Twelve weeks. 3 months. The last trimester of pregnancy. 

The standard series of classes in The Bradley Method® is 12 continuous weeks for many reasons. First of all, because it works.

Bradley’s statistical analysis shows that students who attend a full 12-week class series are more likely to have avoid an unnecessary c-section.

In looking at birth-log information that The Bradley Method ® has collected via decades of parents taking these classes, they have found that the fewer the weeks of classes the higher the rate of (possibly unnecessary) medication, induction, and c-section.

In a Bradley™ class you will work to avoid undesired interventions and / or poor outcomes through:

Physical training

This takes time. Some women who attend these classes may not be active, and those who are, may not be doing the specific physical training necessary to prepare them for birth. All of the physical exercises in the Student Workbook have been used by hundreds of thousands of laboring people in preparation for birth and they feel the Bradley™ exercises were crucial for adequate preparation for birth. The Bradley Method® encourages women to review any exercise program with their health care practitioner before starting. 

Stamina

Birth is hard work. Labor can take a short or long time and,  generally, it’s unknown which way it is going to go. Stamina can be very important for the long labor. This is why pregnant people are encouraged to do some form of exercise that will build stamina, like walking, dancing, swimming or prenatal yoga. Or all four. 

Confidence

Attitude and habits take 3 months 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 Bradley™ incorporates 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 foundation of  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. Eating a well balanced diet one day is good, but eating a well balanced diet for months is even better. 

Relaxation

The key to a peaceful labor is relaxation. The body works best when the birthing 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 that takes time to master, we will practice it in each class.

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 need to  be saved by a life guard,  kicking and screaming along the way. If instead you took 3 months attending classes to learn how to swim, it would be a different story. After getting into the water, you could swim to the side and climb out. Or say in and enjoy the experience. :) Birth is very much the same. Take a class and don’t go into it terrified - or kicking and screaming.

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. 

If you’ve made it this far in all this reading, you are committed!

Coaching/Doula

The Bradley Method® has found that, given the opportunity, most fathers (or other non-birthing parents) are willing and anxious to learn how to coach their partner through the labor to  their baby’s birth. Much of class is directed at the coach to understand  the normal, physiological birth  process, how to make the birthing parent comfortable, and how to be an advocate for their family. It has been argued that this puts undue pressure and strain on the father or birth coach.  I have experienced the exact opposite: Dads (and other parents) are relieved - and even ecstatic - to gain the knowledge and tools necessary to make labor more peaceful and healthy for the ones they care so much about. Bradley™ Coaches are eager to get to the labor and witness the birth of their baby. 

Twelve weeks to learn about the natural process - to lear to incorporate nutrition, relaxation, coaching, knowledge, exercise and advocacy into pregnancy and birth is a small investment of time to insure a healthy baby, healthy birther, and healthy family.

Physiological birth is the safest birth.