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2nd Trimester
Bradley Classes
Is anyone taking them, or has anyone taken them for a previous pregnancy? I am debating between Bradley (8weeks - $295) and a Childbirth class given by my gym (4weeks - $100) and I am just trying to decide which is best.
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Re: Bradley Classes
Depends on the type of class you want.
RichInLove is doing the Bradley Method, so she may be able to give you some insight into those - she is usually on later in the evening.
I'm here! Actually I'm taking a Hypnobirthing Class. Here's my thought on childbirthing classes.
If you plan to go medicated an inexpensive and short, hospital-based class should be okay for you. A lot of time they talk about child care, after the baby is here and you don't learn much about the stages of labor and how to prepare for it.
If you plan to go natural, a more focused, specific and detailed class is better. The key, however, is to really practice the methods you learn in the class and make the most use of them.
A lot of people on this board are planning on a free or $50 class from the hospital but that may not be enough information for someone planning an un-medicated birth. Good luck!
We start a 12 week Bradley series on Jan 3rd. It's $250 for 24 hours of instruction.
My plan is to go as natural as possible, so my interest is in the longer more involved classes.
Well crap - I knew you were doing something like that LOL
and HI!!
I really loved my Bradley class and felt the most prepared I'd felt for anything in my life.
I too wanted a totally med-free birth. The class is much more in-depth as far as preparing for birth. It focuses on controlled breathing and relaxation exercises, and gives a lot of tips/advice for fathers-to-be. Specifically, how to help the mom-to-be to relax.
I think depending on your specific teacher, you may get a different experience. There is a book that is followed, of course, all teachers have their own experience to relate. Mine was a doula...and had a ton of helpful suggestions.
Dietary needs/ concerns were addressed...as well as weekly "assignments" to make sure we were all doing our Kegels like we were supposed to. There was an in-depth discussion on perineal massage and it's benefits. My class also had a rather in-depth massage relaxation segment as well as an entire class (2 1/5 hrs.) devoted to nursing positions and practicing those positions with very life like baby dolls.
In the end, due to a really long labor, and going for hours without out any intervention, I needed to use meds....but ended up delivering after they had all worn off. I thought it was worth the money....and am planning on taking a refresher course and reviewing the exercises in the book.
I wouldn't go with a gym class unless you got rave reviews from friends who had a similar birth experience to what you have planned. Bradley is very popular for people wanting an unmedicated birth, but as far as I know, 'official' Bradley classes are 12 weeks. Perhaps yours is abbreviated?
We took a class specifically for people planning an out-of-hospital birth (home birth or birth center) that was 6 weeks, but was not as rigorous as Bradley. I really liked it.
We're hoping to "do" Bradley but seriously considering now if we're going to do the actual classes come next month like we had originally planned (it's just that they are expensive and we are not really "class" people -- not very social usually and not looking forward to meeting other couples, etc. I know that sounds awful, lol).
But, I have read two Bradley books and have been, when I'm not a lazy bum, trying to stick to the recommended diet and doing the exercises (I just reminded DH last night that he has to remind me to do my pelvic rocking at night!).
So...we'll see how it goes. I had a friend who followed the Bradly method years ago and was very happy with her birth and from then on I always kinda knew I would give it a try.
I've also had friends quite recently who took the regular childbirth course at the same hospital where we will be delivering and didn't seem to learn much of anything, so...
I think it really depends on you. I wanted a med-free totally intervention-free birth, with my OB in a hospital. But I didn't really feel the need to take a whole series of classes. I just read a lot of books, and DH and I took the general childbirth classes put on through the hospital.
Honestly, the thing I don't like about Bradley is that they have so much focus on your husband and his role. To be perfectly honest, it's not about your husband. My husband was there, supporting me and helping me through it, but it is not because of him that I was able to have a med free delivery with my daughter. I was in my own little world with my eyes closed for 90% of the time. If you educate yourself and get your mindset in the right place, you will be able to do it. If you think you can get yourself there without taking a specific method of classes, then go for it. That was enough for me and having been through it already, I know it will be enough this time around, too. If YOU think you can handle it, and YOU get yourself into that mindset, then you will.
My birth story is in my bio and feel free to ask me any other questions if you have any. It was BY FAR the best experience personally for me. I can only hope that I can experience it again with this baby.