On September  20, 1960, Lamaze International first incorporated as an organization.   Two days ago we celebrated 60 years of teaching families about safe and healthy birth!  In recognition of this momentous milestone, we're sharing 60 reasons to love Lamaze based on the many benefits families receive from taking a Lamaze class. For an organization that was once touted as the childbirth "breathing" class, you'll see that we've come a long way! 

1. Increase families' confidence for labor, birth, breast/chestfeeding, and the first few months of parenting. 
2. Classes teach only evidence-based information so families learn best and/or most current practices for birth. 
3. People learn so many ways to cope with the pain of contractions. 
4. Partners learn how to support pregnant people during birth. 
5. Step-by-step tips for self-advocacy during labor, birth, and postpartum.
6. Opportunities to Get to know and connect with their inner selves more. 
7. Get to know and connect with their partners more. 
8. Learn about inductions. 
9. Find out how to get breast/chestfeeding off to a great start. 
10. See how a baby fits through the pelvis. 
11. Moments of fun and laughs while they learn. 
12. Moments of tenderness, too. 
13. Ease their anxieties. 
14. Learn the differences, with demonstrations, between dilation and effacement and why it matters.
15. Find out about a Bishop's score and why one is important when considering induction. 
16. Meet other parents in their community. 
17. Discover six practices they can use to help to have a safe and healthy birth. 
18. Explore myths and truths about what really happens in labor. 
19. Practice positions for pain relief in labor. 
20. Practice massage techniques for pain relief in labor. 
21. Practice visualization techniques for pain relief in labor. 
22. Find out which of their five senses are most helpful to them for pain relief and distraction during labor. 
23. Figure out exactly what they want to include on a birth plan. 
24. Learn what to do - and what not to do - with a birth plan. 
25. Learn how to communicate the birth plan to the care providers. 
26. Partners/support learn how they can advocate for the laboring person and help follow the birth plan during labor and birth. 
27. Find out the most critical things you need to know when caring for a new baby.
28. Find out about interventions and "trade offs."
29. They'll have fun while you learn. 
30. Teach out how birthing a baby is similar to the process of making a baby (really!). 
31. Discover that they can give birth in so many ways that don't include laying on your back. 
32. Receive valuable well-recommended local contacts for related professional services, like doulas, lactation consultants, massage therapists, and more!
33. Find out when interventions are needed, why, and how to keep their labor and birth as safe as possible when an intervention is needed. 
34. Use fun props to learn about the mechanics of birth. Balloon and ping pong ball, anyone?!
35. Practice ways to find comfort with common pregnancy aches and pains. 
36. Get recommendations for the best books about pregnancy, birth, breast/chestfeeding, postpartum, and parenting. 
37. Get invaluable resource links for the most helpful articles and tools online. 
38. Answer their top questions. 
39. Help for their top fears. 
40. Opportunities to share about their experience and hear from others. 
41. Find out about the many, many choices them have in labor and birth. 
42. Reassurance that they aren't the only person experiencing __________. 
43. Insider information on what an epidural is really like. 
44. What to expect if they have a c-section. 
45. Insider information on the hospital they;ve chosen (Lamaze teachers know so much!). 
46. Find out how to care for their postpartum body after a vaginal or cesarean birth. 
47. Identify signs of depression, anxiety, and other related mood disorders during pregnancy and after birth. 
48. Demystify the basics of nutrition. 
49. Prepare for life after birth, including tips for your relationship communication and connection. 
50. Learn about caregiver (doctor, OB, midwife) warning signs and how to switch providers if desired. 
51. Get the scoop on tests during pregnancy. 
52. Learn how to get what they need and want out of visits with their care provider. 
53. Find out which newborn tests are most valuable and which ones can be postponed or declined. 
54. Teach them all they ever wanted to know (and then some) about pushing in labor. 
55. Discover what a doula does during labor and birth doula, and how that can help. 
56. See what skin-to-skin care really looks like and learn about "the golden hour" after birth. 
57. Understand what it means (and why it's important) to receive "continuous support" during labor and birth. 
58. Learn about the things they can do to potentially shorten their time in labor and pushing. 
59. Find out how to cope when things don't go as planned. 
60. And yes, they will also learn about different ways to breathe in labor.

Happy 60th birthday, Lamaze!

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