Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth Classes

Due to Covid-19, all of Julie’s classes are being held remotely. Visit www.growing-families.com for more information on classes and placenta encapsulation.

Wanting the BEST start for your baby?

The Bradley Method® series is designed for small classes with lots of individual attention. The Student Workbook is included with classes. It has over 130 pages with over 75 pictures and illustrations.

Physical training: It takes time. Many women who attend our classes may not be active, and those who are may not be doing physical training to prepare them for birth. All of the physical exercises in the Student Workbook have been used by hundreds of thousands of women in preparation for birth and they feel were important for adequate preparation for birth. We encourage women to review any exercise program with their health care practitioner before starting.

Here are a few reasons why exercise can be important. Julie will include other exercises and reasons they are helpful for birth.

Squatting: Knowing how and being able to squat with ease can make a big difference in the birth process. It can open the outlet of the pelvis by 10-15% or more. Squatting is the only exercise we know that gives elasticity to the perineum making it more likely the mother will stretch without tearing and avoiding an episiotomy. Although squatting is normal for a toddler, most women gave it up by the time they were 5 years old because someone told them they could see their underpants. They haven’t squatted since. Other cultures squat as a way of life.

Kegel: The Kegel exercise can make a difference in how the baby’s head presents. If it is in good shape it encourages the baby to put its chin on its chest. This exercise also helps problems with incontinence during pregnancy and later in life. It takes 3 months of daily practice for most women to have noticeable results with the Kegel muscle.

Stamina: Birth is hard work. Labor can take a short or long time and we generally don’t know in advance which way it is going to go. Stamina can be very important for the long labor. This is why we encourage pregnant mothers to do some form of exercise that will build stamina, like walking or swimming.

All of these exercises plus others in Bradley Method classes were chosen to help pregnant women get in shape for the big event. All physical exercises take time to become expert in performing.

Confidence: Attitude and habits take 20 days to change. The natural process of birth is foreign to most people. It takes time to understand the process, have confidence that it works and form healthy habits to make it work. Learning takes time for most people. The first time you hear a new idea the response is generally “Oh that’s interesting.” The second time you hear the same idea the response is “I think I heard that before.” The third time, “I know that,” and the fourth time, “Yes, that’s what I always say too.” It takes time and repetition to learn and develop new habits and confidence.

Practice: Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Students learn 10% of what they hear, 20% of what they see, 50% of what they read and 90 % of what they do. For this reason we incorporate labor information, practice and rehearsals right from the beginning of class one. The more a couple rehearses the better they get. Can you remember when you learned how to drive a car? The more practice you had the more confident you felt and the better you did on the driving test. The same is true for birth. Practice, practice, practice takes times.

Nutrition: The key to a healthy pregnancy and life is good nutrition every day. You are a reflection of what you ate 3 months ago. The human body does not change overnight. It takes time. Sure eating a balanced diet one day is good, but eating a well balanced diet for months is even better. The National Institutes of Health has reported that during the 1990’s there has been a 33% increase in what is often called toxemia, pre-eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, or PIH. This is a life threatening condition where the mother can go into seizures and the baby can die. Dr. Tom Brewer tells us many of these cases are metabolic in nature resulting in metabolic toxemia of late pregnancy. In these cases nutrition is the key to prevention. Good nutrition the last trimester of pregnancy is critical to both the mother and baby’s health. Sharing nutritional information at early pregnancy classes is even better.

Relaxation: The key to labor is relaxation. The body works best when the mother is relaxed. Without relaxation the body produces epinephrine which interferes with the natural process of labor, stopping or causing dysfunctional labor. The National Institutes of Health, in a collaborative study on pain management, found that one of the most effective forms of pain management is relaxation. But since relaxation is a skill, it takes time to get good at it. Learning about relaxation is not enough, because it is a skill it must be practiced over a period of time. The Bradley Method® classes offer relaxation techniques and practice every week.

Education: Dr. Bradley liked equating birth with swimming. If someone told you they would throw you into 10 feet of water at the end of nine months it could be very scary. Someone who did not know how to swim could drown or be saved by a life guard kicking and screaming along the way. If you took that time to take classes and learn how to swim it would be a different story. After getting in the water you could swim to the side and climb out. Birth is very much the same. It is so much easier if you know how. The problem of not knowing what is going on can be scary. If you were in a dark alley at midnight and someone tapped you on the shoulder you would tense up and scream. If you were at a party where you know everyone and someone tapped you on the shoulder you would turn around and say Hi. Twelve weeks of information, practice, education through lecture, discussion, videos and knowing what to expect can make a big difference.

Preparation: Getting ready for birth takes time. Dr. Bradley liked to say it is an athletic event. Birth is very much like climbing a mountain and it is wise to get in shape physically, mentally, and emotionally before making the climb. This is the birth of your baby. Commit to being the best you can be for your baby. Take the time to learn, practice and enjoy the thrill of birth. A healthy baby, healthy mother, healthy family is our goal.

Coaching/Doula: We have found that given the opportunity most fathers are willing and anxious to learn how to coach/doula at their baby’s birth. Much of class is directed at the coach to learn the natural process, how to make the mother comfortable and how to be an advocate for their family.

Though every class has a specific topic which is covered in detail, each class will also cover nutrition, exercise, positive communication, and coaching. A different relaxation technique will be demonstrated and assigned for practice each week. Classes may also feature a video pres

The Bradley Method® focuses on the importance of a healthy pregnancy, healthy baby, and healthy family. We emphasize the important role of the husband (or other supportive individual) as the birth coach, who supports the mother throughout pregnancy, birth, and beyond. You and your coach will feel well prepared even in the event of complications.

In these classes you will learn about:

  • Staying healthy and low risk
  • Nutrition for a healthy pregnancy, mama, and baby
  • Exercises to prepare your body for childbirth
  • Birth planning
  • Training for your partner, so that he or she can provide you with loving support while acting as your informed advocate
  • Natural breathing
  • Relaxation techniques for pain management
  • The stages of labor
  • Postpartum care
  • Breastfeeding
    and more!

Even if you are only considering a drug-free birth, there is much to be gained from learning The Bradley Method®. There are many interventions offered today as standard procedure. You can feel good about the decisions you make regarding the birth of your child if you are an informed consumer with a full understanding of the benefits and risks to each choice you will be faced with. Knowledge is power.

Click to visit Julie’s website or call/text 760-500-9929 for further information and/or to sign up for her next class.