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Sweet Pea ​Births
Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
Blog
What is natural birth?
| Posted on September 4, 2015 at 9:37 AM |
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The night we started our seventh Bradley Method®
class series in December 2011 played out like all other "first nights" of class. I am on edge all day long. I get nervous before our students
arrive: What if I forget anything? Will they like our class? Will our class run smoothly? What if I leave something I need for class at home?  The class went well, and we got a question that we have
never gotten before: “What is natural birth – is it anything that doesn’t end
in a C-section?”
It made me pause and think for a moment. My short answer in class was, “Well, I guess
that depends on the person and their definition of natural birth.”
I pondered that question all night. Up until three months before that class, I would have said
that we had three natural births and were preparing for our fourth. And then we had our home birth experience,
which re-defined “natural birth” for me.
It turned out to be the most natural birth experience we had.
I can’t say our hospital births were completely intervention
free since we were always poked and prodded by something or someone. Heck, they weren’t even “un-medicated” – I
was administered some kind of medication with each one. With Puma, I had penicillin, Pitocin and an
episiotomy; I had penicillin with Night Owl; and penicillin and Pitocin with Charger. We did achieve three epidural-free vaginal births
with a very supportive OB, though, and for that I am grateful.
Otter’s birth gave us a new definition of “natural”. Here are all the things we DID NOT experience
during our low-risk home birth: - A transfer from our home to another location during active
labor - Forms to fill out - A wait in the triage area with other families in varying
states of apprehension - Vaginal exams to check the progress of labor - Heparin lock for access to veins “just in case” - Electronic fetal monitoring - Mommy-monitoring
Nurse coming in to check vitals - Calls to the doctor to report on my “progress” - Restriction of food or drink - Beeping sounds and hospital smells that inhibit rest or
sleep - Time on back for the convenience of the hospital staff - Episiotomy
Our midwives were called when my water broke and they came
to see how we were doing. The baby was
low and things seemed to be progressing, so they stayed. To this day I do not know what the deciding
factor in their staying was when our labor hit the start-stop mode…I do know I
am grateful that they didn’t leave us. I
would have felt like another “failure to progress” and who knows what that
would have done to my emotional state and our labor. (Click here for our homebirth story.)
At first, they checked on us every thirty minutes. They would monitor the baby with a Doptone to
assess her heart rate, and they would check my blood pressure to see how I was
doing. When it was clear that we were
both handling the labor well, they checked on us with less frequency while
still maintaining a trained eye on us to judge our fitness and make sure we
were still low-risk and doing well.
They asked questions.
They let me eat. They made sure I
was drinking. They checked in with Bruss
to see how he was doing and how he thought I was doing. They offered moral support and encouragement
that everything was fine although we were clearly not going to be one of those families
who can say their homebirth was their shortest labor. In an ironic twist of fate – this happened to
be our longest labor, and we were so grateful to be at home with trained care
providers who allowed my body and our baby the time they needed to figure out
the process and have a healthy mom, healthy baby outcome.
So now we know what all the possibilities are when a person
imagines “natural birth”. A woman and
her partner work together to welcome their child, free of interference or
invasive probing, supported by a team that completely believes in your
abilities and will help you welcome your baby gently and lovingly into the
world. It makes me wish that there were
no pregnancy complications so that every woman could have a gentle birth.
The reality is that the majority of our students coming
through class are just like we were with our first baby. They believe that a hospital is the safest
place to give birth and that an OB is the only person qualified to safely
deliver your baby. It would be irresponsible
to have a baby at home, outside of the “safety net” if something were to go
wrong.
I am so grateful that now there are many more Certified
Nurse Midwives ("CNM") working in hospitals.
They provide the level of belief in the natural process that we found at
our home birth, while still working at the hospital setting in which most people
feel comfortable.
