I need book recommendations on the Bradley method as well as immun. shots

[Janna]

My sil used to teach the Bradley Method, but she is two states away. I haven't been able to get a hold of her to talk to her about this, but of course will continue to try. In the meantime, I thought I would ask here.

If you have experience with the Bradley Method and know of any good books that would help me learn a bit (going to a class isn't an option for me) so that I'm knowledgeable and not relying on a hospital nurse to help me in case they aren't capable of it (LOL), I would greatly appreciate you sharing the title(s) with me.

Also, I'm looking into scattering out the immunization shots and not having the hospital give the Hep B after birth. Don't misunderstand - I still intend to have the baby get innoculated. I am just interested in reading more about the benefits vs the risks of scattering the shots more than what the current "recommended schedule" is. Do you know of any resources to help me accurately learn more about this?

Thank you!

[Sunny]

We took a Bradley class offered at the hospital. You sure you can't find a local class? I thought it was great because they gave alternatives. They informed us of the typical, and gave us options. HIghly recommended, but I don't know about a book, sorry.

[8FillTheHeart]

I am experienced with the Bradley method. I eat an extremely high protein diet throughout my pregnancies. Their relaxation techniques are more effective than Lamaze IMHO. Though at this point, I don't use any "technique." ;) (My labors have been under 2 hrs with the last 2 w/transition to delivery being about 20 mins.)

I do have one caution about Bradley. They are anti-intervention to the extreme. If I had totally adopted the Bradley philosophy, 2 of my children would have died. One was a footling breach who was dangerously entangled in the umbilical cord and the other had a heart-rate of 80 bpm when I went in for a bi-weekly NST. (I have a history of full-term stillbirth for no explicable cause. It is a reality and if you are the 1 in 1000.....death is the outcome.)

As far as immunizations, I don't do any immunizations prior to 6 months. Up to that point they have full immunity from mom. I then only give 1 shot (like a DTaP or a IPV, etc) every few months. My youngest is 2 1/2 and needs one more IPV to have completed her baby shots. (I don't do any Hep B or varicella at all though) My drs have been totally cooperative with a flexible schedule.

[abbeyej]

It's been about nine years, but these are the Bradley books I read:

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way, by Susan McCutcheon
http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Childbirth-Bradley-Way-Revised/dp/0452276594

Husband-Coached Childbirth, by Dr. Bradley
http://www.amazon.com/Husband-Coached-Childbirth-Bradley-Method-Natural/dp/0553375563

[Tutor]

It's been about nine years, but these are the Bradley books I read:

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way, by Susan McCutcheon
http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Childbirth-Bradley-Way-Revised/dp/0452276594

Husband-Coached Childbirth, by Dr. Bradley
http://www.amazon.com/Husband-Coached-Childbirth-Bradley-Method-Natural/dp/0553375563



These two books are excellent. I think the first is more helpful without a class to accompany it. I taught Bradley classes up until last year. Feel free to email me if you have any questions and can't get a hold of your SIL. (apollosacademy at gmail dot com)Have you checked to see if there are any other naturally-based childbirth classes in your area so that you can benefit from the pros of two methods and have a flesh-and-blood person to talk to and receive encouragement from?

As with all methods of childbirth, the number one "rule" is to find a doctor/ midwife who you respect and trust and who respects and trusts you in return. This is key if complications arise since you know you will be treated with respect when options of care need to be discussed and that if there is an emergency you know that your MD or midwife is being straightforward with you and telling you the best path to chose for your health and your baby's health and that those suggestions and decisions are being made while honoring your desire for a natural birth as much as they can in the situation at hand.

Blessings to you and congratulations!

[melissel]

It's been about nine years, but these are the Bradley books I read:

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way, by Susan McCutcheon
http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Childbirth-Bradley-Way-Revised/dp/0452276594

Husband-Coached Childbirth, by Dr. Bradley
http://www.amazon.com/Husband-Coached-Childbirth-Bradley-Method-Natural/dp/0553375563

I also second the McCutcheon book. It made me feel SO empowered when I was preparing for my second birth. (My first was the typical "every intervention short of C section" hospital birth :() Active Birth by Janet Balaskas is also very good book about natural births. I would also say, though, that if you can possibly get to a Bradley class, do it. I read every book I could get my hands on and was unprepared for laboring in several important ways.

Actually, if you really can't get to a class, have you looked into hypnobirthing? You can order the CD sets to learn at home. What I missed out on by not going to the Bradley classes (I think) was learning how to relax and bring myself through the contractions without panicking. At one point, I almost started to hyperventilate, which is exactly what the books say is very common, and what you need to avoid! Hypnobirthing teaches you to take your mind away to a different place, so you can remain calm and stay on top of the contractions instead of getting sucked under by them (like I did :o).

HTH!

Edited to add: Also see if you can get your hands on Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. That was another very empowering book, though not specifically Bradley-oriented.

[Carol in Cal.]

Bradley is great, but it is extremely anti-intervention. It's one of those resources that can make you feel really bad if you don't do an all natural birth. Your husband is supposed to coach you and if you ask for drugs he's supposed to talk you out of it with gentle reminders of what is normal and what your commitments are. Well, I'm sorry, but I do not think my husband would be alive today if he had gently tried to argue with me in labor. And I knew myself well enough in advance to tell him exactly what I felt I would need--someone who would make it their mission to get me whatever support and help I felt I needed when and if I felt I needed it. I knew and told him that I would go longer without drugs if I knew I could get them if and when I wanted them, and that the only thing I wanted from him during labor was full and complete backing. (Now, I'm not that demanding in everyday life. It's stressful to give birth. And, yes, I have issues. I was raised on horrifying birth stories.)

