Bradley Method

Stephsizzle · September 2015

hi fellow preggos! Anyone considering the Bradley method for natural childbirth? I started reading the books and feel that it looks much easier said than done. As an anxious person in general, relying on "total relaxation" sounds like a near impossible feat for me.

Would love to hear testimonials or comments on Bradley!

kitteh81 · September 2015

I'm not a good source on this because I haven't actually read the book myself. My cousin did and was all-in on it, and ended up with an emergency c-section after 36 hours of active labor. Not saying her experience is representative of the quality of the Bradley method, but it certainly didn't "work" for her. I happened to be in the pregnancy/birth section of the library today and saw a Bradley DVD, and the "husband-coached" tagline put me off. Don't get me wrong, my Mr. was right there with me through both of my labors and he's a huge reason I made it through without pain meds both time (especially my first, 28 hour labor!) But hell if he "coached" me through it. I think if he'd tried to I might have kicked him in the junk, mid-labor.

I knew I wanted to labor with as few interventions as possible, so I read a lot about childbirth and the midwifery care model, especially books by Ina Mae Gaskin (I think that's how her name is spelled) I think her sphincter theory helped me the most, and I made sure to keep any vocalizations on a lower register, because it actually helps everything open up and relax.

I don't think I buy the idea of feeling no pain, or having a totally peaceful, relaxed labor. But that's just because I have never experienced labor that way. Some women might. But I think any time you go into labor with a specific, pre-conceived image of how it's going to be, you could potentially be cutting yourself off from other ways of managing/coping that could work better for you.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, go ahead and read up on the Bradley method and see how it feels to you. But read other methods and informational books about natural labor too. That way you'll have a number of resources in your arsenal when it's Go Time.

chavlin517 · September 2015

I actually did hypnobirthing, had a doula, and read Ina Mae's book. I have to say I've had two quick deliveries with no pain meds. That's not to say you are totally calm and it's not uncomfortable. I think getting to the point of erasing fear and along with the sphincter theory letting you body do its thing makes a lot of difference. To be honest the breathing was in my mind but not my total focus. It's definitely worth looking into to help keep you relaxed no matter what happens! With hypnobirthing there is also a hypnosis script I fell asleep to every night for a few months before, I'm pretty sure that helped my mental state too!

FutureMrsCaesar · September 2015

I get no votes because I've had epidurals every time, but a good girlfriend of mine has had great success delivering all 3 of her babies pain med-free with the Hypnobabies method.

If you are the type that gets really nervous and worked up in medical settings (like I am!) I think it might be tough. I am a very anxious person and was so unbelievably nervous delivering my first that I literally couldn't function, I just shook uncontrollably for hours. My other two deliveries I was much more relaxed because I knew what to expect, just wanted to add that so it didn't look like I am trying to scare you!

oceanchild · September 2015

We used Bradley and a doula with #1. I felt that the book had tons of great info, and I love the method, but once you really get going, you just end up doing what works to get thru it, and the relaxation techniques may or may not be it. I didn't know before that first time, but apparently I have very fast labors, and I never got a chance to practice my relaxation and get used to the sensations; I went from zero contractions to SROM and transition. We were going to do hypnobirthing with #2 (and no doula), but it just wasn't the method for me. With #3 I just had an amazing doula – she is familiar with and has done both HCCB and HB, but really it's her doula skills that are invaluable and what made the amazing difference for us. We are using her again. (My doula with the first baby was not very awesome; she was a super sweet lady, but just not the right doula for me … so important to find someone who works for your personality type!) Anyhow, I read my Bradley book every pregnancy, but in the end, I don't stick just to that method – my husband supports me and my doula supports me and we try whatever feels best at the time. But overall, Bradley would be the closest thing you could name it. I never got to attend the classes, bc the closest ones were an hour and a half away from us.

llybeck · September 2015

I wanted to try to go medication free with my first and did read up on this method. Everything was shot to hell for me on that front but my ultimate goal was getting a healthy baby, however it ended up. So for me it wasn't a let down but it definitely didn't "work" (had to be induced due to pre-eclampsia, 20+ hours of labor where I couldn't keep going and had to have an epidural, all of it ended in an emergency c-section). I'm not saying it doesn't work for some, it definitely can help, but things can change too.

I think the main thing to keep in mind is that birth plans are a guideline and not concrete, there are a million things that can change or alter things once you get going and all you can do is go with the flow. Try to go into it knowing what you would like but knowing that if it doesn't end up that way, that's totally okay! My mantra is that in the end you get a baby no matter how they are delivered. So it's a win regardless of what happens!