If a student’s care practice does not offer midwifery care,
I hope that like us, they will find a supportive OB who respects their
proactive approach to achieving a natural birth and helps them find a way to
have the birth experience they want in the hospital. We have a very tender spot in our hearts for
our OB. Not only did she deliver our
biggest baby without an episiotomy, she also helped us have our most natural
hospital birth because she believed in our ability to birth.
There is also another option available to families in the Phoenix area. We now have several birth centers. Birth centers strive to be the happy medium between home and hospital for families that want to have the "compromise option". They can offer a more relaxed atmosphere similar to the home environment, and some provide medical options at the center that would not be present in a home birth. I feel it is our role as Bradley Method® instructors to help
every couple achieve the best birth possible for their children with a healthy
mom, healthy baby outcome. “Natural
birth” will be different for each of them based on their pregnancy and their
choices. What can you "control" in the childbearing year? A couple will probably have more options availabel to them in labor if the mother has good nutrition, maintains a daily exercise regimen to tone their back, belly and
bottom, and does some form of exercise for stamina. By attending classes every week they learn a
new relaxation technique that they can put in their labor toolbox. We explore many, many options available to
birthing couples today. What can you influence during the childbearing year? We work on
communication every class so that the couple is prepared to respectfully ask questions of their care
provider if they feel something they recommend goes against their dream of a natural birth, or to better understand their recommendations so that
they can make an informed decision. The choice of care provider will also play a role in the way to birth plays out - are you getting red flags during your prenatal visits? Do not ignore them - ask around and find the provider that respects your rights and your knowledge as a birthing parent of *your* child. They may be the expert in birth; you are the only one that knows your baby. Beyond that, the rest is up to what we would call God, or a Higher Power; some people call it Fate...whatever the belief system, we encourage our students to focus beyond the "how" of their birth story: - What will you learn from this birth journey? - Where will the transformation from Maiden to Mother happen for the woman? Where will the transformation from Stag to Father happen for the partner? - How will your partner disappoing you? How will they rise to the occassion, and maybe even surprise you? - What was your most brilliant moment? We look forward to sharing the information taught in Bradley
Method® classes with our students. We strive
to equip them with the tools they need to assess situations that present
themselves in pregnancy and labor. When we hear that a baby is born and nurses
readily at the breast, we know those parents worked together to achieve the
ultimate Bradley Method® outcome: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby. What does "natural birth" mean to you? Disclaimer: The
material included on this site is for informational purposes only.
We are now enrolling for our Spring 2016 Series For more information or to register, please call us at 602-684-6567 or email us at |
Birth Story: Penelope
| Posted on January 9, 2015 at 9:12 AM |
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 It’s birth story day!!
This week I am sharing a birth story from our Fall 2012 class. In today's video, Courtney is talking about her family's birth journey
with our Winter 2012-13 class. Jake was working, so Courtney shares his words of wisdom for coaches, too. Here is their
backstory:
How their birth journey progressed:
In Courtney's own words: You Tube link: http://youtu.be/TePr1aqKezg Video Highlights: Note: Looking back, Courtney was so grateful she advocated for a longer pregnancy. One of the biggest concerns about gestational diabetes is that babies are larger than average. At birth (40 weeks gestation), their baby weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 21 inches long. This is clearly *not* a baby that would be called “large for gestational age” when you consider the average birth weight for a term baby is about 7.5 pounds. Which labor tools worked for you to manage the intensity?
What would Jake (husband) say if he were here?
