International Cesarean Awareness Network

Preparing for Childbirth is a powerful thing. Learning how to listen to your body and progress through labor and understanding each step your body takes during an intensely personal time requiresboth thought and planning.

 

Please look through your options and make a choice designed on your needs for education about this time of expansion of your body and mind.

 

There are many choices in Childbirth Education beyond what is offered at your local hospital, and listed below are some of the major training organizations of childbirth education providers in the United States, each having a definable philosophy of birth. The International Cesarean Awareness Network encourages you to investigate each and discover whether one of these forms of childbirth preparation would help you the most on your journey. This list is not inclusive and there are many childbirth educators out there operating independently. ICAN places these listings here at your disposal while not endorsing any one specific method of childbirth education, so treat this not as a referral, but as a step to finding which best fits your family. Some women may choose to take more than one class in their search for that fit.

 

ALACE - Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators

P.O. Box 382724
Cambridge, MA 02238 USA
1-888-22-ALACE
ALACEHQaol.com">ALACEHQaol.com
Length of course: Traditionally 7 weeks but may vary.

 

Philosophy: "ALACE Certified Childbirth Educators offer prenatal classes for families giving birth in any setting: home, hospital, or birth center. Our teachers help expectant parents develop confidence and trust in the birth process by stressing psychological preparation and informed decision- making in addition to labor coping skills."

 

Birthing From Within

P.O. Box 4528
Albuquerque, NM 87196
Office phone: (505) 254-4884
www.birthingfromwithin.com

 

Birthing From Within mentors (teachers) believe that childbirth is a profound rite of passage, not a medical event (even when medical care is part of the birth). We teach parents the power of birthing-in-awareness, even when their birth experience is not what they had anticipated. We create a safe, nurturing class environment which will invite parents to discover their personal strength and wisdom. We balance practical, useful information with introspective, multi-sensory experiences.

 

BirthWorks®

P.O. BOX 2045
Medford, NJ 08055 USA
1-888-TO-BIRTH
www.birthworks.com
Length of course: Traditionally 10 weeks, but may vary.

 

Philosophy:

• "Women’s bodies are designed to give birth. The knowledge about how to give birth already exists inside every woman.
• A woman will labor the best where ever she feels the safest and most secure. For some that may be a hospital. For others it may mean at home or in an alternative birthing center.The nutrition of a pregnant woman has a great impact on the health of her baby from its life as a fetus through adulthood
• Breastmilk provides optimum nutrition for the newborn baby
• Birth is one of the greatest challenges life has to offer. It provides an opportunity for personal growth.
• While a cesarean section may be necessary at times, the current rate is too high.
• In most cases, VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) is a safer alternative to routine repeat cesareans.
• Birth Works® is a process, not a method.
• Birth Works® seeks to facilitate a woman’s or a couple’s personal process in childbearing, and not to impart a preconceived method of labor and birth. There is no one right way to give birth. Each birth is unique.
• A woman in labor deserves an environment in which her privacy, autonomy and emotional security is protected, and her mobility is encouraged.
• Expectant parents should participate in decisions regarding the judicious use of obstetrical medications and procedures.
• A woman’s beliefs influence her birth. Exploring beliefs heightens self-awareness, serving as a catalyst for positive change.
• The emotions of a birthing woman have profound effects on the birth outcome. Women must be allowed to express all their birth related feelings."

 

The Bradley Method® - American Academy of Husband Coached Childbirth (AAHCC)

Box 5224
Sherman Oaks, CA 91413-5224 USA
1-800-4A-BIRTH
www.bradleybirth.com
Length of course: Traditionally 12 weeks but may vary, with a minimum of 8 weeks.

