Chandler, Arizona
Sweet Pea ​Births
Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
Blog
10 Wishes For Your Birth and Beyond
Posted on May 10, 2013 at 11:29 AM |
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It’s hard to believe…and I know, I say this every three months – Time Flies! We are almost finished with another class series. As we get ready to send another set of Papas and Pods off into the world to prepare for the arrival of their Sweet Peas, I wanted to write our “Wish List” for their Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome. What we hope you will remember: 1. You are a team. As a couple, you lovingly conceived your child. You have attended a trimester of Bradley Method® classes together to learn about the normal, low-risk process of pregnancy, labor and birth. Trust in the information you learned together; use the communication skills you learned and practiced in class. Fill your toolbox full of comfort measures and relaxation techniques with daily practice. All that information will be available when you need it. 2. You hired a care provider you trust. 4. You need to sleep! Mamas: If you want to allow your labor to stay healthy and low risk, you need to rest. Along with that, you need to eat when you are hungry, and drink *before* you are thirsty. Dr. Bradley called the woman in labor an, “obstetrical athlete”. In order to perform with peak strength and stamina, a mother has the best opportunity for the outcome she wants if she has rested, is full of bioavailable fuel, and is hydrated to the point of efficiency for all the hormones that are at work during the process of labor. She has set herself up for an intervention-free outcome. If the mother gets too tired and too weak, then she and her partner will be making different choices. Coaches: You need to sleep because you will not have the surge of endorphins that mama gets for her “second wind”. You will be laboring just as long as mama is – so take care of yourself so you can support her. Remember to take a few phone numbers of assistant coaches that you can call in for back up, if and when you need reinforcements to run errands or energize your labor. 5. You can do this! 7. You are the consumer with three magic questions. Is Mom okay? (“YES”) Is Baby okay? (“YES”) Since they are both okay, may we just have some more time? (Usually, “NEGOTIATE”) If there is no medical reason for an intervention, patience is often the choice that our students make in the interest of avoiding a cascade of interventions: agreeing to one intervention may lead to another, to another, etc. All the couples that complete our Bradley™ series attend with the intention of having an intervention-free birth. Very rarely, you get a “NO” answer to one of the, “Are they okay,” questions. In your case, it may become apparent that you need to go down a different path for a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome. Please take it – there are no medals for having a natural birth at all costs. You will not regret the choices that are made out of love for the mother and child in order to ensure that they are both well after labor and birth. You may need time to process your birth story, however, having a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby is the outcome we wish for all of our families. 8. You have a support system. Then, reality sets in: you have a new life that is completely dependent on you. I have written in more detail about the postpartum period HERE. Please seek out resources and a community to help you through the first six months to a year – you are not alone! Your Bradley™ classmates are one source of community. Beyond that, there are support groups for breastfeeding, postpartum depression, cesarean recovery, and more. 9. You need to sleep! Sleep is essential for Mama so that she can heal, make milk, and have the emotional reserves to make the transition to being a mother of one, two, three+ children. Coaches, you need to sleep so that can put your happy face on and be helpful when she wakes up for the night feedings, the extra stops at the store on the way home from work, and anything else that mama may ask of you as you both transition to life as parents. 10. Your baby is counting on you. What tips would you share with a couple preparing for labor and birth? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted. *I think* that the amount of traffic you so generously generate has led to a lot of spam posting. In an effort to keep the spam to a minimum, I am taking the time to moderate comments now. Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Top Ten Reasons To Take A Bradley Method® Class
Posted on September 11, 2012 at 6:46 AM |
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Top Ten List: Reasons To Take A Bradley Method® Class We had the privilege of starting two new Bradley Method® Class Series last week. We are teaching a Friday night series with First-time parents, and on Sunday we are teaching our Bradley Method® "Next Class" with alumni families who are expecting baby number two. Some of the thoughts shared when we asked our students "why are you here today" inspired today's post. The first time moms who have been hearing that they are "crazy" because they want to "go natural" were so relieved to see a roomful of people who were making the choice to prepare for a natural birth, just like them. Healthy, whole food nutrition is a foundation for a healthy, low-risk pregnancyNutrition – Although it is seemingly basic, it is one of the
easiest things that a couple can control in their efforts to have the birth
that they want. More and more studies
are confirming what Dr. Bradley and Dr. Brewer knew – good nutrition is one
of the foundations for a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome. By making good, whole food choices that yield
a daily protein count between 75-100g of protein, a family can lay a good
foundation to have more options during a normal, low-risk birth. Comprehensive Education – Yes, we are definitely the
“longest” childbirth class among the list of recognized “brands”. By choosing our class series that is 12-weeks
long, you are choosing a method that covers many different aspects of
pregnancy, the process of labor, natural labor coping techniques, birth plans,
variations and complications of labor (and knowing the difference between the
two), postpartum care, breastfeeding and newborn care on top of the weekly
focus on communication, exercise and nutrition.
