Fernand Lamaze

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Fernand Lamaze (* 1891 in France ; † 1957 ) was a French doctor and obstetrician who, together with doctor Pierre Vellay, developed relaxation exercises for natural, painless childbirth.

The background was advances in the use of analgesics in childbirth . In 1914, a combination of scopolamine and morphine was developed in Freiburg im Breisgau , which suppressed pain and also the memory of the birth. The mothers woke up to find their child in the crib.

As Twilight Sleep , in Germany as twilight sleep , this combination found worldwide approval in the following decades up to 1960. In the US, feminists found this method beneficial because it helped mothers recover; Conservative circles saw this as a way of boosting the birth rate and counterbalancing immigration.

Lamaze was already convinced in the 1940s that natural alternatives to the use of pain relievers were also possible. In the 1950s Lamaze learned about a method of psychological birth preparation on a trip to the Soviet Union . Lamaze developed a concept for a painless birth that could fit into Western culture.

According to Lamaze, a woman can reduce pain if she regards the birth as a positive experience and counteracts labor pain with targeted breathing and relaxation techniques. According to Lamaze, the partner has an important, supporting role in this. With the book Thank You, Dr. Lamaze by Marjorie Karmel in 1959, Lamaze became popular in the US and worldwide.

Based on Fernand Lamaze, today's Lamaze International Inc was founded in 1960 , an organization to promote natural childbirth.

The modern form also includes the use of warm and cold compresses, changes of position and the use of a sit-ball for a more natural, upright position.

Based on this breathing technique, Stephen King wrote a novella called Breathing Technique (from the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Death collection ).

See also

Works

  • Fernand Lamaze; Painless Childbirth. Psychoprophylactic Method ; 1970; ISBN 0-80929-6403
  • Fernand Lamaze; Painless Childbirth. The Lamaze Method ; 1984; ISBN 0-80925-4239

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Lamaze, Fernand
BRIEF DESCRIPTION French doctor and obstetrician
DATE OF BIRTH 1891
PLACE OF BIRTH France
DATE OF DEATH 1957