Lamaze breathing — once and for all

Breath is such an awesome tool in labor. It’s free, available to everyone, and can be used in any position or circumstance. Breathing brings oxygen to a woman and her baby. It helps with relaxation — both physical and emotional. It brings a birthing person’s awareness deep into their body, and it can be a helpful tool for rhythm and connection. As a doula, I remind clients of their breath in almost every birth I attend.

Deep, cleansing breath...

The history of Lamaze breathing patterns

Back in the 1960s, Lamaze International taught strict, patterned breathing as the go-to comfort measure for labor. Lamaze was quickly branded as “the breathing method.” I totally understand why it stuck. The scripted, rigid Lamaze breathing that was used back then made for great sitcom scenes. And in real life, the breathing patterns and practice were dramatic enough that if families remembered nothing from their birth classes, they surely would remember that (whether or not it actually helped during their labor).

Today's take on "the breathing"

So does Lamaze still teach “the breathing”? I feel pretty comfortable saying that across the board, Lamaze educators do teach families about what we now call conscious breathing. That’s the breath I referred to at the beginning of this post… the breath that helps people center and relax, the breath that encourages the hormones of labor to work well for an easier, faster labor. It’s easy, it’s natural, it’s relaxed. Many of us are also teaching breath awareness as stress relief and a mindfulness tool during pregnancy (that’s especially important for women of color, who face address stress and risk during their pregnancies because of racism). Yes, we teach about breathing, but definitely not the “hee-hee, hoo-hoo” of long ago.

Lamaze International broke away from scripted Lamaze breathing patterns in the 1980s, as Judith Lothian described in her 2011 article, “Lamaze Breathing: What Every Pregnant Woman Needs to Know.” As our understanding of birth broadened, the comfort measures toolbox got bigger. As all great organizations do, Lamaze evolved. Strict breathing patterns just aren’t part of our classrooms anymore, and they haven’t been for a long time. So why does that image hold on? I really think the scripted breathing made for such darned good drama and comedy that it wiggled its way into our collective consciousness. It’s been fun, but it’s way past time for society to let. it. go.

What Lamaze is really about

Instead of revolving around breathing patterns, today’s Lamaze International is rooted in the idea that pregnancy and birth are normal, natural life events. The Lamaze Healthy Birth Practices show us how interventions that aren’t medically necessary can interfere with the physiologic process of birth.

Lamaze trainers like ours at Heart Soul Birth Pros are committed to creative, evidence-based teaching techniques to help parents set the stage for positive birth experiences. That’s the Lamaze I fell in love with, for sure.

If you’re curious about Lamaze International and what it might be like to teach, I hope you’ll take our Heart Soul Birth Pros Lamaze training. I promise, there won’t be a single breathing pattern to be found. Today’s Lamaze is so much more.

Was breathe important to you during your own labor? How so? If you’re a childbirth educator or doula, what do you tell your students and clients about breathing? What have you heard about Lamaze breathing and has your perception changed over time? Leave us a comment to share your thoughts.

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About Jessica English

Hey there, I'm Jessica English, the owner of Heart Soul Birth Pros and Birth Kalamazoo, Michigan's first and longest-running doula agency. I've been a birth professional for more than a dozen years, and today I specialize in training, coaching, mentoring and supporting doulas and childbirth educators.

2 Comments

  1. Kay Cooksley on January 17, 2018 at 8:50 pm

    Perhaps some advice am a childbirth instructor in a small town in southern Oregon – the local hospital closed. With the ever Increasing epidural surge over the years the fall in those seeking Lamaze has dropped drastically.
    A number of years ago I had some health issues and did not realize I had missed my date to recertify . With my numbers being quite low it financially became a problem to do recertification. I just have continued teaching childbirth education on a very small scale .
    I feel like I would like to recertify but at this point I’m not sure what the best approach is. I have written to Lamaze we have not connected. Two years ago I went to Las Vegas for a Lamaze convention. Enjoyed it thoroughly.
    Best advice??



    • Jessica English on January 18, 2018 at 9:16 pm

      Hi Kay! Thanks for writing. I would be happy to help you connect with the right folks at the Lamaze home office. Can you please email me at info@heartsoulbirthpros.com? Tell me when your certification expired (or approximately), and I’ll see if I can get your question in motion. 🙂