Prepared Childbirth
Evolution
Throughout history, men have had battlefields on which to prove their bravery. Traditionally, women have viewed the labor bed as their battleground, where their strength, endurance, and courage were tested. Women still love to tell “war” stories about labor and delivery. The “warriors” engage in fierce competition as they compare tales of who had the longest labor, the most stitches, and the biggest baby. This is female macho at its worst. The story-telling doesn’t change, but the battleground gets redecorated every decade or so.
Childbirth has come a long way from the 1950s and 1960s, when having babies was a very serious business. Doctors considered the process too complicated for the womenfolk to worry about and too gruesome for the men to participate in. The expectant father’s place was in the waiting room while the mother of his child labored in a drug-induced twilight zone, alone and stoned.
During the 1970s, “natural” childbirth was in vogue. Childbirth without medication was an initiation rite, a way for women to attain a sort of “superwarrior” status among their peers. Any method other than cold turkey was deemed a failure by those in the know. Returning to Lamaze or Bradley class as a dropout was a fate worse than death. Yet, if you asked 10 people to define natural childbirth, you got 10 different answers. For some, it meant a home birth and no medication; for others it meant medication but a home style delivery in the hospital. The combinations were endless.
By the 1980s, “prepared childbirth” replaced natural as the buzzword in obstetrics. Consumers wanted a more individualized approach to labor and delivery, to allow the option of doing whatever best suited their needs. This was a healthier approach than the restrictive, judgmental, pass-fail, do-or-die mentality that surrounded natural childbirth. With the resurgence of epidural anesthesia in the 90s, “Be awake, alert, and don’t hurt” is replacing the old 80s mantra “No pain, no gain.”
Theory
The basic theory behind prepared childbirth, whether it is Lamaze, Bradley, Fitzhugh, or Dick-Read, is the same:
- Self-awareness
- Self-control through programmed exercises
- Reduction of pain through education and knowledge of the labor and delivery process
Remember the word “reduction.” Many women and their husbands falsely expect the childbirth exercises to eliminate pain completely. Only a completely effective epidural, which numbs you from the waist down, will produce that kind of pain relief. The exercises you learn in class and practice during your pregnancy help you develop your powers of concentration, which enhance your ability to alter your pain perception and keep your self-control during labor. The exercises are helpful but not a panacea.
Childbirth Classes
In olden days, most childbirth educators adhered to the party line preached by Lamaze or Bradley. Strict lines were drawn. In these more modern times, many childbirth educators mix and match philosophies, exercises and attitudes. Remember, there is no right or wrong method. It’s simply a matter of your choice and what best suits your needs. Find a teacher who suits your style. You can’t go wrong with someone who is flexible, practical, and has a sense of humor.
Beware of anyone who preaches a totally painless labor and birth through exercise and fanatically insists that you refuse all medication during labor. In general, beware of anyone who has an inflexible approach to your labor and birth experience. Do not set yourself up for a guilt trip if you are unable to follow the rigid guidelines set for you. Use the exercises to meet your needs. Keep your options open, and remember that the most important concepts of prepared childbirth are to maintain your self-control and share your arduous but happy experience with your husband. The togetherness and a happy outcome are what really count.
There are a number of good reasons for taking prepared childbirth classes. You need to learn the physical processes of pregnancy and childbirth and the types of birthing options open to you in your community. Without this knowledge, it is difficult to prepare a realistic birth plan, and you hinder your role in the decision-making process drastically.
Classes are available through community programs, doctors’ offices, private instructors, and school districts. The fee for classes varies, so ask. Groups of 5 to 7 couples are considered ideal because the instructor can give more individualized attention, and smaller groups are less threatening and more amenable to learning and socializing. Classes provide a ready-made support group and the chance to meet other expectant couples. Take advantage of the opportunity to enrich your pregnancy experience by sharing it. More than a few lifelong friendships have been made in childbirth classes.