Some images from their birth:
PostScript: Courtney and her husband Jake were the last couple that
enrolled in that class series with a last-minute phone call, “We really need to
get into this class!” You would be
hard-pressed to find a birth worker who would say no to them!! It is so humbling to hear that saying yes to
them when we had a full class already made a big difference for their birth. I
praise God for His wisdom and His incredible design. What did you learn from your birth journey? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted. 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®. |
Suggestions for an effective labor rehearsal
| Posted on July 25, 2014 at 11:45 AM |
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Originally published February 2011 ~ Updated July 25, 2014 The class topic last night was first stage labor. This stage is characterized by a
progressive intensification of the sensations in labor. A mom will experience her contractions,
or her “surges”, getting increasingly stronger and longer with less time
between them, as she gets closer to the pushing phase of her labor. Why do a "labor rehearsal" when labor is so unpredictable?? Mostly to train you and your partner into some "muscle memory". By practicing different positions and reminding yourself when/why they are effective, that body of knowledge is more readily accessed when you are in labor. Even if you forget your "playbook", you have some tools that you can use without referring back to a print-out of labor positions. (Although, HERE is one that I share with students. I used it to prepare for our births and often use it as a reference in our classes.) We had our couples do an active labor rehearsal. As a reminder to them, and as a
practice tool for anyone reading this who is striving for a natural labor, here
are our tips on having a good labor rehearsal. 1. Have a
good guide at your fingertips.  We
have the advantage of a student workbook with illustrations to follow. There are also resources out on the
Internet with ideas for different positions to open the inlet of the pelvis to
make room for baby. The key is to
try all the different positions.
Try to practice at least two simulated contractions every day, and you
will find that you will have put your body in the different positions before
you start labor. This
is important for the following reasons: You will know if you can do them – if
it hurts, maybe it’s time to do more stretching, or find other positions that
have similar benefits without being uncomfortable. You can also start making a list of the ones that feel
really good, keeping in mind that this list may change as you are progressing
through labor. 2. Once
you are in a position, don’t change it or move around during a
contraction.  Again,
the key is to simulate labor. Once
mom starts having stronger surges, she will be physically unwilling or unable
to move while she is having a contraction. So train your muscle memory the right way from the
beginning. That’s
not to say that you will stick to one position during the course of your
labor. It’s likely that there are
several positions that you will try, and you may eventually gravitate to a few
that seem to be the most effective. 3. If mom
has to go to the bathroom, someone needs to go with her. In
actual labor, a coach or one of the assistant coaches must always stay with
mom. She is in a vulnerable time,
PLEASE stay by her side. If mom is
not comfortable having you in the bathroom, getting over the emotional hurdle
will be better dealt with outside of labor. It sounds weird, maybe? It is possible that emotional barriers can keep labor from
progressing. Who would want
bathroom issues to extend the amount of time you are having contractions? Another thought: why delay meeting your
baby? This is what we personally experienced: if you leave mom
alone, she may fall – this could drastically alter the course of your
labor. Additionally, there is no
guaranteed labor pattern – just because you have been having surges 5 minutes
apart and you think she has five minutes before her next contraction doesn’t
mean she should “go” alone. If she
starts having contractions on the commode, she isn’t going to be able to
move. It is possible, since the
bladder is emptied, that the contractions will feel stronger after she has voided
since it has made room for baby to descend, and she will want your help
handling the stronger sensations.
From our own personal experience, I know we hit “transition” in the
bathroom in 2 of our 3 labors. It
was a good thing to have someone with me to help me manage the mental gearshift
and the sensations. 4. Coaches need to practice multi-tasking with every simulated contraction.  Coaches,
you have a good job during labor.
You are the person that can make all the difference in mom’s confidence
in herself and her ability to birth.
Prepare by working out your “athlete” at home and learning how to be the
best coach for your team well before labor starts. Regarding
such things as touch, music and environment: do you know her likes?
Dislikes? Do you know which
relaxation techniques work for her?
Can you massage, talk, and time her contractions simultaneously? If
you answered no to any of these questions, then we encourage you to start
finding the answers! And practice
until you are doing several things at once without having to think too much
about what you need to be doing to keep your partner completely relaxed through
her labor. 5. Watch
mom’s key tension indicators. The
three main areas where mom will hold tension are her face (especially the jaw and brow areas), her hands and her feet. Can
you do the checkpoints in #4 and observe her for relaxation, too? Most coaches need lots of help learning
to do all these things at the same time.
You can find an assistant coach who is there to help support coach as he
strives to do all these things.
