This is a summary I typed up of The Bradley Method, with a few modifications. I used this for birthing two of my three children. And have since handed it to other pregnant women. I am not certified in birthing but I would recommend this method over Lamaze, after trying both ways.
Bradley Method (outlined and modified)
Labor:
Relaxation: Relax every muscle in the body.
-Coach is to remind woman in labor what muscles to relax
(head, face, arms, legs, hands, back, abdominal, shoulder, etc.)
-Coach is to massage back or abdominal where it hurts.
-Massages are to be steady paced, in same direction, and with
same strength applied during each application.
Breathing: Is to be calm, steady, and normal.
-Normal breathing is a reflection of good relaxation.
-Normal breathing means mother and child are getting proper oxygen.
-Use abdominal breathing.
-Put the breath low in the abdominal, not in the chest.
-Coach is to remind her to breathe through the abdomen and to check to make sure she is doing so.
-Coach is to breathe with her when she panics. Keys to breathing:
-Listen to the sound of your breathing
-Hear the quiet, even, steady rhythm
-Think of putting the air way down low in the abdomen
-Relax the tummy extremely and let it just expand outward naturally as you breathe in Mental Imagery:
-Imagine what is physically happening in your body.
-Coach is to help remind the woman what is happening
(the uterus is contracting, the cervix expanding, the baby moving through, oxygen is being used to contract the uterus).
Floating:
-Relaxing the body and letting it float to the peak of the contraction's strength so you can slip over the top.
-Coach is to help remind woman to relax and float.
Six needs of the Laboring Woman:
1. Darkness and Solitude
2. Quiet
3. Physical Comfort
4. Physical Relaxation
5. Controlled Breathing
6. Appearance of Sleep and Closed Eyes Timing Contractions:
>To time how long they are time from its beginning to the peak of its strength.
>To time how far apart they are
time from beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next.
The Emotional Map of Labor:
1. Excitement:
Excitement and anxious she is still moving about and smiling.
In this stage coach is to encourage her to enjoy it and relax the tummy, with proper breathing and eyes closed during a contraction.
(this stage can be a few hours long so she doesn't need to rush to the hospital at this point; dilation 2 or so).
2. Serious:
Excitement gives way to concentration.
Feels a need to sit or lie down to get comfortable.
A total absorption in the work and the need to be undistracted.
Physical sensations are strong, lasting about 45-60 seconds.
Relax and go limp.
To Coach:
She may snap if you distract her, or if you don't rub her back
exactly right.
Take your cue from her and match her intensity
Primary goal is to get her to relax and breathe properly
(This stage can take hours; dilation is 2 to 7).
3. Self doubt:
Woman begins to wonder why she hasn't reached her destination or if she ever will.
She becomes uncertain and indecisive, common response is "I don't know."
She may panic, get hot and cold flashes, shake uncontrollably, burp a lot, get nauseous, vomit, etc.
To Coach:
This is the sign that it's almost time to push.
At this point Praise and, Encourage her, and remind her of her progress (that she is almost there).
It is not the time to be in doubt about anything, you are the one
she is depending on to meet her needs when she is in the state of
self-doubt or panic.
Remind her to relax and breath normally.
Do not back away, get scared, or leave at this stage.
Remind her her contractions are more of the same she has been
doing just longer and closer together.
Remember the hurdle here is an emotional one.
(Contractions may last 70-90 mins.; rest periods last 1-2 min. this sign post means it's almost over, dilation 7-10)
Birthing:
Breathing During Pushing:
As the contraction begins,
Take one deep breath, relax--don’t push
Take second deep breath-- don’t push
Take third deep breath get in pushing position (legs pull back, or squat), chin to chest, and PUSH, holding breath--body relaxed, focus on pushing from top of uterus down to opening vaginal canal (push down)
Lift head back exhale
Take fourth deep breath--hold (this is to be the one that moves the baby)--still in pushing position--concentrate on pushing down ward toward the pelvic
Exhale--contraction ends--relax (only if the contraction continues try for a fifth breath to push, but it is rare to happen).
