Anyone else use Bradley method for childbirth?!
Question:
I have used the Bradley method with all 4 of my kids. No one else around here has used natural childbirth.
Answers:
I have also used the Bradley method with our three children. We enjoyed the class we took before baby #1, and found the techniques to be very helpful. In fact, I was thinking of becoming an instructor someday.
We were not completely intervention free (vaccuum extractor w/#1 after 2.5 hours of laboring and 3+ hours of pushing; broke water w/#2 at 7 cm w/decreased labor, and pit drip w/#3 when I was 5 cm & 90% but not in labor at 40 wks), but we were drug free (well, except the novacaine (sp?) when they inserted the vaccuum extractor).
All babies were very healthy, apgars of 9 or 10, and breastfed in the labor/delivery room within 20 minutes of birth (maybe 30). You should have seen the look on the postpartum nurse's face when I walked to the bathroom (she said, "no one has ever walked before!"). LOL.
Other Answers:
We're planning on using it in our upcoming birth in July. it's my first (and last) child so I'm not sure how well it will or won't work. We've decided to go with the Bradley Method because 1.) I don't react well to medications in general and I won't put my baby's health at risk as well as my own; 2.) Childbirth was around well before the intervention of medications and nerve blocks.. if those women can handle it, I can too!; 3.) I want to be able to "hear" what my body is telling me.
I think too often today we approach childbirth as a surgical operation rather than as a natural progression in life. Most physicians don't seem to encourage more natural options.. mine was absolutely amazed when I put my foot down on medications.
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