Table 3.
Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educators (LCCEs) complete a curriculum and international examination that:
| • recognizes childbearing as a normal, natural, and healthy process; |
| • knows that birth is an experience that will stay in the memory of the mother for as long as she lives; |
| • understands both the physiology of labor and birth and the woman's physical and emotional needs; |
| • knows about birth complications and nonpharmacological strategies to deal with them; |
| • knows strategies to facilitate a normal, natural, and healthy birth, as well as breastfeeding and postpartum care; |
| • helps the mother and expectant couple to prepare and make informed decisions to accomplish their goals; |
| • facilitates the communication between the woman, the expectant couple, and health care providers; |
| • understands her nurturing role and knows how to protect the mother from an adverse environment; and |
| • understands and respects women's cultural diversities. |