Not Your Mama’s Lamaze: Current Lamaze Philosophies of Birth with Caroline Pitts of Peaceful Doula Care
In this episode of the Breath and Birth Co. podcast, Vanessa introduces Caroline Pitts of Peaceful Doula Care. Caroline is a DONA-International Certified Birth Doula and Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. They discuss Caroline's journey to becoming a doula, the philosophies of Lamaze, and practical advice for expecting mothers. They also address common misconceptions and the importance of postpartum preparation. Listeners are encouraged to engage with childbirth education to feel empowered and supported throughout their pregnancy and birth experiences.
“It's a lot different than what people think it is. People think of Lamaze and they think of breathing, right? Because back in the day, like our parents day, it was all the Lamaze breathing.”
- Caroline Pitts
Caroline’s Recommended Reading:
Breaking the Myths of Lamaze
When you think of Lamaze, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Probably the classic image of breathing exercises, right? But Lamaze is about so much more than just breathing, and it's time we change the narrative. In Episode 20 of the Breath & Birth Co Podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Caroline Pitts, a DONA-Certified Birth Doula and Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. Caroline, founder of Peaceful Doula Care, has celebrated over 100 births and is a passionate advocate for transformative birth experiences.
To learn more about what Lamaze philosophies and practices look like today, check out What is Lamaze?
The Evolution of Lamaze
Caroline dives into the common misconceptions surrounding Lamaze. Contrary to popular belief, it's not just about breathing techniques. Lamaze is rooted in evidence-based practices that focus on pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. Caroline explains that Lamaze promotes Six Healthy Birth Practices that guide expecting mothers towards a safer, easier, and more informed birth experience. As outlined on the Lamaze website and discussed in the episode with Caroline, the 6 Healthy Birth Practices are:
Let labor begin on its own.
Walk, move around and change positions throughout labor.
Bring a loved one, friend or doula for continuous support.
Avoid interventions that are not medically necessary.
Avoid giving birth on your back and follow your body's urges to push.
Keep mother and baby together — it's best for mother, baby and breastfeeding.
Understanding Your Birth Options
A standout moment in our conversation was Caroline's emphasis on the importance of understanding the options during birth. Many expectant parents may not realize they have a say in how their birthing process unfolds unless they participate in childbirth education or work with a doula. This knowledge empowers them to advocate for themselves, make informed decisions, and experience the birth they envision. Caroline shares stories and insights from her classes and doula work, highlighting scenarios where understanding birth options led to more satisfying outcomes. Whether it's letting labor begin on its own or deciding on pushing positions, knowing one's choices is crucial.
Postpartum Awareness: Beyond the Birth
The conversation also delves into postpartum planning—a topic often overlooked in prenatal education. Caroline stresses the significance of preparing for the fourth trimester, discussing the need for setting expectations and boundaries to ensure a smooth transition into parenthood. From establishing parenting roles to recognizing signs of postpartum depression, she provides invaluable advice for both new and expecting parents. Check back soon for her postpartum class offering!
Humanizing Perinatal Care
Our discussion circles back to a core belief: the need to humanize perinatal care. Caroline envisions a future where healthcare professionals engage in meaningful conversations with their patients, moving beyond checklists to address emotional well-being and fears. Such personalized and authentic interactions can transform the birthing experience, empowering parents with knowledge and confidence.
Connect with Caroline
🌿 Want to connect with Caroline Pitts or learn more about her services?
You can find her @peacefuldoulacare or check out her offerings on her website.
