Bradley question

jamrosj

I am taking Bradley classes but wanted to ask this here. I read Natural Birth the Bradley Way and the book made it seem like you have to use the side lying position and that its the best way to relax. I did not experience this with my first attempted Bradley birth. Anything but standing was excruciating. Most of the birth stories I've read mention every position but lying down. So my question is did you use the side lying position they make you practice? 

aylafsu88

That is the one thing I did not like about the class!  They focus so much on side lying and practicing side lying.  When I was in labor I did not want to lay down.  I wanted to be up walking, leaning on the wall, or on hands and knees.  My H made me try the side lying position in early labor and I could barley get through a contraction.  I had horrible back labor and I needed counter pressure so I figured that that might have been why I hated side lying. 

After labor I asked my doula about it as she took the Bradley classes with her first.  She said she also hated side lying while in labor and that very few of her mothers actually do side lying while laboring.  I think the side lying positon is very antiquated and was probably used a lot when women were confined to a bed. 

I will say that I delivered LO in the side lying position.  I was to tired to squat and did not want to be on my back.

mb314

I did Bradley and did not use the side lying position at all.  I labored in the shower standing up at home, leaning over, and once I got to the hospital and the labor tub, I labored on hands and knees, rocking back and forth.  I would not have wanted to lie down. 

That said, you don't really know how you will want to labor until you are in labor.  I recommend just knowing as many positions as possible to choose from. 

robyn2201

We did Bradley and I hated the side laying position. With DD1, I found standing to be most comfortable and with DD2, I liked the hands and knees position. Be open to anything as you may find your next birth to be different than your first.

barnwife

I haven't taken Bradley classes, but I Natural Childbirth is the one book I have always returned to while pregnant. The emphasis on the one position is strange though.

While in labor with J., I tried the side lying position and hated it. I immediately wondered how anyone could be comfortable like that. After giving it my best attempt for a few contractions, I changed positions and never went back.

With A., I again gave it a shot and it was again very uncomfortable.

With S., I used it unintentionally. I woke up to a contraction about 48 hours after my water broke. I had been sleeping on my side. After that contraction, I fell back asleep (still on my side...is there any other way to sleep at just shy of 39 weeks pregnant?). That pattern repeated itself for the next 3 hours. 

I only stayed on my side because I wanted to sleep. And with contractions 10 minutes apart, I could easily doze between them. 

Long story short, do what works in labor. You won't know until you are in labor. 

bornmommy

We had one half of a class dedicated to positions.  There was no emphasis on any one, just kind of building a little muscle memory foundation.  I did end up delivering on my side but it was pure coincidence that that was how I wanted to ay at the time!  I labored standing and on the toilet for most of my labor

lalaith50

We spent our first couple classes working on the side lying position, but since then, we have been doing other positions, and my teacher has been explaining that you probably *wont* want to spend much time in that position til at least transition, as not only is it not comfortable, but by lying down you don't get to use gravity to help.

jamrosj

lalaith50 said:

We spent our first couple classes working on the side lying position, but since then, we have been doing other positions, and my teacher has been explaining that you probably *wont* want to spend much time in that position til at least transition, as not only is it not comfortable, but by lying down you don't get to use gravity to help.

This makes more sense. I think Bradley followed animals a little too closely. If a cat felt it was more comfortable to walk around in labor I'm pretty sure that it would do just that.

SarahinMD

With DD2 it was the only position I could get comfortable in--I had to stay close to bed tho because I was induced with cervidil at two weeks overdue. If I'd had freedom of movement like with DD1 I'd likely just have been more mobile. I was grateful for it tho

jsillyfun

I actually was most comfortable in the side lying position. I had the least pain in that position and was able to relax the easiest and sleep in between contractions. I didn't think I'd like that position, but in the end I really did.

Robi1

I didn't feel like our Bradley classes focused on side lying at all - our instructor always emphasized that you never know what position you'll want to be in during labor, so practice lots of different ones. I didn't use side-lying at all during labor, getting on or off a bed was miserable for me. 

shiway

I think they use the side lying in practice to help you achieve ultimate relaxation. In that position it is a gret way to practice what it feels like go be completely relaxed. Of course In labor you'll be In many positions and may never lay down but this way you can remember the relaxation tips you practiced. But many laboring mamas find they need a break here and there and that is a great position to get rest off your feet or try to sleep if its been a long labor. I had a very long labor so spent a lot of my relaxing and resting time in that position.