What Is Lamaze? Evidence-Based Childbirth Education
Lamaze International is a global nonprofit organization that helps parents prepare for pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood. Through evidence-based childbirth education, professional certification, and advocacy, Lamaze gives families trusted information and practical tools to make informed decisions and approach birth with confidence.
Our Mission and Vision
Established in 1960, Lamaze International is a non-profit organization and a trusted global leader, with a mission to advance safe and healthy pregnancy, birth and early parenting through evidence-based education and advocacy.
The Lamaze Vision is to be the trusted global leader in ensuring all parents make confident and informed decisions with the support and resources to have safe, healthy births.
"I taught a family in my Lamaze class that was planning a home birth. Their plans changed unexpectedly, resulting in a surgical birth. Mom found peace with her birth because she was prepared for the fork in the road. She touched base with me after the birth, thanking me for everything she learned during the class. Her postpartum period was gentle; she found her voice and her way of mothering through honoring all she learned and the greatness that already existed inside of her." - Anjanette Silas, LCCE
What Guides Lamaze Childbirth Education
Lamaze childbirth education is guided by three core principles: evidence-based information, respect for every family, and confidence in the transformative journey from pregnancy to parenthood.
Evidence-Based
Lamaze education and practices are grounded in current research. We provide families with reliable information about pregnancy and birth so they can understand their options and make informed decisions without judgment.
Respectful
Every pregnancy, birth, and path to parenthood is unique. Lamaze welcomes and respects individuals and families around the world, including their personal values, circumstances, and care preferences.
Transformative
Pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood can be transformative experiences. Lamaze helps parents build confidence, ask questions, work with their care teams, and make informed decisions that reflect their needs.
Six Healthy Birth Practices
The Lamaze Six Healthy Birth Practices are evidence-based recommendations that help parents understand their options and prepare for a safe, healthy birth. Individual circumstances may vary, but every family can benefit from learning about these practices and discussing them with their care team.
- Let labor begin on its own.
- Walk, move around and change positions throughout labor.
- Bring a loved one, friend or doula for continuous support.
- Avoid interventions that are not medically necessary.
- Avoid giving birth on your back and follow your body's urges to push.
- Keep mother and baby together — it's best for mother, baby and breastfeeding.
Adapted from Giving Birth with Confidence, 3rd Edition
Download the Lamaze Healthy Birth Practice papers in 11 languages.
How Lamaze Helps Parents Prepare for Birth
Lamaze helps expectant parents prepare for childbirth with credible, evidence-based information and practical support. Grounded in the Six Healthy Birth Practices, Lamaze education helps families understand their options, communicate with their care teams, and make informed decisions throughout pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.
"I’ve had so many families express the impact of a Lamaze childbirth education class. Folks often leave feeling empowered and confident about the birth process and their ability to advocate for themselves and make informed decisions about their care. Lots of families also seek out the support of a birth doula after learning the benefits of having support.” LCCE
Lamaze Philosophy Statements
Lamaze Philosophy of Pregnancy
- Birthing parents’ bodies are designed to nourish and nurture their babies through pregnancy.
- The months of pregnancy are necessary for babies to develop and grow, for birthing parents’ bodies to prepare for birth and chest/breastfeeding, and for parents to prepare for parenthood.
- Pregnancy provides an opportunity for parents to begin forming lifelong bonds with their babies.
- A good support system and healthy lifestyle promotes a healthy pregnancy, birth, and baby.
- The health care system and care provider can increase or decrease a birthing parent's confidence in their pregnancy and ability to have a healthy baby.
- Lamaze education helps birthing parents to be confident, trust their innate ability to give birth, and make informed decisions about pregnancy, birth, chest/breastfeeding, and parenting.
Lamaze Philosophy of Birth
- Birthing parents have an innate ability to give birth.
- Birth is transformative in the life of a family.
- Birthing parents’ confidence and ability to give birth is either enhanced or diminished by the care provider and place of birth.
- Birthing parents have the right to respectful care and continuous support.
- Birthing parents have the right to give birth free from routine medical interventions.
- Birth can safely take place in homes, birth centers, and hospitals.
- Evidence-based care helps improve birth outcomes.
- Lamaze childbirth education empowers birthing parents to make informed choices in health care and take responsibility for their health, and to trust their ability to give birth.
Lamaze Philosophy of Parenting
- Positive parenting is vital to the physical, emotional and spiritual health of children, parents, and our society as a whole.
- A safe, healthy birth experience provides a strong foundation for parenting.
- Parenting is joyful, important, challenging and deeply satisfying work that is worthy of everyone’s best efforts.
- Parenting begins before birth. The intimate connection between children and their parents must be respected and protected throughout life.
- Parents play unique, irreplaceable roles in the lives of their children.
- Babies and children thrive in close, consistent interaction with their parents.
- Parenting is a learned art; our most important teachers are our own parents, our family and our children.
- Good parenting requires the support of family, friends and community.
- Knowledge and support enhance parents’ confidence and ability to make informed decisions that meet both their own needs and the needs of their children.
Lamaze Policies
Lamaze Policies are grouped by categories, as listed below.