Subscribe, Share & Review
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00:00 Introduction to the Breath and Birth Co. Podcast
00:47 Meet Caroline Pitts: A Passionate Doula
01:19 Celebrating Milestones in Doula Work
01:52 Caroline's Journey into Birth Work
03:17 Services Offered by Peaceful Doula Care
04:19 Understanding Lamaze Philosophy
09:15 6 Healthy Birth Practices
10:54 The Importance of Movement During Labor
15:11 Support and Environment in Birth
18:41 Navigating Interventions and Pushing Positions
28:45 Preparing for Postpartum
32:26 Addressing Misconceptions in Birth and Postpartum
36:41 Resources and Recommendations
42:45 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
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Vanessa: Welcome to the Breath and Birth Co. podcast. I'm Vanessa, a hospital based, DONA- International certified birth doula, and passionate childbirth educator. I love to merge the power of your intuition with the precision of modern medicine to help you navigate pregnancy and birth your way. Each week we kick off with Monday meditations to bring calm and connection to your pregnancy.
Then we build your confidence through insights, birth stories, and care provider perspectives during thoughtful Thursdays. Ready to feel supported, informed, and empowered? Hit subscribe to the Breath and Birth Co. podcast today and let's embark on this transformational journey together. As a reminder, any information shared here is not medical advice.
For more details, visit breathandbirthco. com slash disclaimer.
I've got Caroline Pitts here with me today of Peaceful Doula Care. She's a DONA certified birth doula, LAMAZE (R) certified childbirth educator, and she's been in this space for the past five years and just recently had her 100th birth. She's a mom of two, and passionate about advocacy in the birth setting.
Caroline and I met through the Mount Carmel doula program here in Columbus, and she also takes private clients too. So if you love what you hear, please do reach out to her to find out more about her services. Welcome Caroline. Congrats on your hundredth birth.
Caroline Pitts: I just actually just have 101. So that was still a milestone, but and then a quickly another one after that. So
Vanessa: That's amazing. How did it feel to hit that milestone?
Caroline Pitts: crazy. I didn't really. You know, you know, you're going to hit it. But then after a while, it's just like, Oh, wow. I, when I hit it, I was like, Oh, it has been a hundred births. It doesn't feel like it's a hundred births, but definitely very cool.
Vanessa: Yes, yeah, that's such an exciting milestone. Um, okay, well, I also like to usually start with a question about what inspired you to get into birth work to begin with. So if you could tell us a little bit about your history and how you got here, that would be great.
Caroline Pitts: um, there's actually a couple of different reasons why, basically, like first and foremost, off with birth, my first child when I was 20, um, went through pregnancy at 19 years old and course, um, And I, with my second I didn't so
than birth, that there's have a she, just midwife, and and knowing I didn't the just that that's what I
Vanessa: That's great. And in terms of your business, Peaceful Doula Care, can you expand upon the services that you provide
Caroline Pitts: So it's, doula services. So I offer a couple of for a moms might pregnant women and knowing
can
advocate for have
and
able So
quarter
anybody who about
Vanessa: That's great. Since you are a Lamaze certified childbirth educator, I would love to dive deep into that in terms of the Lamaze philosophies and any kind of advice or, things that you would teach your students that share with the listeners as well.
Caroline Pitts: and foremost. It's a lot different than what people think it is. People think of Lamaze and they think of breathing, right? Because back in the day, like our parents day, it was all the Lamaze breathing
And it has come So is, evidence
revolves birth, and postpartum.
So Lamaze does have,
philosophies. So the Lamaze philosophy of pregnancy, the
Lamaze philosophy of birth,
as So
what um,
philosophy
of and
I will a of you want to have to all women have birth is transformative we, me and you both
provider in
Vanessa: place of birth. Mm hmm.
Caroline Pitts: And then that birth can take safely, um,
Can take place safely in them, but in my classes people can healthy
those completely happens if you by
Vanessa: weeks. Right. I don't
Caroline Pitts: own between that 32 to,
or sorry, 38 and walking
to and
resistance down support is all around is avoiding,
that are not deep dive right?
Vanessa: is cream.
Yes. How
Caroline Pitts: may or using.
5th one is uh, follow birth your baby with you when you
So, those six healthy my that if they're
Vanessa: their provider about what they want
Caroline Pitts: um, are for.
