Let's start at the very beginning (a very good place to start):
When
we moved from Tyler, TX to Lafayette, LA I was already 7 months
pregnant. It was an overwhelming thought to start over with my prenatal
care. I needed to find a new clinic, a new doctor, a new hospital, a
new everything! It was funny to me that some clinics wouldn't take me
since I was already 7 months along. Thankfully I did find a doctor that
was accepting new patients, even ones that were already with child and 7
months along!
After securing a clinic and a new doctor
came the question of our actual birth. I had watched the documentary
The Business of Being Born and to be honest it terrified me. To witness
the live births, natural at that, just made me nervous and downright
freaked out about my own labor and delivery. It was at that point that I
decided Matt and I should try to get more educated on the topic of
birth.
We didn't have much time but I researched and
finally came across a birthing method called The Bradley Method: Husband
Coached Child Birth. This method focused on the role of the husband as
the labor coach and also incorporated fitness and nutrition into their
12 week program. I also discovered that in addition to the book, there
were classes we could attend!
I immediately emailed the contact person, Brandi, for
more information. Since I was already 7 months along I wondered if we
had missed our window for taking a birthing class. Brandi responded to
my email very quickly and to my surprise she had just started a new
class with 5 other couples! We had missed the first week but she said
she would be happy to catch us up! The cost for the class was $300. I
mentioned the class and the cost to my loving hubby and his response
was, "Whatever you want!" I called Brandi and told her we were a go for
the class!
"What is The Bradley Method®?
The Bradley Method® teaches natural childbirth and views birth as
a natural process. It is our belief that most women with proper education, preparation,
and the help of a loving and supportive coach can be taught to give birth naturally.
The Bradley Method® is a system of natural labor techniques in which
a woman and her coach play an active part. It is a simple method of increasing self-awareness,
teaching a woman how to deal with the stress of labor by tuning in to her own body.
The Bradley Method® encourages mothers to trust their bodies using
natural breathing, relaxation, nutrition, exercise, and education."
~ www.bradleybirth.com
"Dr. Bradley was born on a farm in Atchison, Kansas, December 11, 1917.
Growing up on the farm provided Dr. Bradley with the love of nature that
he brought into his medical practice. Dr. Bradley learned that nature
was not something to fight against but something to follow"
~ bestnaturalbirth.com
Our Bradley Birth experience:
Our class met at Richardson Chiropractic off of South College Avenue.
Class was from 6:45pm-8:30pm once a week on Tuesdays. There was a
workbook that we followed during the class as well as "Husband Coached
Childbirth Book" that we read. Well, mostly Matt read it. Each class
focused on a different topic related to pregnancy, nutrition, exercise,
labor and postpartum. I loved our class because our instructor Brandi
was happy to address questions and concerns whenever we had them. It
was also fun to hear what the other couples in the class though about
certain topics.
Each class started with going over the homework for the week and
asking questions. We then covered the new material, sometimes watched a
video (yes- the ones that remind you of 7th grade health class!) and
ended the class by practicing exercises or relaxation.
I
think watching the videos helped both of us. Wow. They were very
detailed birth videos. I must admit, they took some of the shock value
off of what labor and delivery really looks like but it also helped us
to see a birth and to know what we could possibly expect from our own
birth. I couldn't help but laugh the first time the husbands saw the
unedited videos of a live birth. There were a lot of covered eyes and
"you can't come back from that!" comments :).
After every
class I had learned something new. It's amazing to me how much there is
to learn about not only pregnancy but labor and delivery as well. I
love how the Bradley method empowered me as a woman but also Matt as a
coach. He was just as aware of what to expect as I was. In my opinion,
it was a joint effort in getting to this point so I only think it's
fair to include Matt in the pregnancy and the labor/delivery of our
precious bundle.
Who knew there was so much I could do
during my pregnancy to help me during my delivery! I loved that this
method was one that got you actively involved in your pregnancy. I was
not going to be a couch potato caving into my cravings! Mostly because I
didn't want to gain excess weight but also because the health of my
baby was of utmost importance. Matt held me accountable and offered
words of encouragement on the days when I didn't feel so motivated.
Nutrition was a big focus of our Bradley classes. I
followed a diet of sorts that was designed by Dr. Bradley to provide
nutrition for me and my baby. It wasn't a list of foods I had to have
or certain meal plans but rather a list of components that I should
include in my daily food intake. For example, they emphasize the
importance of protein in my diet. Protein is especially important in
the 3rd trimester. It helps provide the extra sustenance that is
necessary for proper brain development of the baby. I was taking in
70-100 grams of protein daily! Some days I had to add a serving in
right before bed to make my daily goals. The Bradley method also
supports consuming plenty of fats as they help to prepare your body for
the actual delivery. Who doesn't want to eat a little extra fat! I
loved adding butter and olive oil in my food prep. Salt was another
interesting addition to my diet. I've never been the type to add salt
to my food but the Bradley Method encourages you to "salt to taste".
