Applying the Listening to Mothers II Results in Lamaze Classes

Elizabeth H Day1

  • 1ELIZABETH DAY is a mother of two, a certified doula with DONA International, and a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator living in Bentonville, Arkansas. She is also a passionate advocate for normal birth and serves as a chapter co-leader of BirthNetwork National in her community of Northwest Arkansas.

Childbirth educators can use Childbirth Connection's Listening to Mothers II survey as a resource for updating their curriculum and teaching methods. The survey reveals that issues surrounding a woman's choice of care providers, her nutrition and fitness habits, and her possible experiences with depression and abuse may not be addressed sufficiently in a traditional, third-trimester, Lamaze class and may need greater emphasis in early pregnancy. The survey's results also show that women turn primarily to books, friends and family, health-care providers, and the Internet for information on pregnancy and birth. Suggestions for incorporating new sources of information and Internet technologies into Lamaze classes are discussed.