So, that,
to
Vanessa: That's great. Um, and in terms of your teachings and your doula experience, I would love maybe if each, maybe each of those, um, six, if we could go and maybe give an example or a story of something that the listeners can maybe apply to their own lives or a piece of, um, just perspective to, to expand upon.
Caroline Pitts: let's say the first healthy birth practice is letting labor begin on its own.
Quite often, providers,
present the 39 week induction
and research on it,
you will that that is
healthiest thing to so.
kind always and keep
because percent
date,
stop
telling your telling
your friends
Vanessa: you?
Caroline Pitts: your
you're in labor, all these things. So,
that Um, you're is, you know, structure but it
Vanessa: move.
Caroline Pitts: position and
needs to shimmy down resistance for
down? How do
Let baby out instead of how it.
Vanessa: going to have to
Caroline Pitts: comfy different positions you feel
Vanessa: experienced here?
It definitely depends on what stage of labor they're in. Um, I think, especially as, um, The hours wear on and the stages progress either they're getting more comfy and they just kind of want to rest and relax in a position and It is important to your point to continue that movement, even if it's flipping sides to kind of even things out and Yeah, I think there's been times too where I've had clients just straight up tell me like no, I'm not moving And you just you you have to Let them do what feels good for them, but also just having that understanding, and this is why I believe so much in childbirth education, understanding the purpose behind everything that your body is doing, the purpose behind those movements, and how that pelvic structure actually works.
There's an inlet and an outlet, and each position is optimal for one or the other, and depending on where baby is, Like you said, we want baby to descend in the most optimal way so that once you get to that pushing phase, it's a little bit easier for you.
Caroline Pitts: And position and where baby is in our classes for sure. When we are talking about the pelvis, we are talking about those purposeful movements, right? So need to put your feet in, put your knees out, you you know, med pelvis, lunges and different things and you're going to put your feet and knees in,
Vanessa: Right? Right. Yep.
Caroline Pitts: and I want them to understand
that there's not just,
Vanessa: Yes.
Caroline Pitts: want the
at a, given those
numbers.
Vanessa: know? Mm
Caroline Pitts: join a
Vanessa: Exactly. Yes, I actually had a recent Q& A episode that I released where It went over, what are the three numbers?, why do they each matter? Because you are so right, and I mentioned this too, that you will likely only be given your dilation centimeter number, and people don't know to ask for the rest, and they also don't understand.
that the dilation is like the last thing that we're looking for. Once baby gets down and, and the head is able to put pressure on the cervix, it will dilate. So we want to know where baby's at in the pelvis because that will tell us as doulas which positions to put you in. If there might be something asynclitic going on, how to address that if you've been, if baby's been sitting at a certain station for a long time.
Um, yeah. Yeah, so that's great that you cover that.
Caroline Pitts: me
sometimes when we think, you know.
for And it's like,
why don't you assume
education? And
Vanessa: ask us. Exactly, yes. Like, give them the information and let them pose the questions back to you.
Instead of just giving the bare minimum.
Yeah.
Caroline Pitts: And then, of course, when it comes to support, , better satisfied with their birth experience, that be by a partner, any loved one, , in our class, we really hone the people that really do what you the birth mom Or even, but really just and I
Vanessa: like, on the order of like
Caroline Pitts: you or four hero and
can really affect
labor. uh, about the
there. they're
Vanessa: And that can be a really hard thing to communicate to loved ones, too, but it's a very It's a very necessary conversation because like you said we've both seen it play out where If there's somebody that you welcome in your birth space or that intrudes on your birth space and you don't feel empowered to tell them otherwise, it absolutely impacts your nervous system, that fight or flight response, it will stall the hormones that are needed to progress your labor.
