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I began reading this book about 1 1/2 months before the birth of our 3rd child. I did not have my first two children naturally but desired to for the 3rd. My best friend took the classes for the Bradley method and highly encouraged me to take them. Since it is a 12 weeks class, we did not have enough time. She suggested that I buy the book and study it for myself. This book is amazing. It all makes sense. Dr. Bradley was very interested in women and labor. He thoroughly researched his method and spent years fine tuning it. This book is informative on the reasons why labor is like it is, how to control your body during labor to make it easier, and the great responsibilities a husband has. It was very intimate for my husband and I to go through this method together because it made him a huge part of the laboring process. I would recommend this book to anyone! I am a wimp with pain and yet this book was so encouraging and hopeful. Well worth the buy and the studying of.Read full review
This is THE Ultimate book on childbirth preparation! Just ask my husband... seriously! I got this book 30 years ago when pregnant with my first child. Unfortunately, I didn't make HIM read it till the second pregnancy, 5 years later. His reaction? OMG, if only I'd read this the first time, I'd've known what to expect throughout the entire pregnancy and labor! This is the Handbook for Dads! Most of my friends who did the Lamaze Method ended up wanting an epidural. All my friends who did Bradley Method ended up having a drug-free birth. What's the difference? Lamaze teaches you to have a focal point, focus on something Over There to distract you from the labor pain. Puh-LEEZE! Looking at a picture of flowers on the wall? HA!!! Labor is hard work and you are supposed to focus on it, not pretend it isn't happening. There is a cycle of Fear - Tension - Pain - more Fear, etc. When both mother and coach learn exactly what is going on, that helps with the fear. Labor contractions are the ULTIMATE Tension. Bradley trains the coach to spot when the mom is tensing up in reaction to contractions, teaches him how to ease that tension so that the only tension is the contraction itself. Learn how to "surf" the contractions. Yes, it is entirely possible. It isn't pain-free, but it is confrontable if your coach knows how to help. My daughter's best friend is pregnant and my dear hubby said, "Buy them the Bradley book!" I did... and we told her all about our experiences doing Bradley. And her mother told her about how she tried to do Lamaze but it backfired. We can't recommend this book highly enough!Read full review
I read this book several years ago, and just bought this copy for my sister, who is pregnant for the first time. Here is my testimony: In 2001, when I became pregnant with my first child, I wanted to find out the safest, healthiest way to bring our baby into the world. By the third page of this book, I was convinced that Dr. Bradley was RIGHT ON. Contrary to popular thought (or lack of thought) in today's society, our bodies are DESIGNED FOR and CAPABLE OF birthing our babies! Just think about how animals do it all the time. A housecat slips away to a quiet spot and out comes a litter of four! Why is it such a complicated, often traumatic, medical event for humans? This book explains why and how a drug-free, natural childbirth is achievable and is the safest, healthiest route for both baby and mother! It is so sad that many women today have horror stories about the deliveries of their babies. There is another way! Our two (soon to be three) natural childbirth experiences via the Bradley Method have been amazing! Our babies were robust and healthy, and my awesome recovery made my roommates at the hospital despise me (I had almost ZERO pain afterward). I wish they had done the Bradley Method, too! Read this book and determine what type of experience you want for yourself and your family! 94% of couples that study the Bradley Method are able to obtain their goal. Those are pretty amazing odds!! It is so worth it!!!Read full review
I purchased this book to educate myself on the child birth options available to me. I really appreciated Dr. Bradley's view of the labor and birthing process as a natural, normal event that a woman's body is designed to experience. It was so refreshing to read about his patient's labor experiences that were devoid of the fear and agony that so much of today's media portrays. I learned that there are techniques that I can practice that may help me avoid complications and the need for drugs or other unnecessary medical interventions. I also appreciate the value that he places on the husband's role as coach in childbirth and the way he seeks to educate the husband so that he can confidently and competently assume that role.
This book really helps prepare a couple for natural childbirth. It is a little verbose, but has many good stories in it, and very helpful ideas. Its layout is easy to follow. The book focuses on the teamwork it is to give birth, and the importance of tuning in to one's body when in labor. The book is especially useful in conjunction with the Bradley classes, where you get to practice the exercises and talk about the ideas with an instructor and other couples. It makes me feel a lot better prepared for childbirth.
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