Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way: Revised Edition

A really great GUIDE to childbirth

I was turned on the the Bradley Method after I read 'Ina May's Guide to Childbirth' by Ina May Gaskin. Both of these books are incredible. I purchased this book and enrolled in local Bradley Method classes. I felt I was well prepared for labor--intellectually, emotionally, and physically. This method isn't just about the labor & delivery, but about preparing your body through proper diet and exercise, and preparing your mind. The book gives both you and your coach the confidence and strength to make it through this miraculous event together. My husband was my rock through the entire labor (all 20 hours of it). He really applied all he learned from the classes and the book and not once did he leave my side. Because of his strength, he built me up so that I was able to have a un-medicated childbirth just as I had planned. I couldn't have been happier with my experience. I should note that labor still is painfull. I see all these glowing statements-- 'I actually slept through transition!' and 'my doctor said 'You don't look like you're in labor.''. That's all well and good, but that isn't because of the Bradley Method. This isn't some magic take-all-the-pain away method. I'm not trying to scare anyone. I just want to be honest and realistic. Just like every woman, every pregnancy, and every child, every labor and delivery is different. There is to be no shame if you need medication. There is also no shame in a C-section, if it is medically necessary. The book covers these topics. You will also learn how to do your best to avoid these situations. Just go into the process with an open mind and all the knowledge you and your birthing coach have obtained. This method creates a real bond between you, your coach, and your child. THAT is what makes this method so special. Finally, labor and delivery are so short in comparisson to your pregnancy and especially to the life of your child. Don't get too hung up on this event. Though it is important, make sure you are taking care of yourself and your baby while are pregnant and learning how to raise your child in a safe and loving environment once they are born. You WILL give birth and everything will be alright. Like I said, just go into the process with an open mind and all the knowledge you and your birthing coach have obtained. Be positive and confident. Keep your health up. ENJOY this time in your life! This method creates a real bond between you and your coach, as well as your baby. THAT is why the Bradley Method is so successful.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful book!

It's been a while since I read this book, my "babies" are 16 & 17 now. I had been going to an ob/gyn with my first, got some answers I didn't like when I was approx. 7 months along and fired her. I got involved with a homebirth midwife in our area and crash-coursed myself with this book. I should also mention that I quit Lamaze after one class when I argued with the instructor (typical hospital setting, typical hospital procedures, etc.). My first child was born at home after 44 hours from the time my water broke to the time of the birth. I was really in great spirits, not much discomfort...the hardest part was transitioning. He was a 10lb, 2oz beautiful blonde boy! My mother was the biggest opponent of my choice to homebirth, but I think she changed her opinion when she arrived at my house within an hour of birthing and I was up, walking around, and even greeted her at the door. My second birth was somewhat shorter, 11 pounds handsome brunette boy, and completely natural and comfortable (again...transition was a little ouchy). My husband likes to tell people that I brought him dinner after having a baby (I didn't cook...a friend did that)

I have given this book to expectant friends. I truly love this book! It is so clearly written and full of great information. Many people have said that this is the only book to read if you are expecting. I tend to agree with them...it's not written by a "cookie-cutter birth" perspective. Even now, with younger women I know starting families, I stress the importance of reading this book. Knowledge is power, and I think that the more you know going into a pregnancy, the more you will get out of the whole experience.

An encouraging perspective.

This book was recommended to me by a friend who could see how anxious I was about childbirth. Despite being a nurse myself, my perceptions of childbirth had more to do with pain than enjoyment. After reading this book, I felt so empowered as a woman! I finally understood the purpose of the childbirth process because the author uses such wonderful analogies. It also helped my husband understand what my body would be going through. The author is clearly biased towards all-natural childbirth, focusing heavily on the risks associated with most traditional interventions. She also talks about the hospital policies and routines as though they aren't in place for patient safety or positive outcomes. I would recommend this book, but would also encourage a reader to take it with a grain of salt. I am not planning on having a purely natural childbirth, but am grateful for this book because it put a lot of my fears at ease.

How to Conquer Fears of Pain in Childbirth!!