While there are other “brands” that teach shorter sessions, we are
confident that our approach allows couples the greatest opportunity to prepare
for the birth that they want and life together as a new family. Would you add anything to this list? Disclaimer: The
material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Natural Labor Coping Techniques
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:27 PM |
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Here are some of the ways we recommend our students
manage their labor without analgesics or anesthetics. Even when they are used in labor, we are so happy that our couples use them as tools to manage a long labor and their children are born nursing vigorously and with high APGAR scores. Through the course of The Bradley Method® class series,
parents are taught about what to expect as “normal” in labor, what the
variations on normal might be, the different options and interventions in
labor, and how to recognize a complication that warrants a change in the plan
for a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome. We also teach positive communication, something intended to
strengthen the parental bond, as well as serve for positive interactions in the
birth space with care providers and support personnel. Our goal is that parents have the tools they
need to evaluate labor, communicate their needs to care providers, and ask the
questions they need to make informed decisions about the choices they may have
to make in labor.
An athlete with an eye on crossing the finish line does four
things: They train, they rest, they
nourish and they hydrate. Dr. Bradley
called his patients “obstetrical athletes”. His nurse, Rhonda Hartman, designed a training program just
for moms to prepare them for labor. We
are still teaching our couples this training program, starting with week one of
class and continuing until the time of birth.
We also “train” relaxation. Each
couple is encouraged to take the weekly technique and practice at least 15
minutes per day so that there is muscle memory for relaxation when it is needed
in labor. We continually harp on the importance of sleep in the weeks
leading up to labor and once labor starts.
We learned this lesson the hard way, and as excited as we know our
students are going to get as they anticipate the birth of their child, we want
them to try to rest. Getting to the
magic number of “10 cm” is only the first part of labor – once they reach 10
cm, they also need energy for the second stage of labor to welcome their child
into this world. We also echo Dr. Bradley’s advice to eat if you’re hungry,
drink if you’re thirsty. He makes the
analogy that going through labor without eating or drinking is like playing a
full game of football without any substitutions. The body is working and burning energy to
birth your baby, it makes sense to follow mom’s physical cues. As long as mom is okay and baby is okay, we
have found that mom’s appetite will naturally decrease as labor intensifies;
and as with an actual marathon, that the need to hydrate is as important in
early labor as it is when mom is close to crossing the finish line.
Bradley Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Payson Water is your friend. As stated above, a hydrated mother makes for an optimal
obstetrical athlete. She is hydrated for
energy and optimal hormone distribution throughout labor. Water is also a excellent relaxation tool. It works magic in labor: the warmth and the sensation move tension away
from the body and adding a layer of relaxation as it works to soothe the
mother’s body. I have heard it called, “The
Midwives Epidural”. Many hospital moms now have access to the birth tubs that
are used very effectively at birth centers or at home births. If using a birthing tub or home bathtub is not an
option, then the shower can also be an effective tool. The sensation of water will still massage and
soothe the body. With a shower hose
attachment, the water can also be directed at the body where it is the most
soothing for the laboring mother. Abdominal breathing is taught in many settings to deepen
relaxation – yoga, hypnosis, meditation, stress relief, and in The Bradley
Method® of natural childbirth classes!
Abdominal breathing is also known as diaphragmatic breathing. Basically, you are allowing your belly to
rise and fall as you breath instead of your chest. If you watch children breathe, or if you remember
what it was like to breathe before someone told you that you needed to suck in
your stomach, you will know what it means to breath with your abdomen. Abdominal breath is an important foundation for
relaxation. It slows down our mind and
it allows or bodies to release tension.
We teach abdominal breathing in class 2 so we can build on it through
the rest of the series.
Coach needs to know what relaxes their partner. Does mom respond to physical touch? What kind of touch? Does she like a strong counter-pressure or
gentle effleurage? Does she like a
relaxation script, a prayer or a story read to her? Does she feel safe in her birth space? By the end of The Bradley Method® class series, we have
covered these, and many more questions, to help the Coach be a relaxation
expert on their partner. We also teach
11 different relaxation techniques for coaches to put into their “toolbox” to
use as needed as labor progresses.
