Bradley Method

I know that many of the mom' and mom's to be are looking into all different things and was wondering if anyone is doing the Bradley method- i don't know much-- my hairdresser was telling me about it last night and figured I would get some feedback from you ladies!!
Laura

It's the best and only way!
Okay, my opinion.
But after multiple children and trying different things this is the way to go.

Can you explain it in more detail?

And I also think that first timers need the have ALL options open to them (aka epidurals). It is heard to know what to plan on when you don't know what you are planning for. Does that make sense?

Michele - too many details for here. Get the book! Library should have it.

Lamaze - I don't know what to say except I will not forget how to breath when having a baby. Did this with child number one. Felt it was a waste of my time and did zero for me. Actually got me more upset. All I remember is okay honey breath like this. I almost punched him!

There are many options. IMHO I feel that we were designed to do things in a natural way. And that this is best for the health of the baby. Other than when they fight to not do their homework and I want to hurt them (Just Kidding) I know i made the right decision for me.

Same thing can be said about taking an aspirin for a headache.
It is a personal opinion that every woman has the right to choose but just as we are blessed to have those choices to make, I feel that there is nothing wrong with a little help from medicine.
They say there are natural healing ways to cure cancer.. personally, I would go for the chemo ( god forbid)
You can drink tea to cure a cold.. I go for the tylenol.
We all at some point give in to medicine and there is nothing wrong with that...
I'm babling
lol

Jodi, I agree that the decision is very personal and every one should be entitled to making that decision but one thing to keep in mind is that having an epidural is not quite like taking an aspirin for a headache and it is one of the causes of the increase in c-sections in our country b/c it slows the natural birth process down. The leading cause for a c-section is 'lack of progress.'

There is a great book
A Thinking Women's Guide to Birth
buy.com sells it.
It shows the pros and cons of all modern medication during birth. Then you can make an informed decision about what is right for you.
You do not have to just listen to your doctor's beliefs, you can also form your own.

editted to say: kids and homework are never good combinations. That is why all children should come with an after-school homework fairy. Moms should NOT be in charge of that stuff

Michele
Thanks for the book selection--i just ordered it-- I never seem to find great books like these until one of you ladies point them out!!!

I did the Bradley Method and highly reccommend it.
Education is the bEST tool...so that you can make an INFORMED decision when it comes time in the hospital. When you are in labor is not the time to debate the side effects of numerous drugs.

WHile it may seem that the classes are a bit heavy handed leaning towards natural ...they do remind you that woman having been having babies since the beginning of time! so we are part of a bigger circle of women out there. Comforting thought for me.

A good amount of time is spent on WHAT is happening inside your body at various stages of your pregancy and during LABOR. I found this esp helpful..since I think we all become afraid of things we don't know.

It gave me the strength to have Julianne completely drug free! and most of my labor I did standing up!

We took a birthing class that combined the benefits of Lamaze and Bradley and I really appreciated having the perspective of both methods. DH and I actually used a lot of the Bradley techniques during my early labor, while we were still at home.

I agree that education is the BEST preparation, but truthfully - there is not a book or a birthing class in the WORLD that can truly prepare you for the experience of birth besides just going through it.

And it's very important to remember that no birth plan is written in stone either...there's always a risk that your 'ideal' birthing method will not be practical or safe, in the event of an emergency during your labor/delivery. So, keeping an open mind and having a 'plan B' is a good piece of advice, too.