The Bradley Method is the best way to conquer your fears of vaginal childbirth by giving you tons of information about the risks your doctor will never tell you about associated with various medical interventions and by teaching you through practice relaxation and pushing stage exercises to deal with your pain naturally without dependence on harmful drugs. She goes over nutrition and breastfeeding, too. Every woman should read this book filled with pictures showing normal childbirth as it should be. This book changed my life and my entire outlook and belief system about childbirth, pregnancy and the U.S. maternity system.

IF YOU ONLY READ ONE PRENATAL BOOK MAKE IT THIS ONE!!

I purchased this book because a friend I really trust recomended it. I haven't given birth yet so I don't know if the process will allow a drug free birth but I actually have hope and a desire. I used to be all about 'give me the drugs'. This book has lowered my level of anxiety about the birthing process. I feel more prepared and emotionally ready to handle labor and delivery.

Great if you want to go natural!

This book is very helpful if you want to have a safe and natural birth. I highly recommend it!

Drug free labor and delivery

I gave birth to my first child four weeks ago. I never took any childbirth classes, I only read this book, cover to cover. My labor and delivery was a wonderful experience that I hope I never forget. I labored and delivered in a hospital attended by a midwife and I took no pain medication at all, and I used the Bradley method. If you can only read one book about labor and delivery, this would be the one to choose. It tells you just about everything you need to know about giving birth. It also has some good tips about pregnancy, breastfeeding, and women's health.

Love this book!

Great book if you want to learn how to relax during labor to help ease the pain. My husband is really getting into his 'coach' part and because of this I think we are really going to bond during this whole process of labor and delivery. Also, he wont just be sitting there wondering what he can do to make me feel better, he will have learned how to coach me through the contractions, message me, keep my breathing normal, and help me get in a relaxed more formortable mode.

The perfect method!

The Bradley method is great, it truely works and reading this book is almost like taking the class! I delivered my first baby using the Bradley method and it was almost my ideal birth. I labored at home with my husband and doula. When we finally went to the hospital, my doctor said 'You don't look like you're in labor.' They checked me and found out that I was 10cm dilated. Thirty minutes later I pushed out my baby girl! It was a fantastic experience and I would love to give birth again!

the only childbirth method

I had my first son the Bradley Method back in 1975 when this was all new. I truly felt the difference when I was following the method, and relying on myself to get through the contraction. My first childbirth experience was 6 hours, my second was 2 1/2 hours, my third I had at home, actually slept through transition! Needless to say i fully support the Bradley Method and am sending a copy to my daughter-in-law for the birth of my first grandchild.

The best birthing prep out there

My Bradley instructor lent out multiple copies of this book during class, and it was great. Informative, easy to read, and covered all the stuff from class. I finally bought a copy but ended up lending it to all my friends. My husband and I had a great homebirth with no drugs and no interventions. This should be required reading for ALL childbirth classes just so women have the information, even if they don't do a 'Bradley birth'.

For All of You Non-Believers - It Works!

This book was fabulous - very clearly written and informative. They say that knowledge is power - the knowledge obtained from this book left me empowered to have the kind of birth that I always wanted! I wish that I had this information with my first son, who was a mid-forceps delivery, 3rd degree tear, and other complications which I attribute directly to the medical intervention I had (pitocin, epidural, staff who wouldn't let me walk around, etc.) This time around, I had a certified nurse midwife, a 6 1/2 hour labor (less than 2 hours in the hospital!) and a beautiful 8 lb. 10 oz. baby boy(1 lb. 3 oz. bigger than his older brother!). I checked myself out of the hospital the next day and felt great! I only had a 1 inch pressure episiotomy, due primarily to the prior tear/episiotomy and the fact that my baby was so big. I can't say enough about how the Bradley Method works!!! (My friend had a very similar experience with her 2nd child too using this method). My husband was a really 'doubting Tom' - he didn't think that I could do it, but was amazed at how well the method worked and at my midwife. He kept saying, 'Boy, this was MUCH better than last time!'

This is Required Reading!

I think this is the only book to read for childbirth preparation. It is an easy read, good illustrations and in a format that effectively gets the concepts across. Whether birthing at the hospital or at home, these techniques work! My last two children were birthed the Bradley way. My youngest weighed a healthy eleven and a half pounds and after only 5 1/2 hours of a labor of love. If you are having your first or you fifth, this book is a must :-)

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