The Six Care Practices that Support Normal Birth
Lamaze International is a nonprofit organizational whose mission is to promote, support and protect normal birth through education and advocacy. The Lamaze Institute for Normal Birth envisions for the future a world of confident women choosing normal birth. A normal birth is one that unfolds naturally, free of unnecessary interventions. Forming the foundation of Lamaze are the Six Care Practices that Support Normal Birth. These evidence-based practices, adapted from the World Health Organization, promote, protect and support normal birth.
The six care practices below are supported by research studies that examine the benefits and risks of maternity care practices. Therefore, they represent “evidence-based care,” which is the gold standard for maternity care worldwide. Evidence-based care means “using the best research about the effects of specific procedures, drugs, tests, and treatments, to help guide decision-making.” The following links to the Lamaze Institute for Normal Birth Care Practice papers provide more information about the evidence behind each care practice.
- Labor begins on its own
[English html] [English pdf] [Spanish pdf] [Russian pdf] - Freedom of movement throughout labor
[English html] [English pdf] [Spanish pdf] [Russian pdf] - Continuous labor support
[English html] [English pdf] [Spanish pdf] [Russian pdf] - No routine interventions
[English html] [English pdf] [Spanish pdf] [Russian pdf] - Spontaneous pushing in upright or gravity-neutral positions
[English html] [English pdf] [Spanish pdf] [Russian pdf] - No separation of mother and baby after birth with unlimited opportunities for breastfeeding
[English html] [English pdf] [Spanish pdf] [Russian pdf]