And it will impact your overall experience, too. So it's really important to have those conversations up front during pregnancy, , and level setting expectations and boundaries around those things. People
Caroline Pitts: you know, what kind of space and environment you want to create for your birth, it can be so magical, right? It can be
Vanessa: Yeah. And I think a question that we often get in the Mount Carmel doula program, since we don't meet them prenatally. Sometimes they'll come to meet the doula night. So we might recognize the face, you know, but a question we often get is, how do you?
, bond with or connect with somebody in their most vulnerable state. And I always say, you know, there's just this magic about it. We're really good at getting to know you quickly. And there is something to be said about having somebody that is completely there to support every decision you make, every question you have from the start to the end, continuously.
That just automatically, like you said, it's like magical, like you just have this bond. You're, you walk in as strangers and you leave, feeling like friends or family. And, it's all rooted in, that empowerment and truly being on the birther's side in terms of whatever they decide, as long as they're, informed to make those decisions.
Yeah.
Caroline Pitts: So
then we
to, talk about, um,
interventions that are
them
instead of IV behind all they might and a
place
being right I don't want to say popular, but some of
Vanessa: ones
I've seen,
Caroline Pitts: and
entail, and monitoring, to that's going to us
Vanessa: connected.
That
Caroline Pitts: but
That's
to.
get in the shower.
sitting
doing great
Vanessa: want to do.
Caroline Pitts: want,
I have Oh, what into.
They like.
kind of, um, suggesting
that they
are
these
Vanessa: Um, so
Caroline Pitts: why we may or
use them. Yeah.
Um, and then
Vanessa: birth on your back. And that's
Caroline Pitts: women do
not that they want to.
Standing lying you latotomy but
your talk a gravity,
are preventing,
Vanessa: unusual things, um,
Caroline Pitts: learn those
Vanessa: with pushing the
Caroline Pitts: of.
people. Fear when it comes to
Vanessa: Yes.
Caroline Pitts: Um,
for the birth and they prepare for the labor. And then they
think, Oh my gosh, Um, push
Vanessa: healthy. Yeah, and
Caroline Pitts: often, right?
Vanessa: I think to that, um, Like you say, I think people just assume that they have to push on their back because that's what they've been told. That's what media shows us. That's what we've been conditioned to believe, especially for hospital births, at least. But knowing that you have the freedom and pushing can take a long time even if baby's in an optimal position.
I think you and I both know that if you've had things like pelvic floor therapy or care during pregnancy, that again can help educate you and optimize, baby's position early on. It can help those things, but ultimately. You probably won't be pushing in one position, ideally,
Caroline Pitts: Agreed.
Vanessa: not feeling good, or if you're getting too exhausted in one position or another, switch it up. , and that OB is not walking in there until baby's crowning anyway, so you could be pushing in several different positions before the OBs even enter the room.
, and fortunately from my experience, at least with Mount Carmel, a lot of the nurses are very open to whatever, pushing position feels good. It ends up being more so when that OB steps into the room, you know, they, they'll try to, to throw that, Oh, okay, let's get you on your back now. Baby's getting close and you have, yep.
And you have every right to say no. , and. And even a side lying position, too, could be just enough to get you off your back., any of these positions could be done in the bed, too. I think that's another thing, too, when we say, like, squatting, or hands and knees. People are thinking, like, on the ground or somewhere other than the bed, and somebody's got to scoop up.
baby, you know, underneath them. You could still be in the bed. And even with an epidural too, depending on how, strong that epidural is. I've gotten mamas on hands and knees with an epidural too. If not during pushing, but at least during, during labor to get movement in for the body.
Caroline Pitts: I think that's one of the best, biggest misconceptions about is that you have to pack with an epidural and you absolutely do not like sideline is great for epidurals all the time. Like,
if We can get in these positions while we're stage of labor
can
squatting
epidural.
Yeah. So just a And it
was a very precipitous
Vanessa: and a half.
Oh, wow.
Caroline Pitts: unheard of, but she did amazing.
Um, but even when things are going that, her baby I think within two, two
Vanessa: so.
