Lamaze has been my inspiration.

My babies and grandbabies were born more easily and safely with what I learned in my first two Lamaze classes. After the birth of my second son, I felt the call to share what I had learned from my two births with other pregnant families. I was already a nurse, so I met the criteria to become certified as a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator at the time. I was certified by Lamaze in 1983 and have continued to recertify ever since. I have a sincere passion for helping families start their journey with empowerment and knowledge, and with the backing of Lamaze International, I am seen as a trustworthy resource. 

The evidence-based information that Lamaze shares and teaches gives me the courage to present birth choices assertively to families. Unfortunately, several birthing people today are still on their backs for labor and are connected to some unnecessary machines. Yet wherever I visit, I  see more parents walking the halls and more hospitals with telemetry (wireless) units that can monitor baby when medically necessary while the person in labor is in the shower or walking about. I’m also seeing more doula supported families as well as family members supporting people during labor and birth. There are more Lactation Consultants available. Volunteer birth doula organizations are increasing in my area hospitals to support vaginal and cesarean birth, and for post-surgical care. Lamaze has been a constant support and foundation for these changes. 

As a lifelong supporter for new families, I treasure my lifelong association with Lamaze International. The benefits have been so many! 

• As a volunteer and leader, Lamaze gave me knowledge and support from fellow members and from the management team. When I became President, I had no clue what I was supposed to be doing. Along the way and with lots of support, I learned about leadership, communication, collaboration, and efficiency. 
• The continuous education from Lamaze improves how I teach parents as it confirms and adapts to the changes in evidence-based information. Lamaze charts, white papers, and infographics provide key messages for teaching families. 
• Attending Lamaze workshops and Lamaze introduced me to like-minded colleagues who also wanted good outcomes I wanted for birthing families. I learned to explain to families the resources they have within themselves to give birth, and how to share decision-making with their providers. Families began to take control of their birth with providers and medical staff in assertive, but not aggressive, ways. 

With all that Lamaze does for families and professionals helping families, why wouldn't you donate? The benefits to future generations are worth sustaining.

Donating is easy and flexible -- you can donate a smaller amount monthly or a larger donation quarterly or yearly. I hope you’ll consider donating to Lamaze as well as taking advantage of and sharing all that they have to offer.

Barbara Hotelling

Barbara Hotelling has been a birth doula and childbirth educator since 1982.  She later became a birth doula trainer and Lamaze educator trainer and has worked with pregnant and parenting teens.  Recently she has studied When Survivors Give Birth and is training to teach the program.  She studies birth psychology with the Association for Pre and Perinatal Psychology.

Currently she is a Clinical Nurse Educator at Duke University’s School of Nursing where she has the honor of passing along information about parent education, birth doula, trauma effects and trauma prevention to gifted and altruistic nursing students.

Barbara’s blessings are her 5 children and 8 grandchildren.

Published: May 22, 2020

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