[sapphire_chan]

First off, disclaimer, I know this method works for many women and they love it and have used it and will use it for many births. However for me, it just does not *click*.

I saw the book at the library and flipped through it because I didn't know anything about the Bradley method other than "it's husband-coached childbirth". I saw some stuff on how animals act in birth and so I decided I'd go ahead and read it. To briefly summarize what I feel Dr. Bradley is saying in the book, "It's my way or the highway and if you have problems you did it wrong."

 

[<<<Scarlet>>>]

I got the bradley book too and in the end didn't like it.
My favorite was the a hypnobirthing book... I didn't get any tapes/cds (I certainly will for any more pregnancies) but I like what hypnobirthing is, and I did great with my birth (if i'm allowed to be so proud

)

 

[PortraitPixie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan To briefly summarize what I feel Dr. Bradley is saying in the book, "It's my way or the highway and if you have problems you did it wrong."

Isn't that what darn near EVERY book about birth says?

 

[Sagesgirl]

I'd recommend actually reading it. Just flipping through it doesn't really give you a good comprehension of the method. I have also heard the complaint that the book by Bradley himself is decidedly misogynistic, & so another book on the same method is preferred, but I didn't have a problem with Husband-Coached Childbirth, so I'm not sure of the other book.

Of course, in the end what truly matters is what does click with you. And that's likely to be something different for everyone.

 

[erikandgregsmom]

and admittedly ended up with 2 c/s's, but just a thought.....

Don't know what kind of support your husband/partner is, but if the method relies on that person heavily, are they up for it? My husband is a real nice guy, but he was a lousy labor support

: .

Just a thought.....

By the way SapphireClan, love your goals for the year, many are mine too! Hope u r doing better than me

 

[Patchfire]

We took Bradley - the value of it was that it was the only way I could get dh to learn anything about birth. The good thing is that he still remembers it and so especially with ds I didn't even read anything about the technical aspects of birth - I wanted that information as far in the back of my mind as I could get it. I figured if someone wanted to analyze my 'emotional signposts,' it could be him!

That said, I think the method itself isn't all that great. The book by Susan McCutcheon even states that there's no reason to walk in labor because we don't really want to speed up labor, now do we?

Well, I don't know about specifically speeding it up, but I definitely did not want to lie down in a 'relaxation posture' or whatever!

 

[pageta]

Yeah, my dh is not a "coach" type of guy. I think part of why I failed at natural birth with ds was because I was depending on people to "coach" me to have the baby naturally and no one did (even though I had a doula who talked about how she would do that and an OB who was very natural birth friendly). I've reviewed the book again this time, but haven't found it very helpful or insightful. I like the premise that women need to be left alone like animals are, but beyond that, I didn't find the Bradley method very helpful.

 

[User101]

I like the idea of Bradley, but I can see how the book would be a turn-off. Plus everyone is nekkid. With my first, DH would say, "Hey, it's time to practice for labor. Get naked."

:

I think a lot of it has to do with you as a peron. I took Lamaze AND Bradley (not at the same time) and for me, the Bradley focus on working WITH the pain and focusing inward worked better than the Lamaze method of working THROUGH the pain and focusing outward. But I think it's a question of knowing yourself. Good luck!

 

[amygoforth]

I took Bradley classes for both births. As with anything, you take what feels right and leave the rest alone. I don't buy into the "husband-coached" thing.

But what I value beyond measure are what my classes taught me about natural labor, taking control of my birth, and proactive consumerism in a hosptial setting. During the class for my first birth, I had lightbulbs snapping on left and right! I mean, I was CLUELESS about birth back then.

In part because of what I learned in my CB classes, I chose to make my second birth a homebirth.

 

[lilyka]

I've never been a afan and feel like such a freak about it. I do not relax during birth. I get up and get to work. I listen to heavy metal ot techno and get moving. I cleaned like a crazy woman with my last. no kidding, between contractions I was rearranging furniture. the thought of relaxing during labor makes my skin crawl but they will have have you believe relaxing is the only way to get through it. and if you have anything les than the perfect birth it is all your fault for not sticking with the program and doing it better.

 

[illinoismommy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by annettemarie I like the idea of Bradley, but I can see how the book would be a turn-off. Plus everyone is nekkid. With my first, DH would say, "Hey, it's time to practice for labor. Get naked." :

 

[annakiss]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PortraitPixie Isn't that what darn near EVERY book about birth says?

No.

Birthing from Within, which is my favorite labor-prep book, stresses different things you can try, but does not have a set method at all, I don't feel. Same with The Birth Partner and other books I've read.

We took a homebirth-focused childbirth class when I was pg with DS1 and that seemed to inform DH pretty well. He also read The Birth Partner (or skimmed it anyway) and The Continuum Concept (to gear up for parenting). I took prenatal yoga and never practiced any birthing method at all. I think the yoga helped a lot to learn how to be in my body. Follow your own breath. Your husband likely won't know specifically what to do no matter what philosophy you subscribe to, so it's best that they're there to mostly lean on and hold a glass of water with a straw up every now and then, imo.

 

[hopefulfaith]

I bought Susan McCutcheon's book, and I hated it.

I'm sure she's a wonderful person, but the Bradley method really turned me off because of the total focus on the COACH. Even the fact that it is called "HUSBAND-coached childbirth" gets me. I just felt like there was too much emphasis on the supporting person's role and that the role of the laboring woman was to do whatever the support person directed them to.

I'm all about the labor being all about the mama and the baby. I think that in most cases, the two of them (us) would get along fine without third party direction.

Just my .02.

