Is this enough prep for a natural childbirth?

[f&p'smama]

With my last pregnancy, we just took the birth prep class at the hospital & it wasn't all that helpful.

This time I am hoping to VBAC and have as natural a birth as possible in a hospital. I would like to take a Bradley class, but I just can't swing it with two 2-year olds in terms of time away from me and DH.

I've ordered the two Bradley books and want to order Hypnobabies. I also plan to have a doula.

Here's my question -- Will just reading the books and practicing by myself and with DH be enough to prepare me for a natural birth with the support of a doula? If not, what do you suggest?

Thanks!

[applejuice]

Those sound good. The hospital classes are mostly seminars to get you ready to accept any and all interventions the hospital has to give you. If you have any questions you should write them down and have them ready to ask at the next class or doctor's appointment. Get a doula who you can work with and someone you trust has used and knows well. You are having a VBAC?

Go to a chiropractor and get some adjustments so the baby will be in an easy position to be born.

DH and I had all of ours at home and we took two classes each time. It seems to me there is nothing that can prepare a woman for the real thing; having support and encouragement is what helped me through most of it, in addition to good nutrition throughout pregnancy, exercise, and a good outlook on myself and my pregnancy.

[gcgirl]

Is your doula doing any advance meetings with you? Mine helped us put together a birthing plan and also coaches me on exercises, breathing, and birthing positions. They can offer some good prep.

[alegna]

I didn't do any classes BUT I birthed at home where I wasn't facing any obstacles to the natural birthing process.

-Angela

[mamak05]

I read LOTS of books - my favs being Ina May's Guide to Natural Birth and Birthing From Within. We also took the BFW class. I would encourage you to get the BFW book from the libaray and do the exercises in there too. There are some good ones on practicing contractions and figuring out how you like to be supported through them.

[DucetteMama21842]

I would check with the local Bradley instructor about taking your kids with or doing a private class at home... I know MANY Bradley instructors who enjoy including the children. I would definitely take the classes.. but if that's impossible... READ READ READ and PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! That's my advice.

[pinksprklybarefoot]

I didn't do any classes... just read a lot. I had a hospital birth and it all turned out fine. I think it really just depends on the type of person you are.

[SeekingJoy]

You know you best. Do you feel you have a realistic view of the pressures you will face in a hospital? The toll (mental and physical) on you from being asked admission questions while laboring, being forced flat on your back to be monitored, poked at, doubted, having your choices second guessed, being put on a time table, etc. Do you have a plan to overcome these? A doula can be a great support mechanism, but you and your partner still have to do the work in managing the medical staff.

Also, think about preparing physically. Yoga is awesome for the pregnant body.

[JaneSmith1010]

I personally took a long course with two midwives on top of reading a watching videos. To tell you the truth I didn't learn anything from the class. Granted, it wasn't Bradley but I did do a completely natural home waterbirth. The classes seemed to cater to people who did no reading outside of class and I was pretty bored. I would think that self- education should be adequate. The most useful part of my education--which I read on my own--was not to be scared that I couldn't do it and that everything that happened was supposed to happen. Good luck to you and congratulations.

[JamieCatheryn]

Bradley is mostly intellectual, learn all about the process or birth, the interventions offered, staying healthy in pregnancy. It involves some relaxation practice.

Hypno is about putting yourself in a hypnotic state and focusing inward through your labor.

Learning all about both is great, books are a big help and also asking someone who knows, class or not, if you have a question. You'll find people on here and you can try your doula too. Aside from learning though, the main thing is to really, seriously practice this stuff. The bradley relaxation, the positions, and if you're doing hypnobabies that especially.

[wombatclay]

The hypnobabies home study course helped a lot with my vbac! Hypnobabies is specifically designed to help you remain in a hypnotic state while still talking/walking/using different positions and techniques. It was a great way to relax during pregnancy and included a hypnotic session for releasing fears about the birth (which is a great idea for vbac mamas)

happy birthing!