 

Philosophy: "Your currently affiliated Bradley® instructor wants you and your baby to have the best, safest, and most rewarding birth experience possible. For that reason we endorse and teach the following ideals in classes

 

1. Natural Childbirth
2. Active participation of the husband as coach.
3. Excellent nutrition, the foundation of a healthy pregnancy.
4. Avoidance of drugs during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding unless absolutely necessary.
5. Training: "Early-birth" classes followed by weekly classes starting in the 6th month, continuing until birth.
6. Relaxation and NATURAL breathing.
7. "Tuning-in" to your own body.
8. Immediate and continuous contact with your new baby.
9. Breastfeeding, beginning at birth.
10. Consumerism and positive communications.
11. Parents taking responsibility for the safety of the birth place, procedures, attendants, and emergency back-up.
12. Parents prepared for unexpected situations such as emergency childbirth, and cesarean section.

 

Educated parents have the responsibility to make these choices themselves. They also need to seek personnel who have natural childbirth experience and who will support their choices. This may take considerable effort and sometimes requires seeking special personnel or traveling great distances to achieve the safest possible birth.."

 

CAPPA - Childbirth & Postpartum Professional Association

P.O. Box 491448, Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Call toll free: 1-888-548-3672
Email: infocappa.net">infocappa.net

www.CAPPA.net and www.CAPPACanada.ca
Length of course: Varies by instructor.

 

Philosophy: " In most situations and for most people, natural childbirth is the safest way to have a baby. Women should be encouraged to trust their bodies in the birth process and myths about natural childbirth should be dispelled. They should be given the tools to achieve a natural birth, if that is what they desire, and should be equipped with knowledge to make informed decisions about their birth. This knowledge should include a full understanding of the risks of interventions and medications, as well as their benefits in certain situations. Education should not involve guilt but should empower women to choose the kind of birth that is best for them, be it medicated or unmedicated, intervention-free or full of traditional interventions. CAPPA believes that, given the facts, more women would choose a natural birth for themselves and their babies.

 

Expectant parents should be taught that, although labor is painful, there are ways to deal with this pain both pharmacologically and nonpharmacologically. CAPPA generally encourages deep, abdominal breathing during labor. Some hypothesize that patterned breathing techniques may not be effective. They often lead to hyperventilation, performance anxiety, and confusion. In some situations, however, women use them effectively and CAPPA feels that patterned breathing should be among the topics presented. If a woman wants a natural birth, it is the responsibility of the CAPPA Childbirth Educator to give her many techniques and assist her with practice so that when the time comes, she has a variety of techniques at her disposal. Relaxation is a vital achievement if an expectant woman is to achieve a natural birth. Partners should be taught to recognize relaxation vs. tension and the tools and techniques of how to bring the expectant mother into a relaxed state with an emphasis on calm breathing.

 

CAPPA childbirth education class as it has been proven beneficial cross-culturally. Additionally, there are pain-relieving benefits of changing positions, frequent urination, walking, and hydrotherapy."

 

Childbirth International (CBI)

Childbirth International is a unique organization. With a global outlook and a strong belief in the "education is power" philosophy, we provide training for birth and postpartum doulas, childbirth educators and lactation counselors all over the world. We aim to establish an international standard for birth professional training.

 

Childbirth International is the largest international doula and childbirth educator training organization with students from every US state and nearly 50 countries across the world. Our philosophy in training is to ensure that our students have the confidence and skills necessary to carry out their role professionally. This enables them to support parents in making the right decisions for themselves throughout pregnancy, labor and birth - their birth, their way. We strongly believe in the benefits of a natural birth while acknowledging that sometimes interventions are necessary for the well being of both mother and baby. Routine interventions without any medical indications have no place in maternity care.

 

If you are looking for a birth professional to support you during your pregnancy or in the early days of parenting, Childbirth International provides a free international search engine. To find a birth professional in your area go to www.findadoula.com.

 

Contact: Lynne Fellowes, Customer Support
Email: lynne_felloweschildbirthinternational.com">lynne_felloweschildbirthinternational.com
Website: www.childbirthinternational.com
Telephone: USA:(415)691-6162 Aus:(02)8011-4177 UK:(020)8144 4002

 

HypnoBirthing InstituteSM

Email: hypnobirthinghypnobirthing.com">hypnobirthinghypnobirthing.com
Website: www.hypnobirthing.com, www.hypnobirthing.co.uk

 

HypnoBirthing® is a complete birth education programme, that teaches simple but specific self hypnosis, relaxation and breathing techniques for a better birth.

