1. A childbirth education and labour-management process, created to help women experience a natural, drug-free childbirth
2. The emphasis on educating partners (the baby's father) to be effective coaches e.g. to be an active participant in the birth, rather than a bewildered bystander
3. The range of subjects/information covered
I will make this disclaimer… if you Google
"Bradley Method" you will notice that 99% of the results are US-based,
and the information may seem a little American-preachy (which is not my cup
of tea at all). But after completing the classes, although we have not yet given
birth, I would highly recommend attending Bradley Method classes.
We now feel informed, confident, a team… truly empowered to embrace and
manage our baby's birth!
Types of things covered in the classes:
- Nutrition and how it affects a growing foetus
- The importance of exercise during pregnancy
- Common pregnancy symptoms and complaints, and how to cope with them
- Techniques for relaxation during labour and birth, with an emphasis on breathing methods to help you "tune-in" and manage your pain, rather than trying to distract you from it
- Methods to help your partner be an active participant and a skilled coach on labour day
- The stages of labour, and how to cope with the changes your body will experience during each one
- Medical interventions, and how to avoid unnecessary ones
- How to reduce your risk of having a c-section, and what to do if it becomes medically necessary
- Making a birth plan and how to communicate
effectively with your medical team
More information:
Birth Steps (Dulwich Hill, Sydney, NSW)
Lea Mason
- Website: http://www.birthsteps.com.au/index.htm
- Email: lea@birthsteps.com.au
- Phone: 0403 222 632
- 2006 Classes: http://www.birthsteps.com.au/birth.htm
- Cost: $300