[OllieMama]

I also used the hypnobabies home study course, and it was definitely enough. Plus, I was even a little slack about my practicing from time to time, and birth was still totally manageable. Also awesome and empowering. I think an important part of it was understanding what was going on with my body and why, how my body was designed to accomplish the birthing of my baby, and that everything was natural and normal, etc. Anyway, you don't need an actual class to get the tools you need. Good luck!

[gottaknit]

I took the Birthing from Within series of classes with a homebirth midwife, as well as reading every natural birth book/website I could lay my hands on, and planned for a homebirth with a midwife and doula. I ended up with a cesarean. So planning for a homebirth doesn't always prevent c/s.

I think the most important thing, since you are having a hospital VBAC, is to educate yourself about all the interventions that will be offered/pressured on you, both prenatally and during labor. Also, being sure that your doula and your partner understand what you want, too.

Birthing from Within is a good program/book, especially if you're dealing with any residual emotional issues from your first birth. But as you know, contractions aren't like clutching an ice cube! (How the techniques in BFW are practiced.)

For me, this birth I'm not taking any classes, and I'm only reading inspirational birth stories to get me in a positive mindset. I think sometimes it is possible for women to read too much and be too intellectually involved in the labor. It makes it harder to get to that out-of-your-mind labor place, if that makes sense. Just speaking from my experience. Others will no doubt have different opinions.

[wombatclay]

I think sometimes it is possible for women to read too much and be too intellectually involved in the labor. It makes it harder to get to that out-of-your-mind labor place, if that makes sense.

Actually, this is exactly what my super crunchy vbac OBs feel. They ask vbac mamas to research everything during the first and second trimester so that they'll know their stuff...they encourage questions and discussion and research and digging until mama is comfortable and confident. But they ask that during the third trimester you put down the books, and the stats, and the rupture rates, and the studies about this or that. They want you to go outside, breathe fresh air, exercise, connect with nature and with your inner self, and really just get out of your head and into your body. In their experience vbac mamas have a lot of (understandable) emotional stress related to their birth history and this can inhibit them in future births if they try to focus on the "intellectual" stuff instead of just believing in their body and in the power of birth.

I found it really interesting that two OBs would actually write me an Rx for "getting outside and enjoying your powerful pregnant body every day". Of course, they did train on the Farm so I guess it's not too surprising that they have a fair amount of the "Ina May" ecstatic birth vibe. And they are fond of the Birthing from Within book and program...the vbac doula they prefer is trained in BFW as well as Hypnobabies.

[gottaknit]

Originally Posted by wombatclay

But they ask that during the third trimester you put down the books, and the stats, and the rupture rates, and the studies about this or that. They want you to go outside, breathe fresh air, exercise, connect with nature and with your inner self, and really just get out of your head and into your body.

I'm guessing they would add avoiding internet birth forums to this list. I'm spending waaaay too much time online these days.

[mothragirl]

i didn't take any classes, i just read a lot of books and natural birth stories. i was very prepared for childbirth.

[PPK]

I didn't feel like I learned much in the Bradley classes at all. You can learn just as much, or more, by reading and doing your own research if you're up for it!

[Rockies5]

I never took a class. Have five natural birth (two in conservative miltary hospitals, they'd bever seen a mom birthing on her feet before ) one UC and two homebirths.

I read alot. Now I teach classes but I firmly believe women know how to birth beautifully and well without books, classes, doulas, attendants, or birth chat forums.

A little education goes a long way in some circumstances (hopsital births, attendants who don't tell the whole truth).

I was one of those hold your ears and birth girls from the get-go, knew I could do it despite what everyone else has to say or tried to do to me to stop me.

[pinksprklybarefoot]

Originally Posted by wombatclay

I found it really interesting that two OBs would actually write me an Rx for "getting outside and enjoying your powerful pregnant body every day".

Wow. You have found yourself some special docs.

[pinksprklybarefoot]

Aw, man. I just read your birth story, wombatclay. Just when you start to think that the Western medical community isn't that bad...