Champion sports teams have a stellar assistant coaching
staff. The head coach doesn’t try to do
it all – he delegates and finds the best person to train his team so that he
can keep his eye on the big picture and continue leading and motivating his
team. We have noticed that couples with an assistant coach
generally end up with births that are closer to the birth wishes they made in
preparation for their labor. The extra
set of hands, the extra energy in labor make a difference. The couples that hire doulas also have an
experienced birth professional to help them manage the map of labor. A good birth doula doesn’t take over the
birth, she will help the couple to recognize the signs of progress and make
suggestions for coach to support the mom. Even if you feel like you want to be just Mom and Coach,
you can benefit from an assistant coach coming in for a period in labor. When we labored with Angelika, a dear friend
of ours came in and labored with me when Bruss needed rest. I had been laying down the first day, resting
and napping since we know we have long labors.
Bruss had been checking in on me, taking care of our older children
while we waited for family to arrive to tend to them, and he took care of
feeding all of us. He REALLY needed to
sleep after dinner that night. Andrea
came, labored with me as long as she could, and when it was time for her to get
back to her own family, Bruss was rested and ready to be head coach again. I am forever grateful for her time that night
– it allowed for Bruss to rest and restore for the long work we still had ahead
of us.
We break the Fear by teaching couples what to expect in a
normal labor, along with the many variations on “normal”. We also break the Fear by discussing the complications
and sharing strategies and options for them to consider if they are among the
small percentage of people that face complications in labor. We break the Tension by teaching Mom and Coach to be
relaxation experts. We break the Tension
by teaching couples to communicate together, and how to communicate with their
care team for effective and positive interactions. We break the Pain by reminding mothers that labor is an
athletic event. It isn’t always easy,
however it is doable. We invite couples
from the previous class come share their stories with our current class. I have seen the “light bulbs” click for both
Moms and Coach when the other “first-timers” share their stories. It makes it more realistic to hear that other
newbies had Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcomes by using the information they
learned in class. It reassures them that
the intensity is brief compared to the joy of holding their children. The new parents confirm that the work is
worth the effort, and that staying the course and/or making Healthy Mom,
Healthy Baby choices are rewarded with a happy family outcome. We also encourage couples to find affirmations, prayers,
scripts and/or music to draw energy from in labor. Labor is an exercise in intensity that ebbs
and flows. Having something to focus on
besides the intensity that is growing helps to focus mom on the work that she
is doing. They can also restore and
encourage her when she wants to give into the pain. By having knowledge, training and tools, couples are well
on their way to a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome.
What was a natural labor coping technique that worked for
you during your labor?
Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational
purposes only.
It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical
advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to
determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House,
LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences
of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains
information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is
not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or
the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Mental Relaxation
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 4:55 PM |
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Bradley Day Family Picnic
Posted on March 27, 2012 at 9:20 AM |
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The Bradley Method® has been helping women and their partners to have safe, satisfying birth experiences since the 1950s and it still works. Area instructors affiliated with The Bradley Method® of Natural Childbirth will be hosting a Family Picnic on Saturday, May 5, 2012. The public event will be hosted on Amphitheater Island at Encanto Park in order to celebrate the Father of Fathers, Dr. Robert Bradley, the pioneer of allowing fathers into the hospital room to be at the birthing mother’s side. Robert A. Bradley, M.D. (1917–1998) developed what he called Husband-Coached Childbirth, now more commonly known as The Bradley Method® of natural childbirth. Dr. Bradley first articulated this method of natural childbirth in a 1947 clinical trial, and it was popularized by his book Husband-Coached Childbirth, first published in 1965. Now in it's fifth edition, Dr. Bradley's method of natural childbirth had been used successfully by couples all over the world. Dr. Bradley's idea that unmedicated childbirths were possible in a hospital setting was revolutionary in the era of anesthetized births. He was "allowed" to do his first clinical trial on unwed mothers. When they did not have adverse outcomes, he was next "allowed" to do a trial on hospital nurses that volunteered to be in his trial. After seeing the great results in the unwed mothers, he had no problems finding trial patients. At the bedside of one of these married nurses, she was overcome with joy and emotion after the natural delivery of her child. As her "thank you" to Dr. Bradley, she kissed him straight on the lips! It was at this moment that Dr. Bradley realized that husbands (now we say loving support person, or "coach"), not doctors, should be coaching these mothers through the labor and birth process. It was from that day forward that Dr. Bradley started advocating for husbands to join natural birth mothers in the labor and delivery rooms. Now all birthing families in a hospital setting can benefit from Dr. Bradley's idea that coaches who are willing should be allowed to be at the laboring mother's bedside. His method articulates the six needs of a laboring mother and the steps to take to provide a laboring mother with the help and support from a loving, trained coach. His methods proved themselves through his patient practice. He likened his role as an