Bradley method? Natural birth?

Question

I very interested in giving birth via the Bradley method but being where I am.. I wont be able to attend a class at least not in english. So I'm asking if anyone had any tips to helping me have a natural birth. Either by what you learned from class or from personal expirences.

Answer 1

Hi there - fancy seeing someone interested in the Bradley method on Yahoo Answers - I am a Bradley Method educator.

I would recommend picking up a few books if you are not planning on taking the classes. You can pick these up at a library or through Amazon.com or ebay:

Ina May Gaskin's "Guide to Natural Childbirth"
Susan McCutcheon's "Natural Childbirth The Bradley Way"
Henci Goer's "Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth"
La Leche League's "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding"
Dr. Sears and Sears RN "The Birth Book"

Some videos to pick up from the library are (and can usually be found there):
"Gentle Birth Choices"
"Born in the USA"
"Noa Was Born" - this you can buy off the internet for $7. I HIGHLY recommend this one.

I had all 5 of mine with the Bradley Method, two of which were a set of twins. They were all pain medication free and very low intervention. I am a little biased.

One of the previous posters was right: some OBs won't take a Bradley patient. The reason why is Bradley teaches true informed consent and how to be proacitve about your healthcare. So, unless you have a doctor who is supportive of you being an educated patient, informed of your options and the risks, and proactive in making decisions on your OWN regarding your own health care, they will not want you. Those doctors who won't take Bradley patients like obedient patients who don't question their pedigree. Harsh but true (btw, that statement came from my own OB).

If you want, feel free to IM or email me for more information and ideas.

Answer 2

Why not try books about it...try learning by the reading instead of having to take the class in another language.

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way
by Susan McCutcheon, Erick Ingraham (Illustrator), Robin Yoko
Burningham (Illustrator)

Husband-Coached Childbirth :
The Bradley Method® of Natural Childbirth
by Robert A. Bradley, Ashley Montagu (Foreword)


Maybe these will help

Answer 3

I tried the Bradley method. I know some people love it, but personally, "Imagining my cervix stretching over the baby's head like a sweater" just didn't put me in a happy place away from the pain. I found focusing away from the pain was the only way to cope.

I do know of several ob's that won't even take patients that do the Bradley method, so talk with your ob and get on the same page, that will help your delivery go much better and the team will all know what YOU want, which is the most important thing.

Answer 4

I loved using the Bradley method (three deliveries without pain meds; two induced). I couldn't take classes, either, so my husband and I taught ourselves with the book, "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way."

Answer 5

The one thing I remember from the childbirth classes, and I think it was Bradley, was their references to breastfeeding. They recommended LaLeche League. Here is fair warning: Many proponents of breastfeeding recommend not giving ANYTHING else to the baby, not even bottles of water. Gues what happens if you do this? NO ONE ELSE CAN EVER FEED YOUR BABY. This means you can't have a babysitter, have the dad feed the baby, and you can't really go anywhere without your baby. That is pretty much what happened to me. Don't go to extremes in anything. Also, if you need some pain killer or anything like that, I would not be entirely reluctant, because you need to be comfortable, and if you trust your doctor, you should trust your doctor for this, too. One of the best things you can do for you and your baby is to eat a healthy diet, including a high percentage of protein. Again, I beleive Bradley recommends about 100 gms. of protein, and this is an aweful lot. Use logical judgement in your decisions. Take folic acid for the baby's health.

Answer 6

you probably should order a tape via the internet ,maybe that will help
I am going to do the same thing, since my husband & I have not decide yet where to have the baby and we travel a lot
I just want to be prepared (afraid of niddled)

Answer 7

you should go to the website, if you haven't already.
is there any other natural childbirth classes in your area? like lamaze? they may have similar techniques you could use. also look into water births (i think they look nice)