About New York City Lamaze Childbirth Educator Program
The New York City Lamaze Childbirth Educator Program was founded by co-directors Dr. Judith Lothian and Allison Walsh. Our training program is responsible for launching the careers of hundreds of childbirth educators for over two decades. In September of 2023, New York City Lamaze Childbirth Educator Program experienced a great loss with the passing of Judy. Her contributions as an educator, scholar, prolific researcher, author, speaker, and childbirth advocate - not only to Lamaze International, but to the entire field of childbirth education - are incredibly vast and she will be greatly missed.
The program’s mission, to train and mentor Lamaze childbirth educators who will spread the powerful message of the Simple Story of Birth, continues on under the leadership of co-directors Allison Walsh and Robin Douthit.
Robin Gibson-Douthit, LCCE, CD(DONA), CLC, MA (Co-Director)
Robin is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, a Certified Birth Doula, and a Certified Lactation Counselor living and working in New York City. She teaches for a major NYC hospital system and in her own practice Flourishing Birth, which she founded in 2019. Robin has participated on the “Meet The Experts” panel and as a speaker at the New York Baby Show, and enjoyed being a podcast host in season three of The Lamaze Podcast. Robin loves teaching and mentoring while serving as co-director of the NYC Lamaze Childbirth Educator Program. She currently serves as President-Elect on Lamaze International’s Board of Directors. A native New Yorker, she shares a home with her family in the heart of New York City.
Allison Walsh, IBCLC, LCCE, FACCE (Co-Director)
Allison is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, and a doula in private practice in New York. She is founder of the Lactation Learning Collective which mentors IBCLC candidates, co-director of the NYC Lamaze Childbirth Educator Program, a La Leche League Leader, and a delegate to the United States Breastfeeding Committee. She has served in various leadership roles including President of Lamaze International and member of the board of Directors of Haven Midwifery Collective. Allison is a graduate of Syracuse University and mother of three children.
Are you ready to take the next step and add value to your career as a birthworker by gaining certification from a well-known, trusted global leader in childbirth education?
Lamaze International is the “Gold Standard” in childbirth education certification and has been active in promoting safe and healthy pregnancy, birth, and early parenting through evidence-based education for over 60 years!