obstetrician to serving as a lifeguard, stepping in only when his patients needed him. Dr. Bradley had a 94% unmedicated birth rate throughout his years of obstetrical practice. We are excited to celebrate the life and work of Dr. Robert Bradley on May 5, the anniversary of his retirement. The Bradley Day Family Picnic is open to the public. Past students, current students, and anyone interested in the many options available to birthing families in Arizona are welcome to join us. No matter what kind of birth experience you had or you want, we invite you to celebrate the man who normalized fathers being present at births in the hospital setting. The Bradley® Day Family Picnic will feature child-friendly booths and games, as well as offer information on The Bradley Method® and other natural living options. The instructors will provide the fun; guests are invited to bring their blanket and a picnic lunch. The Amphitheater Island at Encanto Park is located at 2605 North 15th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, 85007. For more information on the picnic, please call Krystyna Bowman at 602-684-6567, or visit our Facebook Fan Page. If you would like to RSVP, click here. For vendors interested in hosting a booth, please contact Krystyna Bowman at 602-684-6567, or via email [email protected] The
material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
In Their Own Words - Chelsey and Bryce
Posted on August 19, 2011 at 5:54 AM |
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We
had the pleasure of hosting a class reunion at the beginning of August for the
families that we taught in the Spring of 2011. Here is first installment of one of the birth stories we heard that
day. Chelsey and Bryce share their
experience in today’s video segments. Below you will find an explanation from Chelsey about what they liked
about the classes and the class information that they found useful during their
labor and delivery. We were so happy to
meet their healthy young man, Brody! They made the best of their scheduled induction and ended up with the
goal we emphasize throughout the class series: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby. Our
Bradley Method® Class Experience ~ By
Chelsey Bloomfield The
Bradley® classes really laid the foundation for a positive birth experience for
us! We started out not knowing the slightest thing about the whole birthing
process... In fact I tried to avoid thinking about what would inevitably come
so that I wouldn't be scared or freaked out by it. We were looking into getting
a doula because I was terrified of the whole doctor and medical aspect of it,
and I was scared that I would get pushed into doing something that I REALLY
didn't want. I started looking into which birthing classes I wanted to take
because I am a very education oriented person and we figured that it would help
put some of my fears to rest. When we were comparing prices we realized we
could only afford one thing, a doula vs childbirth classes... and when we signed
up for the Bradley Method® classes I knew we had made the right choice for us! The
Bradley Method® outlines from the very beginning how to prepare your body for
natural childbirth. I loved that the nutrition and exercises were a central
aspect of the classes. Other classes merely focus on teaching you breathing
techniques or ways to relax during labor, rather than preparing your body and
mind for the entire process ahead of you. I
also loved the background information on what is happening to your body
throughout pregnancy and the different stages of labor!!! By understanding what
to expect, and how the entire process worked; that information really put my
mind at ease. I felt calm and prepared
when I was in the hospital because I knew how the natural process worked and
everything my body was going through. During Labor we really used all of the relaxation techniques. I specifically found massage, deep breathing,
and mental relaxation the most helpful. The abdominal breathing was the most useful because it gave me something
else to focus on instead of the pain or pressure, and it really put me in this
state of total relaxation that is quintessential for natural labor. Also during labor, we relied heavily on the things we covered in Class 8 when
we discussed variations and complications. Since we ended up being induced and having other complications due to my
high blood pressure, it was nice to have the tools and understanding to make
the right decisions for us, so that we could end up with a healthy mom and a
healthy baby. In the end it all turned out well! The Bradley Method® gave us all the tools we
needed to be able to communicate and work together as a team to bring our baby
into the world. My notes on Chelsey & Bryce's Birth Story I want to thank Chelsey & Bryce for agreeing to share their birth story out on the internet. I was especially touched by her praise of her husband when she talked about how she couldn't have done it without him. That is the true testament to their teamwork and we are overjoyed when we see a couple bond over such a moving life experience. A comment about inductions...and I will state, as per the disclaimer below: I am not a medical professional, this is NOT medical advice. What follows below is simply my anecdotal observation about inductions after teaching several couples. As I have written in a previous post, there are many factors that go into determining your estimated due date. So far, three of our couples have been induced. Of those three, one ended up in a cesarean birth, while the other two did have a vaginal birth. In listening to their birth stories, I am starting to think that inductions only progress to a vaginal birth when the body is already SO close to starting labor, that the medical intervention serves to "push" mom into a process that was almost ready to start. In reading other internet sources on the subject, it seems that other natural childbirth bloggers and/or websites have come to the same conclusion. As we teach our students: research, research, research and ask questions when your care provider suggests that you interfere with the natural process. There are no guarantees that what they are asking you to do will work, so if you do decide to go forward with an intervention or procedure, make sure you do so with true informed consent. Your care provider is not a "mean" or "evil" person - they want a healthy baby for you, too. It is understandable that their practice history or medical malpractice insurance may skew their approach, however, give them the benefit of the doubt and work together to have the outcome everyone wants: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby. Onto another part of their story, this couple did a couple of things that were key to their mostly-natural labor...First of all, Chelsey slept! Never underestimate the power of sleep in aiding you to physically, mentally and emotionally navigate your labor. The first thing she did after they induced her was get a good night's sleep - they didn't pay attention too soon. Yeah!! The second thing they did well: they handled the "failure to progress diagnosis" brilliantly. As you will hear in part two of the video, Chelsey's cervix held