Adapted from a great book "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way" By Susan McCutcheon.(Penguin Group,1996)
Bradley Method (outlined and modified)
Labor:
Relaxation: Relax every muscle in the body.
-Coach is to remind woman in labor what muscles to relax
(head, face, arms, legs, hands, back, abdominal, shoulder, etc.)
-Coach is to massage back or abdominal where it hurts.
-Massages are to be steady paced, in same direction, and with
same strength applied during each application.
Breathing: Is to be calm, steady, and normal.
-Normal breathing is a reflection of good relaxation.
-Normal breathing means mother and child are getting proper oxygen.
-Use abdominal breathing.
-Put the breath low in the abdominal, not in the chest.
-Coach is to remind her to breathe through the abdomen and to check to make sure she is doing so.
-Coach is to breathe with her when she panics. Keys to breathing:
-Listen to the sound of your breathing
-Hear the quiet, even, steady rhythm
-Think of putting the air way down low in the abdomen
-Relax the tummy extremely and let it just expand outward naturally as you breathe in Mental Imagery:
-Imagine what is physically happening in your body.
-Coach is to help remind the woman what is happening
(the uterus is contracting, the cervix expanding, the baby moving through, oxygen is being used to contract the uterus).
Floating:
-Relaxing the body and letting it float to the peak of the contraction's strength so you can slip over the top.
-Coach is to help remind woman to relax and float.
Six needs of the Laboring Woman:
1. Darkness and Solitude
2. Quiet
3. Physical Comfort
4. Physical Relaxation
5. Controlled Breathing
6. Appearance of Sleep and Closed Eyes Timing Contractions:
>To time how long they are time from its beginning to the peak of its strength.
>To time how far apart they are
time from beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next.
The Emotional Map of Labor:
1. Excitement:
Excitement and anxious she is still moving about and smiling.
In this stage coach is to encourage her to enjoy it and relax the tummy, with proper breathing and eyes closed during a contraction.
(this stage can be a few hours long so she doesn't need to rush to the hospital at this point; dilation 2 or so).
2. Serious:
Excitement gives way to concentration.
Feels a need to sit or lie down to get comfortable.
A total absorption in the work and the need to be undistracted.
Physical sensations are strong, lasting about 45-60 seconds.
Relax and go limp.
To Coach:
She may snap if you distract her, or if you don't rub her back
exactly right.
Take your cue from her and match her intensity
Primary goal is to get her to relax and breathe properly
(This stage can take hours; dilation is 2 to 7).
3. Self doubt:
Woman begins to wonder why she hasn't reached her destination or if she ever will.
She becomes uncertain and indecisive, common response is "I don't know."
She may panic, get hot and cold flashes, shake uncontrollably, burp a lot, get nauseous, vomit, etc.
To Coach:
This is the sign that it's almost time to push.
At this point Praise and, Encourage her, and remind her of her progress (that she is almost there).
It is not the time to be in doubt about anything, you are the one
she is depending on to meet her needs when she is in the state of
self-doubt or panic.
Remind her to relax and breath normally.
Do not back away, get scared, or leave at this stage.
Remind her her contractions are more of the same she has been
doing just longer and closer together.
Remember the hurdle here is an emotional one.
(Contractions may last 70-90 mins.; rest periods last 1-2 min. this sign post means it's almost over, dilation 7-10)
Birthing:
Breathing During Pushing:
As the contraction begins,
Take one deep breath, relax--don’t push
Take second deep breath-- don’t push
Take third deep breath get in pushing position (legs pull back, or squat), chin to chest, and PUSH, holding breath--body relaxed, focus on pushing from top of uterus down to opening vaginal canal (push down)
Lift head back exhale
Take fourth deep breath--hold (this is to be the one that moves the baby)--still in pushing position--concentrate on pushing down ward toward the pelvic
Exhale--contraction ends--relax (only if the contraction continues try for a fifth breath to push, but it is rare to happen).
Adapted from a great book "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way" By Susan McCutcheon.(Penguin Group,1996)
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