The Bradley Method Helps Women Realize That Their Body Was Designed For Birthing

The Bradley method is another popular birthing technique that is used by many expectant mothers who wish to have an unmediated natural delivery.  This method was developed by Dr. Robert Bradley in the late 1940s.  He wanted women to realize that birthing was a natural process and that many women can give birth without medical intervention or drugs.  Dr. Bradley encourages women to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating correctly and exercising during pregnancy.

Dr. Bradley concludes that there are six needs that an expectant mother needs while she is laboring.  Those six needs include: quite place to labor, feel as comfortable as possible, closed eyes and resting as much as possible, focus on relaxation and breathing techniques, maintain solitude, and some women prefer to labor in the dark.  The most important factor that makes this birthing technique effective it relies on a coach or spouse that is heavily involved in the laboring process.  Your spouse or coach is responsible for keeping you focused on your breathing and relaxation techniques as well as directing you to change laboring positions to help labor progress as needed.  During the childbirth classes, your spouse or coach will be taught massaging techniques and laboring positions that can be used to help ease labor pains.  While you are in labor, it is important for your spouse or coach to remain calm and relaxed, so that you can relax based upon your partners voice or touch.

If you plan on using this birthing method, it is ideal to practice the relaxation and breathing techniques on a daily basis so that when the moment arrives you are both prepared.  Your coach should be supportive of all your labor plans.  Their job is to remind you of your labor plans and help coach you back to your relaxed state.  Also, they help you to rely on your breathing and relaxation techniques so that you can labor naturally.  Their goal is to reduce your need for medical intervention as possible.

The Bradley method also focuses on ways to avoid unnecessary medical intervention such as medications, pictocin, or an unnecessary c-sections too early in the laboring process.  During a Bradley child birth class you will learn about the possibilities of unexpected labor hurdles that could potentially arise during labor.  The goal the class is to help you make informed decisions about your particular situation that may arise.

If you would like to use this birthing method, it is best to sign up for a class around the 5th month of your pregnancy.  These classes run for 12 weeks, so that you can practice the techniques you are learning in class and have plenty of time to practice them before giving birth.  They also teach you how to do exercises to prepare your body for delivery.