Interview more than one provider. 

1. Ask questions early on in your pregnancy, 38 weeks is not the time to be finding out your provider has vastly different beliefs about birth
2. Look for someone who is open and encourages questions
3. Look for someone who believes that birth is a natural process, not a problem that needs to be “fixed.” 
4. Look for someone who has experience with the way you wish to deliver.  For instance, if you are trying for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) you want a provider who has a high success rate doing VBAC.  If you have to “convince” your doctor that having a natural birth or a VBAC is an option, then this is probably not the right provider for the type of birth you desire. 
5. Ask yourself is it more important to birth with this particular provider or to birth the way you desire.
6. Don’t be afraid to switch providers
7. Remember to inquire about on-call coverage, what are the chances that someone else in your provider’s practice will be the one there during your labor.

3.  Practice.  Labor is a fluid event and your birth story is written as it happens.    In order to relax during labor and effectively cope with whatever path your labor takes you must practice.

 In Bradley classes we practice numerous labor scenarios so that couples feel more comfortable coping with whatever comes up during labor.  Relaxation is an extremely effective tool in labor.  The more you practice relaxation the easier it will be to slip into a relaxed state during labor.  Bradley has couples practice relaxation together and under various circumstances (at home where it is quiet, in a crowded noisy environment, in the car) because labor could take place at home or in the car on the way to the hospital.

4.  Place.  Creating a safe, secure, and comfortable birth environment (whether it be at home, at a hospital, or at a birth center) can help couples relax during labor.

Ask yourself, what type of environment will make me feel secure during labor?  Is it dim lights, a quiet room, music?  Consider bringing a special item of comfort with you to the hospital (favorite pair or socks, blanket, photo etc.)  Who do I want to be with me (will having my mother in law with me during labor make cause anxiety?

Do your homework about where you will deliver.  If you desire a natural childbirth and your hospital has a 90% epidural rate or requires you to stay in bed during labor, this is helpful information to know prior to the actual onset of labor.

Have your provider write a “prescription” for a health birth.  No IV, Intermittent EFM, food and fluids ok, etc. on a prescription pad that you can take with you to labor

5.  Partner. There is nothing more valuable than a loving partner supporting the mother during childbirth. 

Dr. Robert Bradley is often credited with bringing fathers into the delivery room.  Indeed, having someone whose sole role is to support mom during childbirth is extremely beneficial to the labor process.  With all the labor and delivery entail these days, many couples elect to have a trained labor support person, or doula, that can provide additional emotional and physical support during labor.

Although there are situations that are beyond our control which can cause a mother to become high risk, there are many very important things that a pregnant woman can do to help herself to stay healthy and low risk. These are things that only she can do for herself and for her baby.

• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Avoid Harmful Substances
• Procedures to be Educated About
• Rest and Relaxation
• Education
  - FREE Healthy Pregnancy Class
  - Bradley Birth Class

 

Procedures to be Educated About

As with everything you take into your body, for every procedure which deviates from the natural process, you must first weigh its benefits against its risks before you can make a responsible decision.

• Ultrasound: The National Institute of Health has warned that ultrasound should not be used routinely. Ultrasound devices include doptone (for listening to the baby's heartbeat), ultrasound scan, and the external fetal monitor.
• Vaginal exams during pregnancy: According to a study released by the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, U.S. Hospital, Royal Air Force Lankenheath, U.K., pelvic exams in pregnancy increase the risk of premature rupture of membranes.

 

Rest and Relaxation

Most women need extra rest during pregnancy. This is an important time to be good to yourself. You should also avoid excess stress; cut down on your day-to-day responsibilities and take precautions so that you are not under too much stress. It is also very important that you feel good about your labor and birth plan, including your choice of birth place, birth team, etc. Educate yourself by taking the Bradley classes and by reading the books listed on the back page.

Relaxation is the key to the Bradley Method and can be very helpful even for women who have not practiced much prior to labor. But it is the couple who has faithfully practiced and really mastered the relaxation techniques taught in class who can realize fully the incredible benefits of deep relaxation in labor.

Education

You can't prepare well for the many challenges you will face in labor if you don't know what to expect. Many women become high risk during the course of their pregnancies because of lack of information or misinformation. You may come for a free "Healthy Pregnancy Class" any time after you learn you are pregnant. And when you are in your 5th or 6th month, you may begin the 12- week series of Bradley classes.