steady at a "4" for most of the time after their induction although her
contractions kept increasing in intensity. Once she passed the "5" mark
(cervix is half-way to the point of being open enough to push), she
progressed from a "7" to a "10" in less than two hours, and they were
happily holding their baby in their arms 25 hours
and 44 minutes after their induction started. I was very impressed with this couple's ability to communicate with each other. Their knowledge and confidence in the natural process allowed them to progress to their epidural-free birth because they were successful in getting their birth team behind their choices and supportive of minimal interventions and vaginal exams. They also invited Chelsey's mom to be their assistant coach, and she was able to reassure them that based on her own birth experiences, Chelsey's body was working and that they would be meeting their baby sooner than later despite the staff's concern that Chelsey was not progressing. Great job, team!! Disclaimer: The material included
on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a
substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult
her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the
information for their own situation. This blog contains
information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is
not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or
the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Truths About Breastfeeding
Posted on August 9, 2011 at 2:56 AM |
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I was among many fortunate people who got to attend a
breastfeeding seminar presented by Dr. Jack Newman in Mesa last
Wednesday. It is an understatement to
say it was informative. His
presentations left my head spinning; and in awe of good lactation consultants
who help mothers feed their children and teach families how to have the best
breastfeeding relationship possible. There is no way I could write a summary on everything we
heard that day. What I do want to touch
on today are three of the “Important Truths” he outlined about breastfeeding. His first premise is that almost all women could breastfeed successfully if they had a good
birth, good help and good support.
He should know – he has been a pediatrician for over 30 years and has
seen many thousands of breastfeeding pairs through his clinic. The challenge to this statement enters in the
fact that so very few of us have what could be considered a “good birth” in
biological terms. He offered this information
from Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC, who has a private practice in Ithaca, NY, to
demonstrate his point: - We have ample literature on birth in both domestic animals
and zoo animals - The resounding message for helpers in all the literature
is: If possible, stay out of the way - Mammalian mothers choose their own birthplace, usually
somewhere secluded and quiet - They experience all the sensations of labor - They feel the delivery - They smell the birth - They smell themselves on their baby - They clean up from the birth themselves and never lose
track of where their babies are - The babies follow a pre-programmed behavior that leads
them from the vaginal opening to the nipple - When any of these links is disrupted, there is a high
likelihood that the mother will reject the baby or that the baby will be too
confused to complete his role - The lesson that shouted out to me from all the literature
I read – a lesson that took me 30 years to figure out – is that there’s very
little information on mammalian infant feeding - It’s all about the birth - Following a normal birth, infant feeding just…happens - Following an interventionist birth, the mother rejects the
baby and there is no nursing at all - Our hospital births
break every rule in the mammalian list of mother-baby necessities
Students of The Bradley Method® attend class in order to prepare to have the most natural experience possible. Given the fact that most births today have varying degrees
of intervention from how they start to how they progress to separating moms and
babies after they are born, getting good help and good support become an
important part of the equation. Many hospitals
are employing lactation consultants, so you can ask for help from them if you have a
hospital birth. If you have a birth
center or home birth, at least you are in a setting with minimal if any interventions, and your care provider is usually the one to assist with any
questions or concerns. After the initial
experience, La Leche League is a great resource for peer-to-peer counseling, or you can find an internationally certified lactation consultant by visiting the
IBCLE website. His second premise is that the notion that formula is almost the same as breastmilk is patently
untrue. He states that formulas
aren’t even close if you look at the biochemistry. Among the things he said that got a roomful
of laughs was that breastmilk and formula are the same only in that they both
look white!! One of his presentations went through several of the
different ways that breastmilk is a unique food, from the way its formulation
changes with each feeding, and how it changes over the term of the breastfeeding
relationship to meet the child’s developmental needs. A point of interest that I had never heard
before was that the amount of immunities in milk actually increases as the
child gets older! It is amazing that our
bodies know that a child who is out and about and more independent at 18 months needs more
protection than a newborn baby who is always close to momma! A formula-fed baby will only receive what science has been
able to extrapolate from human milk to date, and the feeding is monotonous and
unchanging, never meeting all of a baby’s needs. Dr. Newman made an observation that as formula is
“new and improved”, what does that say about the countless children who
received formula before the improvements?
