Who was Dr. Bradley?
Dr. Robert A. Bradley (1917-1998) became an Obstetrician in 1947 and disagreed with many of the hospital rules of the time. Other doctors kept fathers out of the maternity ward, but Dr. Bradley insisted that no drug could do as much for a laboring woman as the care of her trained and loving husband. Dr. Bradley taught mothers to labor naturally and give birth to their babies instead of having the "knock 'em out, drag 'em out" deliveries common then. His patients had better births, quicker recoveries, and healthier babies than the women who were drugged. Since the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth (AAHCC) was founded by Dr. Bradley and Marjie and Jay Hathaway in the 1960's, over 200,000 couples have discovered how to work with their bodies, having joyful, natural births.
Over the years, research has proven Dr. Bradley right time after time. No drug, according to the FDA and the AAP, has ever been proven safe for babies. While occasional use of drugs and surgical delivery are reasonable and can save lives, usually our bodies work best when allowed to labor at our own pace. Dr. Bradley was right about the importance of breastfeeding, rooming in, leaving the hospital promptly, walking during labor, skin to skin contact, and having your partner's loving help. He was right about avoiding inductions, episiotomies, epidurals, and many other interventions. As he loved to say, "It's not wise to fool Mother Nature!"
The 12-Class Series
Class 1 introduces you to The Bradley Method® and your classmates. We cover pregnancy exercises, ways to handle pain, and how to stay healthy and low-risk. Low risk = lots of choices in labor.
Class 2 covers good nutrition, what nutrients are important and what quantities are needed. We discuss breastfeeding, organic foods, ways of increasing your protein and other nutrients, and sex while pregnant.
Class 3 focuses on anatomy, the body's changes in pregnancy, labor basics, and easing common discomforts.
Class 4 teaches communicating, and ways to help a laboring woman. We discuss coaching during pregnancy and labor, reasons for drug-free childbirth, bonding, and the partner's role.
Class 5 introduces first stage labor, emphasizing the natural process and examining built-in safeguards for you and baby; also coaching techniques and how to practice for labor.
Class 6 introduces second stage labor - the physiology, the benefits and risks of labor drugs; the natural alignment plateau and fetal Heimlich maneuver, how and when to push, and we practice birth positions.
Class 7 helps you write your birth plan, as a consumer and advocate for yourself and baby. We cover positive communications with your birth team. I combine this with
Class 8 which explains variations and complications in labor; how to avoid these problems if possible, fix them naturally, and how to evaluate whether interventions are necessary. We cover emergency birth.
Class 9 is advanced first stage techniques. Labor rehearsals and role playing make this realistic.
Class 10 is advanced second stage: a thorough labor rehearsal pulls it all together!
Class 11 is about being a great coach and being ready. The Bradley Energy Saving Techniques (B.E.S.T.) is a comprehensive review of labor.
Class 12 covers newborn care, mothering, fathering, breastfeeding, postpartum care, and how to handle the many adjustments coming soon.
