1st Bradley Method Class

Where to begin...

I guess I will start with the good news of getting an appointment with my new midwife in about 3 weeks. I am really excited. They were very nice on the phone and with the great recommendations from for the place (it's through a hospital in Nashville) I feel confident that I will be happy there, regardless of not knowing my actual midwife before my appointment. I learned last night at our first class that my Doula knows the midwife well and said I'd be really happy with her so that is great. I will still have my big ultrasound next Wednesday with my Ob and then 2 weeks later will go make the switch so the timing should be great.

Now... back to the first Bradley class! It was sooooo great.

It was exciting to finally meet the woman who we've chosen to be our doula and who teaches the classes. She has over 20 years of experience doing this and has seen it all, been to every hospital, worked with practically every doctor or midwife in town, and just knows her stuff in general.

She said that her class is Bradley method with a bit of her method and experience thrown in. I don't know a lot about Bradley now, but I guess it can get a little strict and she does not go along with every single thing and makes changes for the better. (Like doing stretching and exercises earlier than they recommend to have more benefit, etc).

There are 6 other couples in our class and it was nice to be in a group of people who believe along the same lines we do. I fully realize that not everyone cares to much about their birth experience or care so much to do it natural, but I do (for many different reasons) and it's important to surround myself with people and an environment that not only just allows that, but encourages it and finds it perfectly normal and GOOD. I think we've found that. :)

Our Doula has a studio in her home that we all sat around up against the walls and special pillows and then also used our own. Yes, bringing all 4 pillows was a good idea! It was actually pretty comfortable and relaxing. We all went around an introduced ourselves which was fun. There is another couple from the same town as us (20 min.from where the class is) and she is about 2 weeks behind me so it felt good I was not the "youngest" one there. Another woman's due date is in April - before the class is even over! Yikes! Everyone seems great though and I really like our doula's personality as well.

We talked a bit about the very basics of everything, different benefits of a natural birth, etc. Then we got into the "1st chapter" of our Bradley books she gave us which went over some nutrition things and different exercises and stretches we need to do to prepare our bodies for a good labor and delivery.

I honestly don't know how time went by so far (3 hour classes) because I know we covered more than that, but it's all such a blur right now. After we took a short break and ate some snacks we watched a short movie by the Bradley Method people. Apparently they aren't making enough money so that they could shoot a new movie since this one was clearly from the 80's.Maybe even 70's. It was pretty funny! The poor husbands - They showed EVERYTHING in this movie and mostly without any warning.

I have to say - I've never seen the actual head work on coming out or coming and that is the only part I am truly scared about. Everything before and after I think I will handle just fine, but that part - i really hope it goes fast!

The woman in the video said something (it was amazing to watch her in labor without any drugs and using the methods we will learn and being completely zen) that really hit home with me. I guess they switched from a bigger hospital in which the "standard" procedures are done all the time.She said that while they would allow her to have a natural birth, she wanted to be somewhere that would encourage it and HELP with it. That is exactly how I feel.

After the video we ending by getting comfy with our pillows and having our husbands massage our butt and hips. They learned different techniques and we got to just relax. I am going to like this part of class, which is how it will end every time! :) Matt's homework is to do that a few times a week, too! Sweet!

I learned that 95-99% of all births in the Nashville area are medicated in use procedures in some way. How crazy is that??? I know it's the norm for many women, but that is a lot higher than I expected for some reason. It kind of made me sad.

I also learned that our doula is also Kimberly Williams Paisley's doula (Brad Paisley's wife) and that she could be the reason I get to have a water birth at Vanderbilt. She is due w/ her 2nd baby sometime soon I believe and uses the same midwife practice I will be using. The water tubs have been in the works for a while, but she's really pushed to have them there by her birth there, so they should be all good to go by August! In November Kim went down to Ina May's "The Farm" which is about 45 minutes south of where I live with Ricki Lake to get info for the follow up to to "The Business of Being Born" (which I really need to watch!)

Anyway, it was a very good experience and I am so, so happy w/ the choices we are making. I know they're not for everyone, but they are definitely right for us (and I wish were right for more people) and is something really important to me.

Oh.... we also learned about the downward spiral once you start with medical intervention. Many C Sections all stem from adding a little Pitocin, etc. I will post the spiral later on when I get up and get it from the info she gave us. It was amazing to learn how they can be prevented most times and what the doctors do to get you on their schedule. It's a little scary!