I had a good birth with dd but think that problems were caused by the epidural. I would like to consider my options for having this one with a few less interventions. I do NOT have a Bradley instructor any where close to me so I think that option is out. Is there any video based trainings since I want dh to be involved and he does not read books very often?
TIA for your thoughts.
briana-d
07-15-2008, 11:03 AM
i had posted this before but im doing hypnobabies right now and i love it!! at
hypnobabies.com
its so relaxing and has a class and home course, im doing that!
mamoo3
07-16-2008, 02:23 PM
I did Bradley classes with my 2nd dd. They are very informative about nutrician during pregnancy, exercises to do everyday while preggo, the birth process and talk about the danger of interventions. Our class required that everyone read "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer. I would highly recommend it to any expectant mama. They talk alot about eating enough protein to prevent hypertension. I think if you googled "Bradley Classes" you might be able to find out if any leaders offer classes online. While Bradley classes talked about relaxation techniques, I didn't find them particularly helpful during labor. With my 3rd pregnancy, I got a hypnobirthing book and cd and also read "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" by Ina May Gaskin. Let me tell you, it made a tremendous difference at my 3rd labor and delivery! I lent my sister the books and cd during her third pregnancy (she had also been in a Bradley class with her second), and she agreed with my assesment! I don't know of any videos, but I'm sure their are some out there. GL, I hope you find something that works for you!:goodvibes:
alisha_roseleip
07-16-2008, 05:55 PM
Thanks mamas! I just checked and there is nothing locally for ANYTHING!:cry: I think we will try getting both the Bradley Books and the Hypnobabies CDs and see which is working for us when we get there. Please feel free to keep the ideas coming though since I am clueless as my first labor was with an epidural:thumbsup:
redterra
07-17-2008, 07:06 PM
What we found when we were preparing for our births was that we agreed with the Bradley way of thinking - as far as the husband being the main labor support - but that the actual techniques are no longer so exclusive to the Bradley Method. In other words, there are lots of techniques/tricks that you can learn about there to help support a natural birth. It pays to research, then experiment/practice, and then narrow down what seems to work to help you relax and go with that when the time comes.
The books that were most helpful to us were Husband-Coached Childbirth (a bradley method book), The Birth Partner, and Special Delivery - IF you can get your hands on a copy - it's rare/out of print. I also read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth my first pregnancy, and it was very helpful. I read Thinking Womans Guide after all of these, and by that time everything was starting to sound redundant, LOL!
And so really - as far as Bradley Method goes - we never took any classes, just read. The breathing techniques recommended as part of it are pretty much the same as breathing you do during yoga relaxation - so you could take a pregnancy yoga class instead!
Good luck, and have fun finding your way! It was a very bonding time for us.
liberty4all
07-22-2008, 06:10 PM
It is very possible for you to read the Bradley books (there are 2 - one written by Dr. Bradley and an updated one, I can't remember the author) and fill your husband in on the details. DH and I studied Bradley for the birth of our son, and I highly recommend it. Firstly, I recommend the exercises that Dr. Bradley writes about in his book. Those were very helpful to me. Secondly, I recommend "labor practice" which is done pretty often in the Bradley classes. You would think up all different kinds of things that can happen in labor and practice with 1 minute contractions that are 3 minutes apart. When you are "contracting", your DH should squeeze your arm with the peak of pressure at 30 seconds so that you can mentally prepare for labor. This was incredibly helpful for us.
The Bradley way of thinking includes finding what works for you and your husband. My DH never read the books. He didn't think he could be that "perfect" husband whispering sweet nothings into his wife's ear as she labored. Instead, he did what we knew worked for us - he talked to me. Just hearing his voice helped me. He talked slow and low and encouraged me to breathe through contractions. He described scenes from special dates we had, our wedding day, our honeymoon, anything he could think of that was a happy moment. He reminded me of how we felt when we found out about the pregnancy and how we felt throughout on happy memories.
Another thing that helped me was focusing. There was a small garden outside my window and I sat on a birth ball and stared down at it while DH was calmly talking to me. For me, it also helped when DH squeezed my arm like in the labor practices - for the beginning part. Also during the beginning, he was able to joke with me and that helped. Don't think that you have to stick with one way!
One of the other really important parts of Bradley is studying the positions for labor. You can find information about these through research. I recommend you check out this website: Birthing Naturally (http://www.birthingnaturally.net/). There is a labor practice on that website as well. Doulas that have websites often have tips/tricks/info on their sites too.
A natural childbirth can be an incredibly moving event, not only for you but also for other women who will be empowered to have their own child naturally. With medication, there are times when women do not experience the overwhelming emotion that occurs when the child has been born, and that was the most amazing feeling of my life - part of the reason I can't wait for my next! :giggle2: Good luck, and if you need support, feel free to PM! :goodvibes:
mamamandi
07-25-2008, 03:59 PM
I read a lot of books while preggo, but did take a hypnobirthing class with an instructor I think that helped a lot.
However, more than anything I truly believe that my mind over matter (so to speak) mentality it was did the trick for me. I was just determined to have a natural birth, drugs were not an option...period. I never addressed "pain" that's one of the hypnobirthing (probably hypnobabies too) techniques. I just knew that my boby (woman's bodies) are fully capable and designed perfectly for this process and not "flawed" in anyway to cause us "pain" in the process. My mother states that I really just go into that "zone" towards the last month, really went into myself and was fully prepared for the experience.
I can HONESTLY say that I had a PAIN-FREE birth. 10pounder, and I never even took a tylenol! It was hard work and did do some 'vocalizing', but it was never painful. YOU CAN DO IT - relax your body.
Sorry, I just went on a big blab about my birth....a little passionate about the birth process, sorry.
