Bradley Method class pretty far away - worth it?

KTdidit

I was convinced that DH and I would take classes on the Bradley method. Until I learned that there are none within a 20 mile radius of us. The only class that is do-able for us is a Saturday morning at 10am, and it's an hour away. So we would be driving for two hours total, for a two hour class. Every Saturday for 12 weeks.

Is the class really worth it? If the drive was a half hour I'd have no question. But an hour away seems so far. Thoughts?

Also there are no hypnobirthing classes, or really any kind of natural childbirth class in our area that I've found. Only basic classes offered through the hospitals which have a lot of info on epidurals, c-sections, medical interventions, etc.

aylafsu88

I found the class really helpful and I feel like it really prepared the both of us for labor.  I do think that an hour away is pretty far.  I know that some instructors will offer a condensed class (like 6 sessions or 3 sessions).  Maybe ask the instructor if that is an option. If that is not an option you could always read the books and do the workbook on your own time.

barnwife

We were in the same situation with my first pregnancy. I purchased Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way and read it. We also took a natural childbirth class (4 classes of 2 hours each) through my MW.

For us, that was more than enough to have a successful med-free homebirth with J. I reread the book when pregnant with A. and again had a med-free HB. 

I am once again re-reading Natural Childbirth in preparation for LO3's arrival in a few weeks. 

MamaInMN

I'm a FTM, due in a few weeks, so take this with a grain of salt....

I think it depends on how much research you've already done.  We started taking the Bradley course and dropped it.  Ours was 3.5 hours long each week.  We're just too busy (DH is in grad school and works full time and I work crazy hours), so that was too much time for us!  Also, Bradley is TONS of info about epidurals, interventions, etc.  So if you've already done some research about the type of birth you hope for, it can be very redundant.  

Don't get me wrong, the class is full of info - but I don't know that it's for everyone. I think with the wealth of knowledge available in other ways, you and your DH just have to be honest about how you will both learn (basically, will books cut it for you?).

nicholssquared

I've had two successful Bradley births without attending a single class. Like PP said, it has a lot of great information about how/why to avoid interventions, but nothing you couldn't find on your own with the proper literature. Definitely get a copy of NCtBW and read it and understand it, but I found myself coming up with my own meditation techniques that better suited my lifestyle while I was in labor than the generic techniques taught by the method.

GL!