Looking back in time: an interview with madame blanche cohen

Madame Blanche Cohen, a French physiotherapist, was both a colleague of Drs. Fernand Lamaze and Pierre Vellay and their primary teacher of the Lamaze method (also known as accouchement sans douleur, or "painless childbirth"). She is the woman we read about in Marjorie Karmel's landmark book, Thank You, Dr. Lamaze. In her Paris apartment in 1955, Madame Cohen conducted private classes to prepare Marjorie for her birth experience. She also served as Marjorie's monitrice when Marjorie gave birth to her first daughter. Madame Cohen is still living in France with her husband, Henry. In this interview, she shares a fascinating glimpse into the history of the Lamaze method.