Updated June 10, 2015.

What is Lamaze International?:

"Lamaze is a nonprofit organization that promotes a natural, healthy and safe approach to pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting. Knowing that pregnancy and childbirth can be demanding on a woman’s body and mind, Lamaze serves as a resource for information about what to expect and what choices are available during the childbearing years.

The mission of Lamaze International is to promote, support and protect natural, safe and healthy birth through education and advocacy through the dedicated efforts of professional childbirth educators, providers and parents."

For more about Lamaze International.

What to expect in childbirth class?:

A childbirth class taught by a certified Lamaze Childbirth Educator will have:

• A minimum of 12 hours, taught, typically, over 6 weeks
• A maximum of 8-10 couples per class
• The latest evidenced based information on the safest and healthiest birth for you and your baby
• Labor coping techniques and comfort measures
• Information about basic interventions in most hospitals (IV, epidural, cesarean section, fetal monitoring and more)
• How to make decisions about your care that are best for your family

Lamaze believes that safe births can take place in hospitals, homes and birth centers.

Find a Lamaze Class

Online Offerings:

• Lamaze Parents Magazine
• Weekly Pregnancy Email
• Healthy Birth Practices
• Lamaze Birth Video Library
• Sciense and Sensibility Blog
• Lamaze on Twitter

Become a Certified Lamaze Teacher:

To become a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) you will choose between paths, some are for people brand new to the childbirth education field, while others are for midwives or experiences educators.

You will have to take a basic childbirth education seminar if you are new, teach, and finish some other criteria. Then everyone takes a proctored certification exam, given twice a year. Lamaze International has an amazing study guide that they have put together.

Books and Materials Offered by Lamaze International:

• The Official Lamaze Guide to Giving Birth with Confidence by Lothian and DeVries
• Lamaze Birth Video Library

Contact Information:

Lamaze International
2025 M Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036-3309
Toll Free: 800-368-4404
International Calls: 202-367-1128
Fax: 202-367-2128
lamaze.org