Bradley girls - question about class content

MSC03

Hey all--tonight is class #10 for us and to this point we usually just sit and listen to our instructor talk about avoiding interventions, dangers of interventions, positives of healthy lifestyle, etc. She has tons of experience as a doula and a ton of stories to share.

That said, I feel like we're not doing ANY exercises or learning any techniques. We do "labor practice" where we try a position and our husband times us and strokes our arms/backs gently and we also have our home exercises (kegels, tailor sitting, squatting, pelvic rocks) but it seems like other people are learning massage techniques, pelvic pressure points, etc.

Aren't we missing out on some practical things here? I'm starting to get nervous.

AutumnBride929

We did not learn massage techniques besides the light touch massage (which I think is actually a part of Hypnobirthing) or pelvic pressure points.

We did like yours is doing: Practiced labor positions and relaxation techniques (like the rainbow visualization technique or something, as well as some other different scripts that she went through).

We also practiced some of the exercises like tailor sitting, pelvic rocks, etc.

autumnbaby2010

Only 3 classes in, but each one ends w/ 20 minutes of practicing diff relaxation techniques, incl. all of the massages / tension-releasing techniques our DH's were taught in class 1 - which are all amazing! All of the home exercises you mentioned were demonstrated and practiced in class 2 as well.

So for us, it's been very hands-on so far (my DH even loved practicing putting on a diaper & bathing a baby )

Genevieve_kris

We're nearly halfway through our Bradley classes and I don't feel like I've learned the "secret" either.  I don't know what I was expecting, but I guess I sort of thought there'd be more of a system or method or something. 

I *think* our instructor mentioned something about doing practice labors.  That seems like it could be useful. 

I've enjoyed the classes and talking about pregnancy, but what I really want is to learn how I'm going to handle this.  Meanwhile, I'm starting to get a little more aggressive in my search for a doula....

cylynn

we did 30 minutes of labor rehearsal at our week 10 class.  I don't know if thats typical or not.  the teacher would announce contractions and you had different ways to "labor" through them.  

Every week we do a relaxation exercise thats in the book, and the teacher guides us through them.  We have done a couple other labor practice activities.  Mostly we do just listen and take notes.  

We have week 12 next week.   

robyn2201

cylynn:

we did 30 minutes of labor rehearsal at our week 10 class.  I don't know if thats typical or not.  the teacher would announce contractions and you had different ways to "labor" through them.  

Every week we do a relaxation exercise thats in the book, and the teacher guides us through them.  We have done a couple other labor practice activities.  Mostly we do just listen and take notes.  

We have week 12 next week.   

We did this as well and I really liked the "trying out" different labor positions.

jteneback

I just wanted to say hi, MSC! Although I plan on doing Bradley as well so I will check out the answers to your questions...

HRMJPC

We've been doing "labor practice" at all of our classes and learning a handful of massage, hip squeezing, and sacral pressure techniques. But, to be honest, I don't think I am getting my $300 worth AT ALL. Hopefully DH is. I am starting to wonder if I should have gone the hypno route.

MSC03

jteneback:

I just wanted to say hi, MSC! Although I plan on doing Bradley as well so I will check out the answers to your questions...

OMG! Looks like congratulations are in order! YAY!!!

jteneback

MrsSummitCounty:

jteneback:

I just wanted to say hi, MSC! Although I plan on doing Bradley as well so I will check out the answers to your questions...

OMG! Looks like congratulations are in order! YAY!!!

Thank you

flyer23

I did Bradley classes with DD, and we never learned massage techniques or pelvic pressure points. The main "technique" I learned was deep relaxation, mostly while lying on my side.

I'm sure some Bradley instructors have experience with massage, etc., and incorporate that into their class, but I don't think it's "officially" part of Bradley.

When I got into labor, it threw me for a loop when I tried lying on my side and it felt terrible. I do think that all the relaxation I practiced came in handy, but when I got pregnant with DS, I was attracted to Hypnobabies in part because it offered more practical techniques beyond deep relaxation (light switch, hypnosis scripts). I don't say that to mean Bradley classes are worthless, not at all... but I don't think that their strength is necessarily in teaching practical techniques.