Lamaze Magazine 2008 - (Page 1) welcome President’s Message A s a childbirth educator, I see a spectrum of emotions from expectant parents – joy, fear, ambivalence, anxiety and excitement. The parents who feel most confident about their upcoming birth experience and transition to parenthood are often those who trust their bodies and the well-designed process by which their baby will enter this world. Of course, every childbirth educator hopes that all parents feel empowered and trusting, but knows that these feelings are built over time with good information and support. Most parents have heard scary stories, seen inaccurate portrayals of birth on television and in movies, and believe that birth is fraught with danger and drama. Sound medical research shows that intervention without medical necessity is not the best for mothers and babies and may sometimes be harmful. Most women are unsatisfied with these experiences, yet that’s the norm in the United States today. From that evidence, and building on information from the World Health Organization, Lamaze International has identified six practices that facilitate more positive birth outcomes: Labor should begin on its own. Laboring women should be free to move throughout labor. Laboring women should have continuous support from others throughout labor. There should be no routine interventions during labor and birth. Women should not give birth on their backs. Mothers and babies should not be separated after birth and should have unlimited opportunity for breastfeeding. The parents who feel most confident about their upcoming birth experience and transition to parenthood are often those who trust their bodies. | | | | | | PHOTO: BETH BISCHOFF; STYLIST: KEVIN LENNOX Health-care providers who adopt these care practices are most likely to provide evidencebased care for a woman and her baby. Think about your hopes for your birth in addition to the highest goals of health for you and your baby and make sure that your health-care provider and place of birth are in line with your preferences. This magazine, along with the links to other articles on www.lamaze.org, is a great starting point. Also, The Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence is an amazing resource. Learn all you can about comfort measures and how to communicate collaboratively with your midwife or doctor. Most importantly, trust that you will know how to cope with labor and that your body and baby know just what to do. I hope that your confidence soars after reading this magazine! All the best for a wonderful and healthy birth and joyful parenting! Allison Walsh, IBCLC, LCCE, FACCE PRESIDENT, LAMAZE INTERNATIONAL P.S. We’d like to hear what you think about the new Lamaze magazine. Please log on to lamaze.org/ survey to tell us what you love, what you don’t and what you want more of from Lamaze. LAMAZE MAGAZINE 2008 1 LAMAZE.ORG http://LAMAZE.ORG http://lamaze.org/survey http://lamaze.org/survey http://LAMAZE.ORG
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