When I reflect on my 50-year journey as a Lamaze educator, I’m reminded of the power that knowledge brings—especially during one of life’s most transformative moments: childbirth.
My passion for childbirth education began with my own first birth experience. Even though we took Lamaze classes, there was little support from physicians and hospital staff for “natural” birth. My labor was induced, and I was given scopolamine—causing my spouse to be sent to the waiting room. I have no memory of labor, birth, or even meeting my son for the first time after his cesarean delivery. That experience left me feeling disconnected, disempowered, and uninformed. It ignited a lifelong commitment to ensure others would never walk into birth feeling powerless or alone.
Seven years later, I gave birth to my second child—a beautiful, unmedicated VBAC. That birth experience was everything my first was not: empowering, clear, and unforgettable. I felt supported, informed, and truly present as I welcomed my baby into the world. It reaffirmed what I knew in my heart: that every birthing person deserves access to information, options, and respectful care. That experience further fueled my passion for helping families understand their choices and recognize the power they hold in shaping their own birth stories.
Two years after my first birth, I became certified as a Lamaze educator while still in nursing school in 1976 and began teaching soon after—first in a co-op and private practice, then at the first freestanding birthing center in San Antonio. Eventually, I had the opportunity to design and lead a comprehensive perinatal education program for a major hospital system. Grounded in Lamaze principles, it offered more than just classes. We held women’s health events, lunchtime learning sessions, and developed a robust inpatient and outpatient lactation support program staffed by International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs). These were fun times of change as we advocated for family centered maternity care in a conservative maternity culture as childbirth educators and inspired parents to demand positive changes.
After retiring from nursing, I continued using my experience by opening a maternity boutique in Wilmington, NC, called The Woman’s Place. There, I offer Lamaze and Spinning Babies classes, breastfeeding and newborn care instruction, lactation services, and a carefully curated selection of birth and breastfeeding-related items—along with cute maternity and children’s clothing.
To new Lamaze educators: think outside the box. You may find yourself teaching in hospitals, homes, boutiques, online platforms, or community centers—each space offers a chance to meet people where they are. Birth in our society is constantly shifting, with medical, cultural, and political forces influencing how people experience it. Ride those ups and downs, stay grounded in evidence, and above all, continue advocating for birthing families. Your voice matters—use it to help others find theirs.
Throughout my career, my goal has remained the same: to encourage expectant parents to learn about pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding so they can engage in informed, shared decision-making with their care providers. Lamaze isn’t about promoting a single “right” way to give birth—it’s about equipping families with evidence-based information and confidence.
Birth matters. Education matters. When parents feel informed and supported, their experience—whatever path it takes—can be one of strength and joy. After five decades in this work, I am still honored every time a parent tells me, “I didn’t know I had a voice—until your class helped me find it.
Published: August 15, 2025
Tags