Anyway, I read a lot of books about childbirth and found the Bradley techniques to be the most helpful. They encourage you to relax very deeply, and give techniques to do so that are quite effective. I ran across Bradley too late to take a class--they take 16 weeks. But reading the book was extremely helpful. I did take the Lamaze classes at the hospital as well.

I also set my own personal goals--I wanted to get to 5 cm before having an epi, and to not have a episiotomy unless the baby was upside down. And I did better than I planned--no epidural until right before transition, around 9cm or more. If you knew my family history, you would recognize that for the miracle and stunning achievement that it was for me. And it was really the Bradley techniques that got me there.

So, in summary, great stuff, very helpful, but not completely applicable in all circumstances, and don't let it make you feel that you must do everything their way!

[Tutor]

Also, are classes not an option because they aren't available or because they are too expensive? If it is the former, I would try to find some sort of natural childbirth class in addition to the Bradley books. If it is the later, you might want to ask if a local Bradley teacher accepts bartering. I did. It was wonderful. One couple brought my family dinner when they came for class (in my home), and we would enjoy it the next day. If I hadn't have stopped teaching, I would have bartered chiropractic care for my dh in exchange for classes for them. I think a bartering system is wonderful, but many don't advertise it, so you'd have to ask.

[Heather]

Some vaccine books:

The Vaccine Book, by Dr Sears (http://www.amazon.com/Vaccine-Book-Decision-Parenting-Library/dp/0316017507/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203535682&sr=8-1)

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccines, by Dr Stephanie Cave (http://www.amazon.com/What-Doctor-About-Childrens-Vaccinations/dp/0446677078/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b)

I've read the 2nd and am currently reading the first. Neither is anti-vaccine, but they both suggest spacing out the shots.

[melissel]

Your husband is supposed to coach you and if you ask for drugs he's supposed to talk you out of it with gentle reminders of what is normal and what your commitments are. Well, I'm sorry, but I do not think my husband would be alive today if he had gently tried to argue with me in labor.

I'm sorry, it's OT, but I'm ROFL at this! I can clearly remember my own DH's deer-in-the-headlights look when he was trying to calm and support me during that second labor. Like, he knew what he was supposed to say, but he was pretty freaked out by the whole deal too. He wasn't very convincing, but he did say what I told him to say, LOL!

[dirty ethel rackham]

I've been a Bradley Method instructor for 11 years. While I usually bend over backwards to make sure that someone can take a class (bartering, payment plans, sliding scale), here is what I recommend to people who can't take one (and to my students as well.)

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon
This book is more of a how-to. Lots of techniques for relaxation. It does come down pretty heavily on the medical profession, but much of the criticism is deserved.

Husband-Coached Childbirth by Robert Bradley
This one is written to the dads. The man practiced medicine starting in the 40's. It has a grandfatherly, folksy tone. It gets into why Bradley works. I think there is supposed to be a newly revised version out or coming out.

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
She has lots of practical advice, plus her birth stories are very empowering.

Mind Over Labor by Carl Jones
This deals with mental relaxation. I found it tremendously helpful in getting out of the way of labor. The positive visualizations were invaluable for me.

Mother Massage by Elaine Stillerman
This book has a lot of practical advice on how to give a massage to a pregnant woman. While it has some New Age references, they were easy to ignore if that is not your cuppa. When I read it, I fell asleep, not because it was boring, but I was just so relaxed imagining someone massaging me like that!!

The Bradley Method also recommends following the principles of the Brewer Diet for good nutrition during pregnancy and reducing the need for medical intervention. You can find several websites devoted to his plan. Most books on the topic are, unfortunately, out of print.

I could go on an list 3 or 4 more books, but I think this just about cuts it for what you might need if you can't get to a class.

An excellent website:
http://www.childbirthconnection.org


I tell my students is that there are three things that go into what kind of birth you have: your own preparation, luck and choice of caregiver. You have control over two of those things.

Another tidbit: the techniques take practice - lots of it. Relaxation in response to a potentially painful stimulus takes practice. The pregnant woman needs to practice often so that she can make relaxation a habit. Her coach/partner/husband needs to practice to learn how to best bring about a relaxed state. It works best if it is scheduled in several times a week if not every day!

My last note: I tell my students that my goal is to give them the knowledge and the tools to: reduce and mange pain, to communicate effectively with their caregiver, to make educated, intellingent choices and, ultimately, to have a good, SAFE birth. There is no Bradley police at your birth, giving out tickets for infractions. The teacher's job is not to create guilt, but to teach!

[Mamagistra]

Also see if you can get your hands on Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. That was another very empowering book, though not specifically Bradley-oriented.

I second this...an excellent recommendation. :)

[lwilliams1922]

http://thinktwice.com/allvacs.htm

[lighthouseacademy]

I really like the book by Jill Aviva Romm on vaccines. http://www.amazon.com/Vaccinations-Thoughtful-Sensible-Decisions-Alternatives/dp/0892819316 She is not anti but she is also not pro- or at least when I read it it seemed to be VERY balanced on both the pros and cons and risks and benefits of both vaccinating and not vaccinating and the diseases etc.

[Sara in AZ]

I second the advice about practice and preparation! I've had two fantastic Bradley births and I'm trying to find time to prepare for the next one this October. Last time around I really enjoyed taking a prenatal yoga class, as well. We practiced similar relaxation techniques that were really useful in labor. Perhaps you could find something like that in addition to studying the books?

To those instructors...is there any way of getting the class workbook to work through on your own? I've just pulled mine out to review. So much good info in there.

Best of luck!