[evening start]

So I was talking to my Mom yesterday about the benefits and drawbacks of various schools of thought on childbirth preparation. She highly recommended Bradley classes if they were offered. I thought they were offered at Mt. Auburn Hospital, but on further investigation, they are not. I'm assuming that there must be Bradley classes offered somewhere in the Boston area, but I wasn't having much luck searching on the web. Does anyone know who offers them, and how to get information about costs and meeting times? I am about 4 months along, so I will want a class that will be meeting sometime in the next three months of so, preferably on the weekends.

Thanks,
Emily

 

[Grivas]

oh, oh! I know a new Bradley instructor! Is Shirley, MA too far? It's straight out Route 2, past 495. Many of us who have done Bradley have driven 30 minutes or more to the classes. It's worth it.

Have you checked the Bradley Birth website? http://www.bradleybirth.com/GetTeach...px?statemap=MA
There is a list of teachers. I called many of them in my search for classes about a year ago. PM me if you want any more info. Congratulations on your pregnancy, and your decision to use the Bradley Method. I can't say enough good things about it - it was great for us!

 

[ErinsJuneBug]

Can you guys explain the difference between Bradley and Hypnobirthing? We were thinking about doing a hypnobirthing class - but shirley is really close to us and i'd love to find out more about the bradley approach.

 

[Grivas]

Bradley Method is actually called Husband Coached Childbirth. The focus is on relaxation, achieved by being thoroughly aware of what is going on in your body during pregnancy and birth. So, you're not taking yourself out of the experience to relax, you are relying on your knowledge, trust in your body, and your partner/coach. I chose this method because I'm most comfortable facing my fears by learning all about them. It wouldn't be right for everyone. Plus, to really do need an involved and supportive partner for this method (not necessarily a husband, either!). The goal is to acheive a healthy, non-medicalized birth (if possible), and to manage your own birth experience. I expect that hypnobirthing is also focused on those goals. I'm not an instructor, but am deeply passionate about this method. DH and I took the 12 classes, did our homework, I did my exercises, followed the diet, and we were blessed with a wonderful birth experience. I know a lot of it is luck, but I'm convinced that much of it is preparedness, too. The physical exercises required in the Bradley Method are to help make sure the mother's body is ready for vaginal birth and the baby is in the right position. These are both very important details that are not always considered until too close to EDD, I think. I could write much more, but you can PM me if you want to. Any Bradley instructors out there want to chime in?

 

[MAMom]

Ann Marie Lindquist, who is in Lexington, teaches Bradley. She's been teaching it for 11 years.

I don't know her class schedule, but here's her contact info:
781-863-1689
781-652-8369
amlindquistATrcnDOTcom

 

[kdabbler]

Isis Maternity offers hypnobirthing and "natural" childbirth classes. I took my hospitals birth program so I can't offer any opinion on the Isis content.

 

[evening start]

Thanks all, at least I have some places to start now. Grivas, unfortunately I think Shirley won't work so well. DH is already concerned about how much time the classes will take, so I'm trying to minimize travel (if possible). ErinsJuneBug, I haven't taken either course (obviously) but when I talked to my Mom she said that the hypnobirthing sounded a little like lamaz. The main problem she pointed out is that these types of programs sometimes build an expectation in new mothers that if they do everything "right" that their birth will be painless. She said for her, when that wasn't the case she ended up feeling like she had done something "wrong" and that made the experience worse not better. On the other hand, she said that she felt that the Bradley method encourages you to work WITH your bodies and the sensations you are feeling and it made her feel much better prepared and more in control of her births. Since I know I am like my Mom, and I am a little skeptical about hypnosis anyway, that argument really swayed me, but I know that there are other women on this board who use and love hypnobirthing or hypnobabies. HTH.

 

[barefootbabies]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAMom Ann Marie Lindquist, who is in Lexington, teaches Bradley. She's been teaching it for 11 years. I don't know her class schedule, but here's her contact info: 781-863-1689 781-652-8369 amlindquistATrcnDOTcom

Just wanted to chime in, we took Ann Marie's class about 2 years ago, she is wonderful. I can't say enough good things about the class. Good luck!

 

[Bexo]

I am the Bradley Instructor in Shirley, MA I'd be happy to answer any questions, though I think Grivas did a great job explaining the Bradley Method.

My husband and I teach out of our home. It's very cozy, relaxed, and comfortable. I know that the men appreciate my husband's input in class. Another thing that makes The Bradley Method unique is its emphasis on the role of the husband coach. We spend a lot of time teaching husbands how to be active participants in the birth of their babies.

I think what makes Bradley classes unique is that we not only cover birthing, we also teach parents how to stay low risk and how to understand all of the various interventions that are so common nowadays. We also teach about breastfeeding, postpartum care and good nutrition. Close to 90% of Bradley couples have spontaneous (meaning not induced), natural (meaning unmedicated), vaginal births. I'm not aware of any other method that comes close to achieving those statistics.

 

[seoul_mama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdabbler Isis Maternity offers hypnobirthing and "natural" childbirth classes. I took my hospitals birth program so I can't offer any opinion on the Isis content.

Isis is contracted with Brigham & Women's. B&W has a c/s rate >30% and the majority of births are augmented with unnecessary medical interventions. My sense is that due to their contract with B&W, the childbirth classes are probably influenced by the biases that favor hospital procedures. I took the natural childbirth class 3 yrs ago - I will never step foot in Isis again. it goes without saying, but this is just my opinion.

good luck finding a bradley instructor. An alternative is Birth Works. Check out their website: Birth Works

Their overarching philosophy is similar to the Bradley method, but a distinguishing factor is that Birth Works classes are not about mastering all the right techniques and methods. Instead, Birth Works offers a process oriented approach that facilitates trust, confidence, wisdom, and empowerment for pregnant and birthing women. One of Birth Works central beliefs is that it is easy to teach technique and much more difficult to cultivate confidence and trust in a woman's body. Therefore, the focus is on helping women belief and trust in their bodies.

 

[ZZsMama]

Another recomendation for Ann Marie Lindquist. We took classes with her and felt very well prepared for a birth that could have been complicated and scary but turned out just long, but natural and happy.