Hypnobirthing vs. Bradley Method

delaneykai

**I'm new to this board and a first time mom, but I know that you ladies would probably be able to provide me the most information regarding these 2 methods!  Thanks for your help and advice in advance!**

I'm planning to take birthing classes as we get further into the 2nd and 3rd trimesters to prepare myself as best as possible to encourage a natural childbirth.  I've had both Bradley Method and Hypnobirthing recommended to me and I'm curious to see if any of you have taken either of those classes in previous pregnancies (or currently).  Do you have a preference of one over the other?  

august8080

Most people, like myself, have probably just taken one or the other. I can speak to Hypnobirthing and tell you that I had a wonderful, amazing, intervention-free delivery in a hospital and everything went as planned and just as we wanted. I'm a huge believer in it and have converted my sister and several friends.

Both my OB and my doula have told me that HB births are their favorite to be a part of. Some of my favorite things about it are how happy and relaxed I felt from the time we started the class all the way through delivery. I absolutely wouldn't say l&d was a pain free experience (although some HBs do say that), but I totally had the tools to get through it and felt amazing and so powerful when I was done. The birth was so peaceful-no yelling, screaming, crying-I slept between contractions.

One of the things that really appealed to both my husband and I was the visualization aspect. He is a former professional athlete and I a collegiate athlete and we had used visualization as a tool to improve athletic performance. During the last month of my pregnancy, I visualized my cervix opening and thinning--I said I wanted to go into labor already 3-4 cm dilated. Well, sure enough, when labor started for me, I was 90% effaced and dilated to a 4. I really think the visualization helped me. 

I think you just need to look into both of them, decide what appeals to you and your partner and then go for it! Good luck!

cros8380

Hello and welcome! In case you haven't, I recommend reading the websites for both (www.hypnobirthing.com and www.bradleybirth.com) for more information!

I have heard great things about hypnobirthing, but used the Bradley Method for the birth of my daughter in Nov. 2010. I chose the Bradley Method because of all the things it covered- it was more than just a class to learn alternative pain management methods. We discussed nutrition for healthy baby and healthy mom, exercises to prepare the body for labor and delivery (as well as staying low risk during pregnancy), we learned how to choose a supportive birth team and write a realistic birth plan. We learned how my body worked during pregnancy, labor and delivery, we learned pain management techniques and of course, the signature for the Bradley Method, my husband learned how to be my birthing coach- something that I don't think is part of the curriculum of other natural birth classes.

The other very big part of the Bradley Method is learning to make informed decisions...not just going along with standard procedures, but understanding their purpose and how they may/may not lead to unnecesary interventions (that could potentially lead to medication and/or c-section). We also learned the types of questions to ask to help us determine if a medical intervention was truly necessary. 

I felt as if this method brought my husband and I even closer than we were. It was so significant in my life, and in the start of my daughter's life, that I became a Bradley Instructor!

Feel free to PM me if you have additional questions. I would also recommend talking with the instructors of both methods in your area...they can answer your questions as well!

GL!

pinkshades05

cros8380:

Hello and welcome! In case you haven't, I recommend reading the websites for both (www.hypnobirthing.com and www.bradleybirth.com) for more information!

I have heard great things about hypnobirthing, but used the Bradley Method for the birth of my daughter in Nov. 2010. I chose the Bradley Method because of all the things it covered- it was more than just a class to learn alternative pain management methods. We discussed nutrition for healthy baby and healthy mom, exercises to prepare the body for labor and delivery (as well as staying low risk during pregnancy), we learned how to choose a supportive birth team and write a realistic birth plan. We learned how my body worked during pregnancy, labor and delivery, we learned pain management techniques and of course, the signature for the Bradley Method, my husband learned how to be my birthing coach- something that I don't think is part of the curriculum of other natural birth classes.

The other very big part of the Bradley Method is learning to make informed decisions...not just going along with standard procedures, but understanding their purpose and how they may/may not lead to unnecesary interventions (that could potentially lead to medication and/or c-section). We also learned the types of questions to ask to help us determine if a medical intervention was truly necessary. 

I felt as if this method brought my husband and I even closer than we were. It was so significant in my life, and in the start of my daughter's life, that I became a Bradley Instructor!

Feel free to PM me if you have additional questions. I would also recommend talking with the instructors of both methods in your area...they can answer your questions as well!

GL!

We did the Bradley Method and I liked it for all reasons mentioned above. While I've heard great things about hypnobirthing, I like how thorough Bradley Method was with addressing all aspects of pregnancy and birth. My husband was a little clueless before we started the classes while I had been reading a ton of books about labor and birth. This class helped my husband to be caught up and informed as well as giving him some great tools to be an excellent coach!

Over all, I recommend this for a first birth because of how much information you get and how much it benefits first time dads as much as moms!

dani2480

You might also look at Hypnobabies... the founder taught Bradley for 10 years, and incorporates some of what she learned from that into the Hypnobabies course. There's a lot of info provided about nutrition, birthing positions, getting your birth partner/doula informed and involved, etc. along with the self-hypnosis for managing your labor and delivery.

Mamasaurus

I am in the middle of Bradley right now and like it a lot so far. I don't think I can do hypno-anything. Bradley does encourage you to do relaxation and focus on imagery and a birth narrative, which I just can't make work for me. Instead of pretending I am dancing on a beach or skipping through a field or inside a blossoming rose or whatever, I am going to look at pictures of healthy babies.

MAMAxB

pinkshades05:

cros8380:

Hello and welcome! In case you haven't, I recommend reading the websites for both (www.hypnobirthing.com and www.bradleybirth.com) for more information!

I have heard great things about hypnobirthing, but used the Bradley Method for the birth of my daughter in Nov. 2010. I chose the Bradley Method because of all the things it covered- it was more than just a class to learn alternative pain management methods. We discussed nutrition for healthy baby and healthy mom, exercises to prepare the body for labor and delivery (as well as staying low risk during pregnancy), we learned how to choose a supportive birth team and write a realistic birth plan. We learned how my body worked during pregnancy, labor and delivery, we learned pain management techniques and of course, the signature for the Bradley Method, my husband learned how to be my birthing coach- something that I don't think is part of the curriculum of other natural birth classes.

The other very big part of the Bradley Method is learning to make informed decisions...not just going along with standard procedures, but understanding their purpose and how they may/may not lead to unnecesary interventions (that could potentially lead to medication and/or c-section). We also learned the types of questions to ask to help us determine if a medical intervention was truly necessary. 

I felt as if this method brought my husband and I even closer than we were. It was so significant in my life, and in the start of my daughter's life, that I became a Bradley Instructor!

Feel free to PM me if you have additional questions. I would also recommend talking with the instructors of both methods in your area...they can answer your questions as well!

GL!

We did the Bradley Method and I liked it for all reasons mentioned above. While I've heard great things about hypnobirthing, I like how thorough Bradley Method was with addressing all aspects of pregnancy and birth. My husband was a little clueless before we started the classes while I had been reading a ton of books about labor and birth. This class helped my husband to be caught up and informed as well as giving him some great tools to be an excellent coach!

Over all, I recommend this for a first birth because of how much information you get and how much it benefits first time dads as much as moms!

We also used the Bradley Method and I loved it. I was SO much healthier during my second pregnancy (when we took the course) than my first and felt MUCH more informed about all aspects of pregnancy/birth/parenting - it was VERY empowering!