What were they getting in their bottles? The statement that he made several times that stood out the
most, and a phrase that I am definitely going to incorporate into our future Bradley
Method® classes is that breastfeeding is
much more than breastmilk. We teach this
implicitly when we talk about the benefits of breastfeeding, however I have
never made the connection until last Wednesday that this simple phrase
encapsulates all the reasons why it’s important to strive to nurture this
relationship and feed our young children the way nature intended. They are largely successful at the International
Breastfeeding Center (Toronto, Canada) in getting a breastfeeding relationship
established. However, he was quite frank
that there were cases where the baby never took to the breast. He didn’t offer any statistics; my impression
is that these cases were few and far between.
I hope that moms going to his clinic would know that if the staff at the Center couldn’t help, then maybe they could find peace in the knowledge that
they made their best effort. These
families would be the instance where formula was used appropriately: as an
alternative for mother’s milk when the mother’s milk was truly not available. Lactation Aid Info Lactation Aid Video Ordering info Our classes on breastfeeding will be forever changed and
much improved thanks to Dr. Newman’s seminar.
I am so grateful that I attended early in our work as Bradley Method®
instructors. I look at it in the same
vein as the babies who got formula before it was “new & improved” – I am
glad that most of our moms have been able to establish good breastfeeding relationships with
their babies based on our personal knowledge, Bradley® training, La Leche
League and referrals to lactation consultants.
I trust that future classes will benefit from a very informational day! Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for
informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
The Bradley Method® aka Relationship Enhancement Classes
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 11:36 PM |
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We find ourselves at the end of another series – again! A 12-week series sounded like a long time to
us when we were first enrolling as students, and I know that it sounds like a
long time to some people who call to inquire about classes. However, now that we are teaching it seems
like these classes fly by and before we know it we are teaching our last class
of the series. This week is the last class of our Friday night Spring
Series. One of the gifts of teaching is
seeing our students grow – no pun intended!
They come in with a general idea about what they want for their births,
and at the end of twelve weeks we get to see them working together as a team to
achieve their desired birth outcome. It is great to watch the coaches transform
from being bystanders in their partner’s pregnancy; to having them know that
they are important and see them taking an active role in the birth of their
children. As Bradley® class students, we had an unexpected, unadvertised benefit: we learned to have better communication as a couple. We definitely emphasize teamwork now that we
are instructors. Sometimes they
are couple-to-couple interactions, and sometimes we practice positive
communication with care providers. I suspect communication is a cornerstone of the Bradley
Method® because Dr. Bradley and the Hathaways, founders of the American Academy
of Husband-Coached Childbirth® realized that they were doing much more than
teaching childbirth preparation classes.
Being able to talk to your partner openly and honestly is important for
the birth-day, certainly. Even more
importantly, we have a lifetime of commitment to that child whose birth we are
preparing for. That beautiful child
deserves the best of us as parents.
Being able to talk together and dialogue with your partner is definitely
a good foundation for a healthy relationship that creates the security and love
we provide to our children. We learned it was important to share our thoughts with our
partner, not just assume that they know we are thinking. We learned it was okay to talk about our fears. We learned how to plan and goal-set together,
and then the ultimate accomplishment was achieving that goal. Although we always deviated from our plan, we feel that the
birth outcome we had with our children was the end result of our communication
and teamwork. Hence the saying we have
that we have had the pleasure of four honeymoons throughout the course of our
marriage: our time in St. Lucia in newlyweds, plus the sheer elation that has
filled the first few weeks after each birth. Most importantly, we learned the value of praising our
partner. It is so easy to find fault and
criticize when we are tired and uncomfortable.
