Relax, you're having a baby
By BILL SCHWANKE of Missoula.com
French obstetrician Fernand Lamaze died in 1957, but not before he developed a birthing process that - at least for awhile - was a popular choice among expectant couples.
According to Missoula Lamaze instructor Ruth Bray the basic concept of the method is relaxation through the use of a conditioned, practiced response using verbal cues and touch from the birth partner.
That includes breathing exercises to maintain oxygen balance and help the mother relax more. It also can include natural pain relief through touch or even bathing along with heat or cold.
Bray is a tried and true supporter of the method. She and her husband, Mike, took the course from now-retired teacher Jo Kimery 23 years ago in preparation for the birth of their first child.
"She had an awesome class," Bray recalled. "We took her class a couple of times actually. She acted as labor support for us in several of our births, which was really awesome."
Lamaze instructor Ruth Bray: far right, meets with her latest class including, from left, Sara and Todd Turner, Mattie and Ryan Andersen, and Dave and Minette Glaser. BILL SCHWANKE/Missoula.com
Kimery ended up mentoring Bray and trained her to teach Lamaze, and she's been doing it ever since.
Bray also trained with the International Childbirth Association which promotes another childbirth method very similar to Lamaze. She also trained with Positive Pregnancy Parenting Fitness and became certified to teach fitness as labor delivery support.
She served as ICA's state coordinator for about two years.
Over the years the Brays have had four of their own children and three grandchildren born using the Lamaze method.
Because the interest in Lamaze has decreased, especially with the increased use of epidural drugs during birth about seven years ago, Bray now teaches just one night per week at the Western Montana Clinic's Community Medical Center location. Originally she taught up to three nights per week.
"We average maybe four or five couples (up to) 10 couples per session, which is a lot of fun," Bray said. "I think women's motivational levels kind of went down then (when epidurals came along).
"I know I was highly motivated 23 years ago when we didn't have a lot in the way of pain relief to find something that would assist me to have a good, positive birth," Bray recalled, "so I went with the Lamaze method.
Bray said there are several alternative methods available, but Lamaze remains at least somewhat popular.
"There's always been a fairly diehard group, a small group of women and their partners who would like to be really educated about the birth process," Bray noted. "So whether they were planning a medicated birth or not they come to class just to find out what's available and what the process might be like."
While one might expect that talking husbands into participating in the birth process might be a challenge Bray said overall they have been pretty willing customers.
"They're pretty excited," Bray said. "They really want to come in there and do a good job. They really want to support their partner and help her get through.
"Most of the time I'm working with couples who really want to be there together and they want to enhance their experience, so it's been pretty good over the years."
Other trends in modern birthing include what Bray called hypno-birthing which has grown in popularity, especially over the last three to five years in Missoula. She has studied the method, which also relies heavily on relaxation, and has loaned CDs about it to some of her clients.
The Bradley Method also involves coaching from the birth partner but, unlike Lamaze, relies on abdominal breathing rather than the chest breathing taught through Lamaze.
Bray said Dr. Robert Bradley wanted less intervention during childbirth by allowing the birthing arena to stay in a more natural state with less management of the process.
"Realistically we're where we're at technologically," Bray pointed out, "and some of those things are really beneficial to us."
Bray also has seen a trend in more home births in the Missoula area, especially with the opening of the Birth Center on South Reserve.
"There are a lot of people that, at least for their first birth, thinking about having their baby (there)," Bray noted, "and if that goes well sometimes they tell me they may have their next one at home. I still see it as being a strong option for some people in Missoula."
One good sign for Bray as a Lamaze instructor is the number of what she calls "repeat offenders," as she lovingly calls them.
"And I've actually had some clients whose children were born through my classes," Bray pointed out, "and they've come back through and taken their classes from me. It's been a lot of fun."
Kimery also continues to refer potential Lamaze students to Bray as well.
While the use of natural childbirth methods such as Lamaze may have declined Bray thinks they always will be around.
"I think any type of natural childbirth preparation - preparation for childbirth in general - will always be there because people want knowledge," Bray explained. "Whether they choose to have a natural birth or a medicated birth, that's really OK.
"I figure however you do it is right," she went on. "Whatever the client chooses, so long as they have a positive birthing experience, that's our goal."
Bray also thinks there is tremendous carryover from having the husband or partner in the delivery room.
"Over the years I've been teaching it's been interesting to watch the involvement," Bray said. "In fact, when my husband and I were first having our children his involvement extended to taking Lamaze class and then being my labor support person.
"And I've had dads now who catch their babies and they're part of that actual process," Bray added. "One gentleman caught his child in a catcher's mitt which he then had bronzed.
"So things have changed and fathers are more involved in very interesting ways, so I think that it will just continue to get better."
For more information: Ruth Bray, 251-4003.
Click here to listen to the entire interview with Missoula Lamaze instructor Ruth Bray.
