They Call It <i> Labor </i> for a Reason

Since Shari Roan’s article on childbirth preparation classes appeared, I’ve had an opportunity to hear from a variety of people on the subject.

There was a clue at the very end of the article about some of the women who come for classes. There is a desire for no fuss, no muss. Some women find themselves six weeks before birth with no class and a sudden panic, so they want to see a tape on Lamaze techniques.

We are in many ways dealing with the video generation. The problem is that birth is a physical, not intellectual, experience. Birth is a life experience and, as with other life experiences, we can only offer some methods and techniques, but the woman herself needs to draw on her whole being to live the action. The breathing, relaxation, and imagery are only tools. They have to be picked up, learned and incorporated. (People have) a lot of need to control, and in many cases very capable women have come upon their first life experience in which they have no ultimate control.

At the same time labor and birth are highly managed events. Technology plays a major part in birth because it may be needed, it is expected and it is legally expedient. It can be a life-saving benefit and aid in the management and easing of labor, or it can usher in one intervention after another.

It takes determination for a woman to research how, where and with whom to give birth. It is complicated by economic factors. A great number of women still receive no classes, in spite of the fact that we know prenatal education improves the outcomes for high-risk, low-income women.

CONNIE O’NEILL

Executive Director

ASPO/Lamaze of Los Angeles