It takes effort and focus to try to remember to praise our partner on a
regular basis. Noticing the little things
does seem to make us better partners, and when our loved one praises us, it
encourages us to keep giving our best effort on a daily basis. Given the fact that mom will probably reach a point in her
labor when she is tired and/or cranky, it is important for her coach to know
how she likes to be praised, which words are meaningful to her, and how to
encourage her if she gets to the point where she wants to give up their
plan. The coach also needs to know when
the mom is really ready to change the plan and be willing to deviate and
support the new plan, all the while encouraging her and helping her reach their
goal of holding their child with a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome. We understand that sharing words in front of other people is
hard at first. However, speaking out
loud and affirming your love is an important thing to learn to do. Bruss is a man of few words, however, he
became confident in telling me just what to I needed him to say when I needed
him the most. He grew unafraid to talk
to me in front of other people, and given that our first three births were
hospital births, I needed him to be able to communicate with me whether we were
alone in the labor room or the room was filled with our care provider and their
medical team. As we prepare to say a temporary good-bye to our Friday
Spring Series (we will get to see them with their adorable babies at our class
reunion), we do so with the knowledge that besides learning about labor and
childbirth, two more couples have been offered the opportunity to learn about
each other and grow together as they prepare for one of life’s momentous
occasions. It is our hope that they will
take this knowledge and build on it as they welcome this child and any subsequent
children to their family. Disclaimer: The
material included on this site is for informational purposes only.
It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.
The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine
the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. This blog contains information about our classes available in
Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy
of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
A Good Bradley Method® Outcome
Posted on April 22, 2011 at 10:41 AM |
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Information Desk: What is a good Bradley Method® outcome?
One of the reasons we chose to be Bradley Method® students, and then later
decided to become affiliated with the organization is that The Bradley Method®
puts the responsibility squarely on the parents for the outcome they have with
their birth. They also emphasize
the ultimate goal of Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby. Natural childbirth tends to be characterized as anti-establishment,
anti-hospital and anti-doctor.
Depending on the instructor and the delivery mechanism, it can be all of
those things. It is easy to blame
the establishment, the hospital or your doctor when things do not go the way
you planned or the way you wanted. When I hear “bad” hospital stories from moms who wanted to have natural
births, I wonder if they prepared for the birth the way we learned to prepare
for a birth. I wonder if they
hired labor support professionals to ensure that they had the labor they
wanted. I know that sometimes
despite having done both of these they still have bad outcomes. In that case I wonder if they knew it
was okay to change care providers or their birthplace to get a better chance at
the birth they wanted. I had touched on my hand analogy to explain The Bradley Method® in an
earlier post – here it is again. The palm of the hand is Relaxation – the key to the Bradley
Method. Then there are five fingers – Exercise, Nutrition, Communication,
Consumerism and Education. This holistic approach is what makes the Bradley Method® so successful at
preparing the Mom and Coach to have a spontaneous vaginal birth with little or
no intervention. We make every
effort not to bias our students as to what kind birthplace is chosen or who
their care provider is – we train the team to work together to prepare for
their athletic event and to think about which questions they could be asking
all along the way. The team is taught one relaxation technique every week – at the conclusion
of the class they have twelve different relaxation techniques that cover the
physical, mental and emotional aspects of relaxation that a mom needs to
achieve in order for her labor to progress without interruption. We also train coaches to look for signs
that one of these needs isn’t being met.
With this training, they can evaluate what kind of relaxation they could
try to help mom get into the deeply relaxed state she needs to be in to cope
with the strong sensations of labor. The team is taught the importance of exercise to help mom have the stamina
and the strength necessary to withstand and succeed at labor. The key of what birth is at its core is
in the word “labor” – a mom is going to have to work to have her baby. The team is encouraged to have mom do
some form of safe cardiovascular exercise on a daily basis for mom to have the
stamina she needs for the length of her birth. Whether she labors a few hours (an intense, short birth) or
several hours (a prolonged multi-hour or multi-day event), every type of labor
has a better outcome with mom who has the stamina to handle her particular kind
of labor. The Bradley Method® also teaches pregnancy-specific exercises to target the
three B’s of birthing: the back, belly and bottom. These exercises are safe to start during pregnancy even if
mom does not have a regular exercise program in place. They strengthen and add flexibility to
the areas that will be worked during the process of labor and that mom will
need to have strength and control over for the pushing phase of labor. Nutrition is a key component to a healthy pregnancy and a good outcome for
mom and baby. The Bradley Method®
teaches the Brewer Pregnancy Diet, based on the work of Dr. Tom Brewer who did
years of study and research to decrease the incidence of pre-eclampsia and
toxemia of late pregnancy. The
couple is encouraged to have mom strive for 80g – 100 g of daily protein,
consumed through a well-balanced diet that includes dairy, eggs, protein
sources, leafy green vegetables, other fruits and vegetables, grains, a daily
vitamin C source and fats and oils.