Or, the assistant can help the coach to get mom as relaxed as possible
so her body can get down to the business of having the baby. The more efficient her labor, the
sooner you will all be holding your baby in your arms.  A key thought is PRACTICE MAKES PREPARED. As in all things where we seek to
succeed, good practice leads to better results versus going in without any
prior mental or physical preparation.
As labor has mental, physical and emotional aspects, we really encourage
our students to allocate time every day to train their muscles and minds for
the challenge of labor.Some other tidbits from class: TRANSITION No first stage labor rehearsal in class is complete without a
discussion about "transition", the time between the active stage and the pushing
stage of labor. Although it might
be an emotional time, transition is a good thing – it means your labor is
almost over. Question directed at Bruss: Which one of your labors had the
worst transition? Answer: There
was not really a worst. You need to look for signs and prepare yourself ahead
of time, prepare yourself now. Since transition occurs at the end of labor and
you are caught up with the whole process of labor, know what to look for. There will be distinct signs and they
are different for everybody. In
our case, Krystyna got really abrupt.
Up to that point, she would communicate with “this feels”…or, “please
try”… transition was marked with, “I told you not to do that!” I also reminded our class of a birth story they had heard
where the couple’s only sign was a physical sign: mom started burping out of
the blue, and it lasted a little while.
When she calmly announced, “I think I have to push”, it turns out she
really and truly was ready without having the self-doubt or the pendulum swing
of emotions. (For the whole story,
go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDI61YWV5G0 ) HOSPITAL CARE We were lucky enough to have two nurses join our class last
night. They were attending as
assistant coaches-in-training for one of our moms. I took advantage of the situation to ask the nurses who
makes the best patient. My goal
was to illustrate the point that you are the labor you bring with you,
especially in a hospital situation.
We encourage our students to write a birth plan to use as a communication
tool, and to use positive communication (important at all birth venues). The idea is that you are all on the
same team and you wouldn’t be there if you didn’t feel some element of safety
in the hospital. As long as labor
is progressing without complications, a couple is reasonable in their requests,
and the care provider has signed off on the birth plan, it should not be
difficult to have the hospital staff support your choice to have a natural
labor. Question: Who
makes the best patients, or who are the patients that are the easiest to work
with? Answer: They
are willing to work with patients who want to work with them. They also appreciate patients who
respect their medical training.
When it comes to requests, i.e. birth plans; patients who are nice get
their way! PRACTICE MAKES PREPARED I want to encourage you to make the effort to practice what
you want to happen on your baby’s birth-day. We encourage our couples to do ten minutes in the morning
before they get started on their day, and right before bed at night. What better way to help mom feel safe,
secure and stress-free? She can go
about her day knowing that she and baby are important enough to merit the
time. At night, she will sleep
better after a good relaxation session. We can attest to the fact that yes, it is hard to find the
time. In reality, you don’t find
time – you have to make the time available. It is worth it – even if you end up with interventions, the
fact that you gave it your best effort makes for a labor that you can look back
on with an element of pride. The
natural labor and birth you want is a reality – and the more you practice, the
more likely you are to achieve the birth story you want for your family. There is another element to a successful labor beside
preparation – and that is a well-rested team – and that is a post for another
day. Happy Practicing!! 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®. |
Let Go and Give In
| Posted on May 20, 2014 at 9:27 PM |
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There is one concept that has become so clear to me – it has
taken me almost four years of teaching The Bradley Method® to really “get” the beauty
of the method we teach. The catch-phrase of Bradley™ classes is: Relaxation is the Key
to Labor. Why: Relaxation is
the tool The Bradley Method® teaches to allow a mother to immerse herself in
her limbic brain center – the one that deals with her emotions. What she is feeling is crucial to the
progression of labor. She must let go, give in, and allow her baby to come out. A mother must feel safe enough to allow herself to be vulnerable. In order for labor to progress, a woman must SURRENDER to the process happening within her without trying to control it. What she feels influences her endocrine system, which in
turn will make the hormones she needs for labor to progress *or* the hormones