 

[nonconformnmom]

For me, the Bradley method made the difference between possible interventions and no interventions when pushing. My baby's heartbeat slowed way down and the ob said, "You have to get this baby out NOW!" My dh calmly and confidently instructed me to stand and squat. I refused; but he insisted. Trusting him despite my exhaustion, I did as he suggested and the baby's heartbeat immediately returned to normal. I was able to push my way in my own time from that point on and had a successful, natural birth.

Bradley gave my dh the confidence to act in a crisis and that, IMO, is invaluable. Any birth method that works for you is, of course, the best choice. But don't underestimate the value of an informed and empowered partner for when the going gets tough.

 

[annakiss]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonconformnmom For me, the Bradley method made the difference between possible interventions and no interventions when pushing. My baby's heartbeat slowed way down and the ob said, "You have to get this baby out NOW!" My dh calmly and confidently instructed me to stand and squat. I refused; but he insisted. Trusting him despite my exhaustion, I did as he suggested and the baby's heartbeat immediately returned to normal. I was able to push my way in my own time from that point on and had a successful, natural birth.

Maybe this is key. If you're going to birth with an OB, who knows nothing about natural childbirth, then having someone there who does (in this case, a husband) could be helpful!

I wanted to add too that Bradley turned me off because I'm more interested in following my own innate ability to birth than some method. The most I needed in prep for birth was to tune into my body and to know that I could do it and was going to.

 

[onlyboys]

I think, like any "method", you should take what you can use and throw the rest away. Personally, I like the nutrition sections of the Bradley Way, as well as the anatomy, etc. I think dads can get connected with "scientific" stuff; I know my husband did.

We also played labor a lot. We practiced. I drilled him--if I say this, then you say this. If I do this, then you might do this. He's the best labor support EVER. I don't even want to think of a birth without him.

 

[pamamidwife]

The old book "The Bradley Method" was so full of misogynist writing that I could barely read it. Then again, even Lamaze's book was the same way. Part and parcel of the time and era.

I don't like any method that tells a woman that if she does this, this and this her birth will be painless. I feel like lying down and being quiet is counterintuitive to birth and I'm a bigger fan of active birth and letting women find their own way while they're IN IT. Keeping themselves in the moment and listening to their bodies is the best.

Bradley did wonders for bringing men into the birth room to fight the battles of the time. By advocating that women lie still and be quiet, he insured that this crazy notion of "natural childbirth" would be more readily accepted by mainstream providers at that particular time. However, setting up a man as "coach" often means he totally is placed in a role in a foreign world that is stacked against him. It also means he totally misses out on his birth in a way that allows him to be a woman's lover, partner and the baby's father. If he doesn't advocate or protect his partner in the right way, it could really affect their relationship. It discounts his own transition to fatherhood. Of course, I'm speaking hypothetically - some men love to coach and some men really love to be more active in the birth process like Bradley proposes.

I like HC-C because of the pictures of the birth process. The descriptions of how the uterine muscles work in labor is fabulous.

I appreciate how Bradley instructors give students so much information about circ, breastfeeding, Vitamin K, nutrition, epidurals, induction, etc.

I think that any method that promises a particular outcome is bound to fail for most women. Women need to find their own walk in birth - and you don't really know what that will look like until you're in it.

 

[kerikadi]

Let us keep in mind that the Bradley Method was created in the early 60's and a LOT has changed since then. If Dr. Bradley was alive himself he may want to make changes but people hold onto the stuff that he pioneered over 40 years ago. And that the Bradley method was centered around hospital/OB birth.

Dr. Bradley was my Mom's OB. Because of him my Dad was ALLOWED to be in the delivery room. Before he instisted the rules be changed husbands were not allowed to be with their wives at all during labor & delivery. So we can definitely thank him for that. He also insisted that his Moms learn to relax, eat well and breastfeed which was unheard of during the age of - "Don't gain more than 15 pounds, continue smoking, exercise is a strain on the baby and formula is better than breastmilk"

Dr. Bradley revolutionized birth in the early 60's. All of my Mom's cousins & sisters were knocked out and in twilight for their births. When you compare that to the fact that my Mom labored and birthed naturally with her husband by her side the difference is staggering. He was the only one my Mom could find that would let her birth HER way. He was her OB with my sister and brother born in 62 and 64.

Unfortunately, my Mom moved before having me in 69 - she was told natural labor would kill her, they soaked gauze with inhalable medication and attached it to her wrist, strapped her to the table, yelled at her and victimized her. All the while my Dad was in the waiting room because husbands were NOT allowed to be with laboring/birthing women. They treated my Mom like crap because she wanted a natural birth.

Like every book take what you like and leave the rest.
I just read an Ina May book and can't tell you how annoyed I am that it seems every patient had a cervical check SEVERAL times during labor. I thought she was a believer in the process???
Now, does this mean Ina May isn't a great MW? No, but it's her way and certainly NOT mine.

I can see how Bradley isn't right for everyone and it likely needs to be updated from the revolution it was in the 60's. Times change, women are more aware, etc.

Bradley worked much better for me than Lamaza - all that controlled breathing pissed me off! I love my DH being there and I think it's likely they call him a coach just to make men feel more comfortable because calling them the Mother's nurse aide probably wouldn't go over well

Keri

 

[arlecchina]

personally I cannot imagine using ANY "method" especially one thought up by a man : O my body knows how to have a baby. I will know what to do when the time comes, and I cant "not do it right".

 

[jeanine123]

I haven't heard much good about the book written by Dr. Bradlet himself. But I have heard good things about "Husband Coachd Childbirth" by Susan McCutcheson.