The variety of foods in their closest “whole food” form provides all the
protein mom needs as building blocks for her and the growing baby, as well as
all the essential vitamins and nutrients needed for a healthy mom and baby
through pregnancy and post-partum if the mom continues with the new habit she
has formed. Communication is an important part of class every week as well. We do communication exercises to
strengthen the bond between Mom and Coach. We encourage the team to phrase things in a positive way so
they are constantly building up and encouraging their partner. We also work on non-verbal
communication since most moms will reach a point in the labor when they can’t
talk any more and the Coach needs to be able to read his partner’s non-verbal
cues so he can keep coaching her and meeting her needs so she is as comfortable
and supported as possible through the most trying aspects of labor. Consumerism is taught so that couples can make choices based on true
“informed consent”. Informed consent
in the realm of The Bradley Method® means that a couple has heard about
different options available to them in class, has read about their options
outside of class to come to their own conclusions about what they do or do not
want during their pregnancy and birth, and that they have had conversations
with their care provider to discuss their choices and ensure that their care
provider will honor their decisions for their pregnancy and birth. We also teach our students a series of questions that they can ask if they
have to make a decision without access to the Internet and extra reading
materials, or if time is of the essence.
Again, many of the decisions that a couple is faced with in these
situations are options that they may have opted against in the event of a
normal, uncomplicated birth. Our
hope is that the students did their homework and read up on them when they were
opting against them, and have a basis to form a decision when deciding what
kind of intervention is best when the labor indicates that interventions may be
necessary for a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome. Education is another key that makes The Bradley Method® so successful. Our syllabus teaches a couple what is
normal and what they can expect in a normal, uncomplicated pregnancy and
labor. We teach our couples what
the warning indicators are and what the true medical emergencies are in
pregnancy and labor. We teach our
couples how to have good outcomes if they end up with a cesarean or if they
have an unplanned labor setting and end up giving birth outside of their chosen
birthplace. We teach breastfeeding
and postpartum planning. The theme running through all of these aspects of our classes is that it is
up to the parent to have the birth oucome they want. If all they plan to do is show up for class, at least they
can get the information and one opportunity to prepare for their labor every
week. It would be less likely for
the couple that doesn’t do work outside of class to have their ideal birth. If a couple takes all the instruction to heart, and does their daily
exercise, faithfully tracks and meets the nutrition goals, practices relaxation
and runs through a labor rehearsal every day, completes the study guides and
they do their own research on the information offered in class to come up with
their own conclusions and have good discussions with their care providers, then
they are more likely to have the birth they want. My mantra is Practice Makes Prepared.
It is not a guarantee, however all the preparation makes for a healthy, low-risk
mom who can withstand the trial of labor because she is physically ready,
emotionally ready and she has the utmost confidence that her coach is just as
ready as she is to do the work that is ahead of them when they face their labor
together as a prepared team. Has every one of our students had a textbook Bradley birth? According to my count, only two from
the eight that have had their babies already had completely intervention free
births. Whatever their outcome,
they drew on the information from class to labor as long as possible without
intervention. Sometimes situations
do present themselves when parents need to choose which of the options out
there they want to use to speed labor, ease labor or avert a cesarean. However, I can confidently say that most of them were very happy
with their birth stories and felt like they made good decisions about the interventions
in their births. So, given that a Mom and Coach team has prepared for their birth in the way
that best suits them, a good Bradley Method® outcome is one in which the
parents accept the responsibility that their birth is their choice. They feel good about the decisions that
they made through the course of their pregnancy and labor, knowing that they made those
decisions based on their personal needs and the ultimate goal of Healthy Mom,
Healthy Baby. Disclaimer: The material included on this site and blog is for informational purposes
only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional
medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider
to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation.
This site and blog contain information relevant to our classes available in
Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley
Method®. The views contained in this site and blog do not necessarily reflect
those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached
Childbirth®. |
Exercise during your pregnancy
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 4:23 PM |
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