to inhibit labor until mother feels that she is in a “safe” place. The brain receptors will accept either oxytocin to promote labor or adrenaline to inhibit labor - never both at the same time. Her feelings also influences the autonomic
system, meaning all the things that happen without conscious effort: heart
beat, breathing, digestion, etc. If she
feels safe, her heart rate and breathing will be calm and allow her to enter a
state of deep relaxation and embrace the sensations of labor and work with her
bofy. If she feels frightened or
defensive, her heart rate and breathing increase, inhibiting her ability to
relax and give herself over to the process of birth, and she will fall into the
fear-tension-pain cycle. Dr. Sears says it another way: “In a satisfying birth you must surrender to your body,
yield to your urges, tune in to yourself, open up, and let baby come out” ~The Birth Book, page 137 So how do we get to the maximum state of deep relaxation? Dr.Bradley identified six factors that were common among the
mammals he observed in labor. (Husband-Coached Childbirth, 5th Edition, Pages 57-61)
A good foundation in methods and techniques for physical, mental and emotional relaxation is part and parcel of applying the six needs for a natural childbirth. Do take the time to practice relaxation techniques every day as you prepare for your birth. A course in The Bradley Method® will offer couples 11 different relaxation tools for their toolbox to address physical, mental and emotional relaxation. As much as you are spending time to plan Sweet Pea’s nursery, finding the best gear for them, and taking care to find the best care pediatrician, invest time in preparing yourself for their Birth-Day. Barring any true complications [1], your ability to relax and embrace your labor will allow them to have a healthy, low-risk start in life. Need more convincing?
Here are some excerpts from a position paper printed in the New Zealand
College of Midwives Journal [2] that makes a case for the importance of an
empowered birth experience in which a mother is allowed to labor according to
nature’s physiological design. About the hormonal process of birth:
On the rite of passage encompassed by pregnancy and
birth:
Do you have a favorite relaxation technique that helped you during pregnancy and/or birth? Please leave a comment - it will be moderated and posted. [1] There are true complications of pregnancy and childbirth. When the benefits outweigh the risks, those are the times when medical intervention is desirable and appropriate for a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome. A comprehensive childbirth course like the Bradley Method can help you have a healthy, low-risk pregnancy and learn the communication skills to navigate those situations. It is possible to have a healthy start in spite of complications. [2]Dixon, L., Skinner, J., Foureur, M. (2013). The emotional
and hormonal pathways of labour and birth: integrating mind, body and behaviour.
New Zealand College of Midwives Journal, 48, 15-23.
http://dx.doi.org/10.12784/nzcomjnl48.2013.3.15-23 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®. |
You Are Important And Able
| Posted on January 20, 2014 at 7:37 PM |
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 We have one family in our Fall 2013 series left to hear from...so far nine Bradley babies have arrived safely earthside! I saw this thought today and thought of them, and all the other mamas out there that read our blog. It is so crucial that you remember that your labor is going to lead to your child's Birth-Day. You have every right to expect to be treated with dignity throughout your pregnancy, labor and birth. You Are Important
You Are Able
You have every right to informed consent, and you have every right to dignity in birth because You Are Important and You Are Able to give your Sweet Pea every opportunity for their best possible birth. Own it - Think it - Be it - you can totally rock your birth!! Was there a mantra or principle that helped you rock your birth? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted. 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®. |
Wishes For Your Birth Journey
| Posted on December 6, 2013 at 4:20 PM |
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Tonight is the first night of our Winter 2013-14 series. It is always exciting for us to welcome a new set of students. We love sharing our passion for healthy pregnancy and natural birth with families who want the best starts for their babies. Even though there are many options for birthing families, we are still committed to sharing The Bradley Method® because we like being able to offer a birthing class that honors the loving partner as the mother's best coach. Our Birth-Journey Wishes for all our new students:
We wish all birthing families preparing for their Spring babies the very best class experience! What wishes do you have for parents embarking on their Birth Journey? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted. 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®. |
Why we teach Bradley™ classes
| Posted on September 6, 2013 at 3:40 PM |
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Coach's Corner: Why Take Childbirth Classes?
