Question about Bradley classes

Bingo1116 · April 2012

I found an instructor nearby and got some info from her and now I'm not sure if it will be worth it for me to take the classes or not. I was talking to another mom at my dd's dance class and she had taken classes with her first. She said most of it was about pregnancy nutrition and stuff like that. Toward the end of her classes they focused on relaxation techniques and the like.

This instructor that I spoke to doesn't even start teaching Nov. due dates until August. By that point, the nutrition stuff won't really matter. Really all I'm interested in is the relaxation techniques. Is it worth it for me to pay for the classes? The mom at dance class said that I'd be better off buying the Ina May book.

epona3 · April 2012

We took Bradley classes and LOVED them. I was very uncertain at first, too. I thought it might be too "hippy granola" for my DH. They are not - they are very down to earth, research/science based classes (at least, ours were)

We started learning relaxation techniques right away, but we also learned about all the stages of labor, how to recognize them, how to cope... We also learned about "atypical" births and how to cope, things to do, and when it's time to use medical intervention. (I liked that our instructor made it very clear that she WASN'T anti-intervention, just UNNECESSARY or "convenience" intervention.) We also learned about breastfeeding, postpartum care, how to write our birth plan, how to talk to our OBs/midwives about our birthplan - It was a VERY thorough class.

I agree that the nutrition stuff is probably better to start earlier, but it wasn't really anything I didn't already know. Also, if you wanted to start sticking to the diet earlier, you could just look at the books (it's high protein, which makes sense.)

I think it was most helpful for DH, though. He didn't know ANY of this stuff, and was feeling kind of like he would be very helpless during the birth. The class really showed him how he was going to be an active participant in the birth, and he felt much more prepared going into it. He was my rock during the birth, and I couldn't have done it without him. He wouldn't have known what to do or HOW to assist me and be my advocate without the classes.

It was also a good bonding experience for us to go to a class once a week, (we always got ice cream afterwards and talked about what we learned ) and practice the relaxation techniques during the week. I also really liked getting to connect with other couples who have the same ideas we do, and we still keep in touch now, even though our babies are nearly 2!

Whew, that was long! Short answer: we're big fans. Do it!

PinkPhotog · April 2012

I agree with everything the PP said! We loved our classes. We have the workbook still and we've just started practicing for this baby girl!

I am also going to read Ina May's book and Susan McCutcheon's (sp?) Bradley book.

MrsMandaK · April 2012

I was not a huge fan of the classes, but that was probably due to my instructor and the way she set up the schedule. She basically crammed everything into five classes instead of doing the usual 12-week schedule and spent most of the time telling us how bad it is to give birth in a hospital ( Confused

). I think you'd be fine just doing home study on your own.

robyn2201 · April 2012

I think it''s definitely possible to learn a lot of what is covered in class by reading books but there was so many others things that I and especially dh got out of the classes.

Dh isn't the type to sit down and read a book. I asked him to read Henci Goer's book, The Thinking Women's Guide to a Better Birth but he didn't. I knew it was really important for him to know the different types of interventions because I knew that I wasn't going to be in a state of mind to deal with a pushy nurse or OB while in labor. I bugged him and bugged him about reading it but he didn't. I am thankful that the classes covered this because he would have gone into it blind if we hadn't gone to the classes.

I honestly loved the classes. Like the PP mentioned that it was a time to stop, sit and connect with DH each week. The classes/instructor were a constant reminder for me to do the exercises (Kegels, pelvic rocks, squatting and tailor sitting) and eat properly. The book you receive in class has a different relaxation technique to work on each week. My instructor was wonderful and I went to her many times with questions, especially after I received some negative comments from my OB.

I would suggest possibly meating with a potential instructor and get a feel of what their class is like. Then you can make a decision as to if it's beneficial for your and your dh and your situation!

Bingo1116 · April 2012

Thanks for all the feedback so far! I'm going to email the instructor and see if she has a course outline that I could take a look at to see if it would be beneficial for us.

StefandTodd · April 2012

I found the class extremely beneficial. To me, and especially to my H. We started our classes a bit early, at 15 weeks, and I was glad we did.

kami1977 · April 2012

We took them with our first and I'm a little bummed not to be doing them this time around. Yes the first couple of classes talk about nutrition and pregnancy, but they start you on the exercises and relaxtion right away in each class. It was great because I knew DH was getting the information and even if we weren't practicing relaxation much at home we were doing it once a week. If you have the time to do it I would definitely do them.

missmaggie11 · April 2012

epona3:

We took Bradley classes and LOVED them. I was very uncertain at first, too. I thought it might be too "hippy granola" for my DH. They are not - they are very down to earth, research/science based classes (at least, ours were)

We started learning relaxation techniques right away, but we also learned about all the stages of labor, how to recognize them, how to cope... We also learned about "atypical" births and how to cope, things to do, and when it's time to use medical intervention. (I liked that our instructor made it very clear that she WASN'T anti-intervention, just UNNECESSARY or "convenience" intervention.) We also learned about breastfeeding, postpartum care, how to write our birth plan, how to talk to our OBs/midwives about our birthplan - It was a VERY thorough class.

I agree that the nutrition stuff is probably better to start earlier, but it wasn't really anything I didn't already know. Also, if you wanted to start sticking to the diet earlier, you could just look at the books (it's high protein, which makes sense.)

I think it was most helpful for DH, though. He didn't know ANY of this stuff, and was feeling kind of like he would be very helpless during the birth. The class really showed him how he was going to be an active participant in the birth, and he felt much more prepared going into it. He was my rock during the birth, and I couldn't have done it without him. He wouldn't have known what to do or HOW to assist me and be my advocate without the classes.

It was also a good bonding experience for us to go to a class once a week, (we always got ice cream afterwards and talked about what we learned ) and practice the relaxation techniques during the week. I also really liked getting to connect with other couples who have the same ideas we do, and we still keep in touch now, even though our babies are nearly 2!

Whew, that was long! Short answer: we're big fans. Do it!

ALL of this!!! This describes my experience to a T!!! Even the keeping in touch with the other families in the class- it's been over 6 years since our Bradley class and we am still in contact with the other moms & kids!!!

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