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ABSTRACT
The author, who accomplished the majority of her work as a childbirth educator while based in Tampa, Florida, journals the experience of being an early pioneer in promoting Lamaze childbirth in the United States, beginning in the 1960s. Many aspects of her story are common to the stories of other childbirth educators who also pioneered the childbirth movement in the United States during the same time frame. This history is presented for its potential usefulness to those who continue to work to advance the Lamaze International goal of promoting normal birth.
Journal of Perinatal Education, 14( 1), 22-29, doi: 10.1624/105812405X23603
Keywords: Lamaze Philosophy of Birth, Lamaze method, childbirth education, history, Tampa Bay Area
BEGINNING IN THE 1960s
I was an early advocate of the Psychoprophylactic Method (PPM) or, as it became known, the ''Lamaze method,'' and now the ''Lamaze Philosophy of Birth.'' My journey with childbirth education is an example of the movement's progress throughout the United States. Documenting this journey may be useful to those who continue to advance the mission of Lamaze International to promote normal birth. It may also encourage others to document their journey.
The Lamaze method of childbirth and approach to childbirth education was originally known as the PPM. In order to promote PPM, the American Society for Psychoprophylaxis, Inc. (ASPO) was founded in 1960 by Elisabeth Bing, RPT, and others in New York City. Ms. Bing had learned the method from Marjorie Karmel, who was trained by Dr. Fernand Lamaze while she was in France preparing for the birth of her first child. Upon Ms. Karmel's return to the United States, pregnant again, she met Elisabeth Bing, who assisted with preparation for her second birth, using the PPM. From this meeting, the two women and others collaborated and, thus, ASPO was created. It subsequently became ASPO/ Lamaze and is currently Lamaze International.
When I was pregnant with my first child in 1960, a friend and I read the book, Thank You, Dr. Lamaze, by Marjorie Karmel (1959). Because no Lamaze classes were being offered in the United States at that time, we taught ourselves from the description discussed in the book. We were attracted to the Lamaze approach because it educated us about the processes of labor...