Wow. So even,
Caroline Pitts: we are different positions,
um,
of our
backs, sometimes
we do need to
so that the pelvis can move and
Vanessa: Yeah, yeah. It really is. okay. Was that the fifth one or the fourth? I've lost track. . So Okay.
That's exciting. , yeah. And that piece in general, I think that it can be said that people, even if they take a childbirth education course or are preparing for the labor and birth, they're not preparing for postpartum and that fourth trimester and beyond can really be Kind of slap in the face for some people of the transition.
And if you're not prepared in having those conversations, again, earlier in pregnancy, before baby arrives, setting those expectation and boundaries. , and being able to lean into and build your village out ahead of time is so important. Not just for whatever feeding journey you might have, but your overall sleep, mental health.
, Return to work, if that's part of your story,, et cetera. It could be really, really important to set that foundation ahead of time. Mm-hmm . comes to 10 Right That's, so great. I'm excited for you and for your future students because like I said It's a really, really important piece to discuss and, similar to lactation if you plan to breastfeed, people, plan for labor and birth and then they're like, I'll figure it out and if I have any issues, I'll reach out then and then, you know, it's just a lot more difficult than people think it's going to be.
, so anyway, that's great. I would love for you to show your perspective on, um, maybe one of the biggest misconceptions you see in pregnancy, birth, or postpartum that you commonly address with, your birth clients or your students.
I'm treatment, right? Exactly. work with.
the best can. Right. Um, hey, we all have to set boundaries, too, and as doulas, it's very difficult, which is how I entered into that childbirth education space, too, because, not having those prenatal appointments, only being part of Mt. Carmel's program.
It was like, Oh my gosh, everybody needs this education piece. Um, it just, it does, it, it changes the trajectory of your entire pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience. If you are, if you have that knowledge base. To, know and understand what's happening to your body, to your baby, that evidence based information behind all of those decisions that you're having to make.
It's not just the we're gonna's, we're gonna's. Check your cervix now. We're gonna start the Pitocin. Those are all crossroads in your labor experience where you deserve to have a conversation and give true informed consent. Yeah. Well, thank you. I think that was a great, a great top misconception to address.
Do you have any specific resources or books or tools that you typically recommend other than taking a Lamaze childbirth education class?
mm-hmm . Mm-hmm
right, you there, so a great way Right. Yes, absolutely. , well, we'll link those things in the show notes too. I know the birth partner's been great. It's been recommended before. It's actually, I have a, a partner lesson in my course, and that's the recommended reading too for that. , if there could be and again, we don't need to narrow it down to just one, if you've got a top three or whatever, but if there could be one change that you'd wish to see in, perinatal care, what would that be?
Mm Right. it's Right. Yeah, I love that. Humanizing their patients and clients more, and bringing more awe.
Yeah, exactly, more personalized, more authentic, um, conversations around things and not just the clinical, um, checkboxes and assumptions being made that, like you said earlier, where clinicians are just assuming that somebody is not as educated, so they're going to give them the bare minimum, but really diving deeper and approaching visits with more of a lens of curiosity and personalization, yeah.
Okay, was there anything else that you wanted to touch on that we haven't? Okay, why don't you tell us how our listeners can find you, and, I'll include all the links and everything in the show notes too, but go ahead and, and rattle off your social handle, your website, all of that and also what that looks like is, you can do that in, in several different ways. Yeah. Yep. Awesome. Okay. Well, thank you so much,
Vanessa 2: Thank you so much for spending time with me today. I hope you found this episode helpful and encouraging on your journey. Don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss a future episode. And if you enjoyed today's conversation, I'd be so grateful if you left a quick review. It helps others find the show.
For more information, Resources and links mentioned in this episode. Be sure to check out the show notes. You can also connect with me on Instagram at breath and birth. co for more support and inspiration until next time, remember you've got this and you're never alone in this journey.