 

HypnoBirthing® is much more than just self hypnosis or hypnotherapy for childbirth.

 

• With HypnoBirthing®, you’ll discover that severe pain does not have to be an accompaniment of labour
• You’ll learn how to release the fears and anxieties you may currently have about giving birth, and how to overcome previous traumatic births
• HypnoBirthing® lets you discover and experience the joy and magic of birth - rather than the horrific ordeal everyone else seems hell-bent on telling you about
• Most importantly, you’ll learn how to put yourself back in control of your birth - rather than blindly turning your birthing experience over to your doctor or midwife.

 

HypnoBirthing® doesn’t mean you’ll be in a trance or a sleep. Rather, you’ll be able to chat, and be and in good spirits - totally relaxed, but fully in control. You’ll always be aware of what is happening to you, and around you.

 

HypnoBirthing® doesn’t require any particular belief system, or prior experience. Some of our mums (and especially their husbands!) have been very skeptical at first - until they experience it for themselves.
In fact, the more sceptical they are to start with, the more evangelical they are when they discover the power of HypnoBirthing®.

 

Just imagine welcoming each surge! Feeling peaceful… relaxing… and even smiling as your baby comes closer to you!

 

In short, HypnoBirthing® allows you to experience birth in an atmosphere of calm relaxation, free of the fear and tension that prevents the birthing muscles of your body from functioning as Nature intended them to.

 

ICEA - International Childbirth Education Association

P.O. Box 20048
Minneapolis, MN 55420 USA
1-612-854-8660
www.icea.org
Length of course: Varies by instructor.

 

Philosophy: "The birth of a baby represents, as well, the birth of a family. The woman giving birth and the persons significant and close to her are forming a new relationship, with new responsibilities to each other, to the baby, and to society as a whole. Family-centered reproductive care may be defined as care which recognizes the importance of these new relationships and responsibilities, and which has as its goal the best possible health outcome for all members of the family, both as individuals and as a group.

 

Family-centered care consists of an attitude rather than a protocol. It recognizes a vital life event rather than a medical procedure. It appreciates the importance of that event to the woman and to the persons who are important to her. It respects the woman’s individuality and her sense of autonomy. It realizes that the decisions she may make are based on many influences of which the expertise of the professional is only one. It requires that all relevant information be made available to the woman to help her achieve her own goals, and that she be guided but not directed by professionals she has chosen to share the responsibility for her care. "

 

Lamaze® International (was ASPO-Lamaze)

2025 M Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036-3309 USA
1-800-368-4404 or 202-367-1128

www.lamaze.org
Length of course: Lamaze class series vary in length and format by instructor, but must meet the following standards — small, individualized classes of 6 to 10 couples and a maximum of 12 couples; at least 12 hours of instruction, including time to practice skills and comfort measures as well as time for class discussions; commitment to the Lamaze Philosophy of Birth; taught by a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE).

 

An LCCE certified educator promotes, supports and protects every woman’s right to give birth, confident in her own ability, free to find comfort in a wide variety of ways, and supported by her family and all members of the health care team.

 

The mission of Lamaze International is to promote, support and protect normal birth through education and advocacy. Our vision is a world of confident women choosing normal birth. Lamaze International believes that women who are fully informed, confident and supported will want normal birth. Lamaze International believes that caregivers should respect the birth process and not intervene without compelling medical indication. These evidence-based practices adapted from the World Health Organization promote, protect and support normal birth: labor begins on its own; freedom of movement throughout labor; continuous labor support; no routine interventions; non-supine (e.g. upright or side-lying) positions for birth; no separation of mother and baby after birth with unlimited opportunity for breastfeeding.

 

Philosophy:

 

• "Birth is normal.
• 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 a right to give birth free from routine medical interventions.
• Birth can safely take place in birth centers and homes.
• Childbirth education empowers women to make informed choices in health care, to assume responsibility for their health and to trust their inner wisdom. "

The Lamaze Certification Program is the only internationally recognized childbirth educator certification program that has attained accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the accrediting body of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA).

 

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