| Posted on March 12, 2013 at 4:37 AM |
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 The information shared in a Bradley Method® class helps a couple do a Benefit-Risk analysis with each other, and their care team, "if or when" they come to a decision point in their labor. When used wisely and at an optimal time, interventions, procedures and/or drugs can be used appropriately. They become tools that facilitate a "Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby" outcome. If you are not educated about or prepared for some of the risks, you may end up wishing you had known a little more.My opinion is that for parents-to-be, birth education is a highly recommended component of birth preparation. It does not, by any means, replace a competent, caring medical team. What birth education does do is prepare you to actively participate as an *educated* consumer in the pregnancy and birth of your children. Best, Bruss
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. ~KRB  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®. |
5 Things You *Can* Plan For During Pregnancy
| Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:55 PM |
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We welcomed “our” first baby from our Winter Series – it is
always a thrill to hear a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby birth story. It is even more exciting to see the joy
radiated in the face of the transformed new mother, the proud new father, and
then see the fruits of their labor snuggled up in mama’s or papa’s arms. There is one important thing we want to convey to families. The day of your baby’s birth is the birth of your family. With subsequent babies, it is still the birth of your next family, as a family of __, whichever number that happens to be. It is a day we hope you will treasure and celebrate, because it the day your child was welcomed into your loving arms. While all of our students sit through twelve weeks of class in preparation for a vaginal, anesthesia-free birth (weeks that FLY BY faster and faster every time), the reality is that every family is going to have their unique birth story. Some students are going to have a fast labor. Some students are going to have a slow labor. Some students will choose to use some kind of pain relief system other than abdominal breathing and relaxation techniques. Some students will deliver vaginally, and some students will welcome their babies via a cesarean birth. The message we hope to convey to our students is that information and knowledge increases their opportunity for a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome regardless of the method of delivery. We educate them on the importance of staying healthy and low-risk by being mindful of all the things they can control.
We want all our students to know that they have set themselves up for success – they have done a lot of things right to maximize the opportunity for their wish list to come true. As long as all things stay healthy and low-risk, then they have a really good opportunity for an anesthesia-free vaginal birth. We also hope we have shared the correct information for them to make informed consent decisions. There are times when there are choices to be made in spite of doing lots of things right. Communication skills and key informed consent questions are a part of our coursework as well. At the very least we hope that they will remember these questions:
If you get a “no” to either of those questions that is when you rely on the
trust relationship you have built with your care provider. You trust that the team you chose will get
you to the Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome however they need to get you there
and that you will look back with no regrets.
Again, if you don’t have this level of trust, have you thought about
finding a care provider that you do trust implicitly?
As long as both of those are “yes” answers, then you can go on to the next
series of questions:
Even when families do not end up with the birth that they prepared for, many of them come back and tell us that they still had a positive birth experience. They report feeling empowered by their communication and the decisions they made together, they make a good recovery from interventions or cesareans thanks to the diet and exercise plan they followed throughout the course of class, or that there were no regrets about their choice to change care providers. The biggest boon , very much "in my opinion", is that
Bradley™ babies that thrive because they were built to be strong, healthy babies, building block by building block with a good diet during pregnancy. In addition, many Bradley™ mamas commit to breastfeeding, some despite tremendous obstacles because they want "something" to work out, especially if their Birth Wish List had a lot of deviations. While it is hard for some and not the choice for everyone, these moms do not regret the extra time and effort to develop the breastfeeding relationship they have with their babies. Our parting wish and prayer for all of our students is that they have a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome that brings a couple closer together as they build the foundation for their family. We hope that couples use the skills they learned in class to communicate and to work together, that they trust the mother’s instincts about what kind of birth their baby needs, care providers that support their choices, and when needed, have the skills to safely bring the family to a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome. We wish them a birth experience with no regrets and a foundation that is built with the knowledge that their child was, “brought into this world [intentionally,] knowingly, and with great joy” as they start the next step on the journey with their new family. (Quote is from the completion certificate found at the back
of The Bradley Method® Student Workbook – revised with our own wishes for our
students.) What do you think leads to a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome? 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.  Date Night – Spend one night (or afternoon) a week with your
beloved and do something together to honor the birth of your child. Whether you spend a little time visiting in
the car or breaking down the class on the way home, it’s class time +
conversation that the two of you are dedicating to prepare for the birth of
your baby. Snack – I remember being hungry when I was pregnant and
looking in the refrigerator, the freezer AND the pantry and finding that there
was nothing in there that I wanted to eat.
