What is the Bradley Method®?
The Bradley Method® teaches natural childbirth and views birth as a natural process. It is the belief of all Bradley Method® teachers that most women with proper education, preparation, and the help of a loving and supportive coach can be taught to give birth naturally. The Bradley Method® is a system of natural labor techniques in which a woman and her coach play an active part. It is a simple method of increasing
stress of labor by tuning in to her own body. The Bradley Method® encourages mothers to trust their bodies using natural breathing, relaxation, nutrition, exercise, and education.
The Bradley Method® teaches couples ways to stay low risk. While occasionally there are risk factors out of your control, staying healthy and low risk can help to avoid complications. Low risk mothers have more choices.
Relaxation is the key to The Bradley Method® during labor. It is the safest and most effective way to reduce unnecessary pain and to handle any pain that you do experience. While other methods seek to control the sensations of labor (emphasizing distraction as their primary labor control technique), The Bradley Method® encourages mothers to trust their bodies (emphasizing relaxed abdominal breathing and relaxation throughout labor).
The term Bradley® is a registered trademark to ensure you are getting quality childbirth education. All Bradley® instructors are highly trained to help you learn how to give birth.
What does The Bradley Method® Teach?
- Natural childbirth - Nearly 90% of Bradley® moms having vaginal births do so without pain medication.
- Active participation by one support person as coach.
- Excellent nutrition (the foundation of a healthy pregnancy and baby).
- Avoidance of drugs during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding, unless absolutely necessary. No drug has been proven safe for an unborn baby.
- Relaxation and NATURAL breathing.
- "Tuning-in" to your own body and trusting the natural process.
- Immediate and continuous contact with your new baby.
- Breastfeeding, beginning at birth, provides immunities and nutrition.
- Consumerism and positive communications.
- Parents taking responsibility for the safety of the birth place, procedures, attendants, and emergency back-up.
- Parents being prepared for unexpected situations such as emergency childbirth and cesarean section.
Disclaimer: This website contains information about Bradley Method® classes available in Washington, DC and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this website do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth® . For more information on The Bradley Method®, for an international listing of instructors, or to contact the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth® directly, please click here: