Bradley Class Week 1

I’m a little late on writing about the first week of our Bradley Class, but nonetheless thought that I’d go ahead.  I had discussed with my obstetrician concerning the type of classes that we would be doing – Bradley and Lamaze, and he asked (much to my dismay) why not just Lamaze?

Then he proceeded to tell me some stories of some Bradley-trained women and how they viewed him as the enemy.  He’s a really laid-back doctor; he’s not at all judgmental or bragadocious about what he knows.  He’s the first to admit he doesn’t know something.  So he did his usual humble, “though I have to admit I don’t know what the training IS, it’s the attitude and the “no this… no that…”"

My heart fell.   Keep in mind this is in total obgyn #5 in the order of things.  #2 with this pregnancy.   I’m thinking…  The Farm sounds good in Summertown right now.

But, he went on to tell me of the mother coming into the hospital with her birth plan and handing it over stating she was in labor.  Then the doctor (Dr. M.) coming in and wanting to examine her, and her saying not yet.  So he waits.  An hour goes by, and he asks again – rather patiently.  She relents (she’s in pain at this point).

My sweet Dr. M. says, “Ms. ______, we have your birth plan, and it is complete.  I wish I could have examined you earlier to make what we are going to have to do easier…  Your baby is breech, and you have dilated to 6cm.  We have to do a c-section due to the risks of shoulder dysplasias, etc…”

So not all birth plans are in stone.  I’m cool with that.   In my case, if my baby is breech, I will definitely get a c-section.  No questions at all!

My goal is healthy mom/healthy baby.  Dr. M’s is too.  He says he’s willing to let me have a go at med-free.  See how it goes but to please stay open minded about the possibility of things not going perfectly… because they rarely go perfectly.  OK.  I will have an open mind.  I mean I’m pharmaceutically trained, after all.

Back to Bradley.  So hubby and I walk into a classroom of about 7 couples total in the HOME of the instructor (which is nice).  Things progress to introductions.  There’s a sweet Jewish couple expecting a girl and actually 4 other expecting girl couples.  One unknown.  And then the last two couples – us and another – boys.  There is a couple that are pharmacists for a chain store married to one another.  (sweet – someone else to bounce things off of from my point of view)

We go over some exercises:  squatting with heels flat on floor (I can do this with no support, which is nice…  my Mom taught lamaze and had already told me to squat all the time for as long as possible.  So I’ve been doing that).  Then there’s kegels.  Bradley instructor said do 150/day.  I’ve been doing hundreds per day for a long time – it helps sex by the way.  My mom preached that to me a few years ago.   Then I have started learning the Lamaze breathing through my mom’s old instructor manuals.

We watched an old 70’s birth video.  Chick looked like she was gorked out on morphine the whole time.  Seemed funny in a sense.

We had snacks.

We did some massaging – mostly hubby massaging me which was loverly.

Then we adjourned.  3 hours well spent!  And it actually made me feel more empowered and a bit better about the conversation with Dr. M.  He’s my net should something go wrong.  Ultimate goal:  I can do this!

(if we are so lucky to have a second child one day… I’d love to have a water birth!)

~ by B on January 20, 2008.