What I Learned in Sylvia's Lamaze Class

www.mybreastfeeding.com: The website of Sylvia J. Boyd, PT, LCCE, IBCLC, CLE, Lamaze certified childbirth educator and lactation consultant. Her specialty is in using her physical therapy skills to help babies latch-on & breastfeed successfully since 1967. She also enjoys teaching several Prenatal Classes in Hayward, CA.

What I Learned in Sylvia's Lamaze Class

I never pictured myself a natural birth type of woman. Nor did I ever picture myself sleeping with my baby in my bed, wearing my baby, or practicing a form of attachment parenting (I call it instinctual or survival parenting) but Sylvia's Lamaze class paved the way to a new lifestyle for my new family. My partner and I attended Sylvia's Lamaze classes and gained so much more than breathing techniques. We learned about how to get the birthing experience we wanted (whether that included drugs, no drugs, hospital, birthing center, whatever) and that we can say no to things that aren't medically necessary. (Gasp, I never thought I could say no to a doctor in a hospital).

My partner learned how to massage my back, feet and how to support me in labor. He got so into the class and birthing process, he even made posters to remind us of the key things we learned in Sylvia's class. We learned about the different ways to position the baby, how to manage and work with the discomfort of contractions (pain with a purpose) and how to push in ways that enable gravity to help (i.e. not only lying on my back in a bed). Not only did we learn everything about the birthing process, pain medication choices, breathing and massage techniques, we also met other couples that we are friends with now.

I'll definitely be taking refresher courses from Sylvia

with subsequent children.

Thank you Sylvia!

(From Francisco and Melissa with

our 4 month old daughter!)

More Praise for Sylvia's Lamaze Class

Dear Sylvia,

Well, it is the eve of the one year birth of my baby Amelia. My husband, Oliver, reminded me of each passing event during the last month of my pregnancy and how much we enjoyed and appreciated your birthing classes before I gave birth. Now we have a nice healthy baby girl, one year old. It's been one glorious year for us.

Fortunately, Amelia was successful at breastfeeding this year and I plan on continuing it for the next. She is at a good weight and has had a few colds, but we attribute that to childcare and all the sick kids she's exposed to there.

We want to briefly say thank you for all of your support and consultation before the birthing.
I shared with you that my doctor recommended a c-section because of my gestational diabetes, and you recommended I get a second opinion. Luckily the second opinion influenced me to try laboring and it was a success. I would have been disappointed if I'd not had a natural childbirth. All ended well.

We hope that your year has been happy and your clients are enjoying their successes of birthing and breastfeeding.

Best,

Chris and Oliver

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Sylvia in the Media

Chris and 1-year-old Amelia