The extra salt is beneficial for keeping bloating away as it regulates
your body fluids- seems odd as you would think salt retains water, but
it sure worked for me! Even in the days leading up to my labor I did not
bloat out.
Exercise was another focal point of the Bradley method. In the
early days we were encouraged to walk 15 minutes a day and to do a set
number of pelvic rocks, butterflies and squats. As we progressed in our
pregnancy the number of reps we did of each exercise increased. By my
third trimester I was encouraged to walk twice a day for 30 minutes at a
time. I have always loved exercise but I loved it even more when I was
pregnant. Not only did the exercise give me a boost of energy but my
mood stayed elevated. Other than hunger pains, I was a very content and
happy pregnant lady most of the time! I also never had back or leg
pain. I slept well and I maintained a very healthy weight. I gained 25
pounds total during my pregnancy.
As my coach, Matt was to hold me accountable in the areas of
nutrition and exercise. I am so thankful he did because less than 2
months after having Brenna and I was back in all of my pre-pregnancy
clothes. Please note my body is not where it was before pregnancy as
things stretch and I need to allow time for my body to bounce back, but I
feel great and I attribute it directly to the work I did while I was
pregnant. I also find that working out post pregnancy is easier!
In
addition to diet and exercise, relaxation is notably the most important
part of the Bradley method. Dr. Bradley grew up on a farm and observed
many animals giving birth. Dr. Bradley believed that women, like the
animals he had observed
growing up, could give birth without drugs and distress. During their
labors the animals he observed would enter an almost sleep like state
towards the end- the most difficult transition phase. This is how Dr.
Bradley developed the relaxation part of his method. Mothers were to
focus on creating a sleep like state by relaxing their entire bodies and
lying on the bed.This stage usually came during the most difficult part
of labor when mother's bodies were exhausted and lying down in a bed
was the best way to conserve energy.
In each class we were taught proper relaxation. The
focus was for the mother to relax her entire body and do deep abdominal
breathing while the labor coach identified places of tension. The
husbands were taught how to identify tension in their spouse's body and
then to use massage or rubbing to help relax that area. It was awesome
to practice this at the end of class. I wanted to go straight to sleep
every time!
Thank goodness we practiced relaxation
though. It seems easy but in our actual labor I tensed up in my
shoulders first. I am so thankful I had Brandi! She focused on
massaging my shoulders and redirected me to my abdominal breathing
during contractions. Focusing on relaxation and deep breathing are the
two major things that got me through my labor. As my contractions grew
stronger, the importance of staying relaxed in my body and in my
breathing were key. I am so thankful for the practice we had in the
Bradley class and for labor coaches that knew how to help me maintain a
state of relaxation.
But here is my favorite part of the Bradley Birthing Method. It is "Husband
Coached Childbirth". In the old days men weren't even allowed in the
labor room. In deliveries, Dr. Bradley found that as soon as the baby
was born, the women were praising him and his efforts. He
found it odd that he was receiving this praise along with displays of
affection since other than delivering the baby (which was a great
accomplishment of course), he shared no emotional connection to the
mother or the baby. But yet he was the one receiving the praise. It
was at that point that he realized how important it was for the husband
to be involved, very involved.
During Dr. Bradley's research he found that the
relationship that already existed between wife and husband was what
allowed the couple to be in sync during the labor process. Watch a
Bradley birth and what you will normally see is a team working together
with only intermittent help from the staff until the point of delivery.
The husband's one job is to support the mother as she labors. The
result? A mother who looks adoringly at her husband when the baby
comes out! It also results in a labor that is much more relaxed because
the mother feels supported the entire time.
Looking at my own labor experience I can say that I would NOT
have been as successful had it not been for my coach, Matt (hubby) and
our assistant coach Brandi (Bradley instructor). It was with their help
that I remained calm, relaxed and focused throughout even the worst of
my contractions. At the end of it, I rejoiced with my birthing team,
not just the doctor! But I must add that the Bradley method also
encourages you to find a doctor and birthing team that supports your
desire to have a natural birth. I visited three doctors before I found
my doctor. As it turned out she did not actually deliver our baby but
the man who did was amazing! I will forever be thankful that Dr. Bourque
delivered our sweet Brenna girl. He fully supported our desire to have
a natural birth. He allowed me to labor freely and was very respectful
of giving us our time and privacy right up until the pushing phase.
Then he stepped in and delivered our babe!
I can't imagine
going through my pregnancy and labor without the education of the
Bradley Method. Even if you have plans for interventions such as
induction or epidural, I would still highly recommend you take a Bradley
class. It can only help to be knowledgeable about your body and your
baby! Although I support natural birth above interventions, I
personally know couples who had to have interventions and they are still
very glad they took the Bradley classes despite not having a natural
birth.
If you have any questions about the Bradley method or would like to find out if there is a class in your area- visit www.bradleybirth.com. I am looking into becoming an instructor in the near future! I'd love to spread some of this Bradley love if I can! :)
I can't say enough about the education I received thanks
to this class. I will definitely attempt another natural birth next
time!
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