Should I Take a Lamaze Class If I Am Planning to Have an Epidural?

by Marylou Tietz, LCCE, FACCE and
Christy Bergemann, BA, LCCE

Absolutely!

Physicians, midwives and nurse practitioners recommend Lamaze childbirth classes to their pregnant patients who are considering having an epidural because:

• You learn a wide array of relaxation, breathing and massage techniques to help you remain calm and focused so you can cope with the pain of labor until you have an epidural.

• Your partner learns valuable comfort strategies to help you cope with the pain until you have the epidural.

• Lamaze techniques make the hours when you are laboring at home go more easily.

• You learn a balanced approach to labor that allows you to combine the benefits of the traditional Lamaze techniques with those of an epidural.

• Lamaze class gives you additional information and emotional support during the prenatal period.

• You become familiarized with medical technology and hospital policies.

Even if you are planning to have an epidural, the techniques learned in Lamaze prepared childbirth classes will help you to cope until it can safely be administered.

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