condensed Bradley method classes? Do they work?

lpanossian

The Bradley method teachers I've been able to find in my area have no availability for the typical 12 week classes, but a couple are offering "condensed" versions. 2 or 4 classes for a couple of hours each. This will be my first birth! For those of you that have done this before, do you think this is enough? I'm concerned I won't get enough practice with the exercises, and at that point maybe I might as well just save the money and read the books? Do you think the shortened classes would still work? 

abbyful

I'm in the same boat as you, where our schedules don't work well to get to all 12 classes the normal way. I think we're going to do the condensed classes (4 classes), I hope it's enough to get the information down. We're also going to hire a doula.

JWiety030411

My husband and I are just a bit over halfway with the 12 week Bradley classes now.  While I haven't given birth yet, I will say that I can't imagine this course being condensed.  There is SO much information, and it leads to more questions, and with our classes - which are 2.5 hours each - we hardly ever get through everything before the end of the time.  You will definitely benefit by doing the exercises (a little bit is better than none!) and the books are great too.  I would recommend "Husband Coached Childbirth" by Dr. Robert Bradley, if you get any to read on your own - that's the main text for the course and has been invaluable for my husband and I.  Bottom line:  Depending on how much they are charging, I don't know if the "overview" that you would get would be anything you couldn't just learn yourself from reading the books.  Maybe the condensed courses are great - I just can't imagine shortening the information when we already hardly ever get through ONE of the twelve sessions in 2.5 hours!