdom guides them through birth.

• Women's confidence and ability to give birth is either enhanced or diminished by the care provider and place of birth.

• Women have the right to give birth free from routine medical interventions.

• Birth can safely take place in maternity units and homes.

• Childbirth education empowers women to make informed choices in healthcare, to assume responsibility for their health and to trust their inner wisdom.