Kath525 · September 2015

I took a Bradley class, it was really helpful. I had a great instructor. I felt very knowledge and prepared (as much as I could be) for labor and delivery. My husband really enjoyed it as well.

RoMama113 · September 2015

I read the Bradley book (Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way) and wanted to go all natural for DS. You need a partner to be your guide through the birth, whether it be your SO, mom, doula etc. Unfortunately, my hubs didn't want to read the book, but he did go through some of the practice births with me while I read. I decided too late in my pregnancy that I wanted the Bradley method and we were too late to sign up for a 6 week class (especially since baby came 2 weeks early). Don't get me wrong, my husband was very, very supportive during my labor, but not enough to get me through the entire thing. I think if we had taken a class and he was more involved, he would have been able to lead me through. Not trying to bag on him, but I just needed someone talking me through the contractions more and making me try different positions etc and after pretty much a whole day of me in labor and no baby yet, it gets repetitive and he needs a break. My labor was 15.5 hours, all very, very hard contractions and painful. (I think I must have been in labor much longer, but I didn't wake up until stronger contractions started.) I lasted 11.5 of those hours without any medication, but I gave in and asked for a very low dose epidural. It gave me some relief, but I could still feel the contractions and my legs which I was grateful for... Then I had the doctor turn down the epidural even more when I started pushing and I felt all of the hard stuff!

Anyways to my point, I definitely recommend the method, but you have to make sure the partner you choose is involved and will take the reigns and lead you through labor. It's true that you will probably be in so much pain that you yourself do not think to change your breathing or your position (or put on music, get in the tub, etc) to make things less painful or speed things up. I would recommend not only you and your partner both read the book, but also take a class!!! And if possible, hire a doula!

With baby #2, I'm planning on going all natural this time again. I feel like I will be better prepared to do so. And even though my husband isn't thrilled about it, I told him that I'm hiring a doula, not to replace him, but just to have that additional support. Hopefully my labor is shorter this time, although I've heard the second+ is usually more intense...

kitteh81 · September 2015

I definitely agree that it's important to have support people with you during labor. My midwife and mom were great, and really good at directing my husband and giving him suggestions for how to help me. During my first labor I had horrible back labor, and the midwife instructed him to press really hard on my upper hip bones, to help open my pelvis. He never would have thought of that on his own, and I was too far in labor land to do any directing. So you could look at having a doula there as support for your husband as well.

Good luck with your next labor, RoMama! In my experience, the second one is quicker and easier, usually. Hopefully it will happen that way for you too! My first labor was 28 hours, second was just 6!

popcornplease · September 2015

We took the class for our first and loved it! Our birth didn't go as planned, but we don't regret the class at all.

ACleanLife24 · September 2015

So no bradley in the UK... but I can get his book about partner assisted birth... would that be worth it?

My plan is to go as natural as I can and re and use water/walking etc... However the idea of DH getting in a tub with me is gross... For both of us

I was thinking of providing him with a flow chart/ideas to do when I am in labor so he can suggest things my labor brain likes but can't think of in the moment. We are going to a class that goes though some natural techniques but not until Jan

MississippiCatfish · September 2015

*Lurking from Feb16*

I have heard good things about Bradley, but if you aren't convinced, I would suggest checking out hypnobabies as well. I am an anxious person, as well, and had a great birth with DS2 using HB. From all the reading I've done, I feel like people who tend to want external support from their SO really benefit from many of the Bradley techniques, and people who are more internally focused (I want to be LEFT ALONE when I am in pain or stressed!) thrive with HB. Not to say that there isn't crossover, of course. The hypnobabies home study course was worth it's weight in GOLD for me, after a stressful induction and epidurals that didn't work with DS1.

Stephsizzle · September 2015

Thanks everyone for the Detailed responses. It seems I should also read about Hypnobabies. Is anyone willing to sell their home study kit? A new one is $160. Not a bad deal but considering I already spent $300 on Bradley courses I'd be fine with saving a bit. Thanks in advance.

RoMama113 · September 2015

Thanks @kitteh81 ! My obgyn told me the next should go faster, I hope so!! They say sometimes the following children just fall out

aliciayarrish · December 2015

I am an anxious person as well! A while back ago (way pre-preggo) I decided to do yoga, and it was very difficult to teach myself to relax and not think and worry about everything else going on in the room and my life. It was so hard to train myself to think of my breath, my muscles, and nothing else.

Fast forward to now, I am choosing the Bradley method and think it will be similar to how I trained myself with yoga of full relaxation. The tricky part for me is that Bradley relies on a coach and my husband is not able to be there for the birth so it will be me coaching myself... we will see how that goes!

I am optimistic though that with the right practice I can really train myself to get the fully relax part down- and optimism is the first step, right?

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