Bah! Then I got cranky. Most Bradley™ classes take a snack
break. Whether it’s provided by your
instructor or your peers, its one time that day that you will get a yummy snack
without putting time or thought into it.  Camaraderie – Think you are alone experiencing the creaks,
groans and squeaks of pregnancy? Spend a
little time talking to the couples on either side of you and you will find out
that there are other people making sounds they never knew they would make,
having heartburn that could fry an egg, and the concerns that have plagued
pregnant women since time immemorial.  Community – Those people you see in class for twelve
weeks? It’s likely that they are going
to be people you keep in touch with after class is over and you are holding
your babies on the outside. Even though they
are complete strangers the first class session, like you, they are choosing to
prepare for a birth with little to no interventions or anesthesia. Maybe your friends and family are telling
you, “Take the drugs – that’s what they are there for,” or, “You don’t get a
medal for natural birth.” The folks in
class with you are a sign that you are not alone in your choice. Together you will learn to say, “This is the
choice that works for our family.” You
can gain confidence in your choice when you see how many other like-minded
families are around you that understand and support your choice because that is
a choice they are making for their families, too. Communication – The foundation of any win-win relationship
is the ability to communicate effectively.
Each week of class there is a different communication exercise to build
skills between the couple, to help you clarify what you want and your
priorities for your birth experience, and how to express that and evaluate what
you are hearing from your care provider.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.  Exercise – The next building block towards having lots of
choices in labor is a mom that has the strength and stamina for her particular
athletic event. Some mamas have a
“sprint”, some mamas have “marathons”, and most fall somewhere in between. The Bradley Method® exercise program is
designed so that a mama does some form of cardio to build her stamina and it
incorporates exercises to strengthen her back, belly and bottom. The mom who does these things increases the
likelihood that she will be able to comfortably move through her labor to ease
baby into position and still have the energy for her pushing phase. 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.  Relaxation – Relaxation is the key to The Bradley
Method®. Dr. Bradley believed that a
woman who could relax her body by focusing on abdominal breathing and nesting
like other perspiring mammals was a woman that could labor and birth without
drugs. His theory proved out: his natural birth rate was 94-96%, depending
on the year. Our classes not only remind
mothers how to do their abdominal breathing, we also instruct couples on eleven
different relaxation techniques that address physical, mental and emotional
relaxation. A couple that takes a
Bradley™ series theoretically has a toolbox full of techniques to use during
labor.Practice Makes Prepared – Every couple has the opportunity
to take the material home and make it their own. By spending a minimum of five minutes a day
practicing the weekly relaxation technique and practicing one of the many
laboring positions we teach throughout the series, a Mom and her Coach are
ready for a normal, low-risk labor. If
they take the communication lessons to heart, they have spent time outside of
class preparing a birth plan that works for their family, and they have an idea
of how they will choose to handle any variations of labor they may face so that
if their labor follows a curvy path, they can handle the twists and turns with
confidence. Above all, a well-trained
Bradley Method® couple trusts in the process of birth and they know to follow
the Mom’s instincts + communication with the coach and the birth team towards a
Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome.Would you add anything to this list? Disclaimer: 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®. |