Lamaze workshop teaches birthing skills

(back row) Violetta Kanarek, Terri Shilling, Eliza Conroy,
Jacqui Smith, Edith Hinds, Nelsie Jones. (middle row)
Elizabeth Sellinger, Tana Walters, Justine O’Neil. (front
row) Maggie Coe, Kalpana Moorthy, Christine Zaragoza

Friday,  March 11, 2005

Eleven women from diverse walks of life completed Labour Support Specialist training as a Doula by Lamaze International at the Cayman Islands Hospital on Wednesday, 9 March.

Birth in the 21st century is characterized by interventions designed to start, continue, and end labour by routine medical management that expects trouble rather than allowing the normal, natural physiologic process of birth to enfold.

Jacqui Smith, physical therapist and workshop coordinator, explained that before this workshop there were only two active doulas in the community and there was a growing need for more trained doulas. That is why Ms Smith invited Terri Shilling, world-renown childbirth educator to teach a Labour Support Specialist workshop so that more women in these islands can become doula and consequently supporting normal childbirth in the country.

Ms Shilling said: “It has been an incredible experience, the women who have come to learn more about supporting women and partners during labour and birth are skilled, caring and resourceful.

“All these women are committed to making birth and early post partum as positive as possible and be part of the team supporting women during this dynamic time in the families. Being on this beautiful island with these amazing women has been a highlight.”

Many students said the workshop was an exciting and life changing course.

One student Elizabeth Sellinger said, “This is an incredible experience. I strongly believe this is something that will empower all women and or couples in labour. “

Another student, Eliza Conroy said, “We are learning how to support women emotionally and physically during the very personal time of experiencing labour and giving birth. It is wonderful to be able to help educate women for them to make their own childbirth choices.”

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