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You're already GLOWING, so don't wait until you're SHOWING! Accepting new students! Don't wait. Start learning NOW!
Proudly serving Gadsden, Alabama and surrounding areas! Ongoing classes—please contact me for current class times. |
Amber Kensinger, Certified Doula and childbirth instructor
phone: 256.481.0122 naturally.beautiful.birth@gmail.com |
Bradley Method® Course Content:
Though every class has a specific topic which is covered in detail, each class will also cover nutrition, exercise, positive communication, and coaching. A different relaxation technique will be demonstrated and assigned for practice each week. Classes may also feature a video presentation.
Introduction to The Bradley Method®
This class deals with the history of The Bradley Method®, its philosophy and goals. It is a time to get to know us and the members of your class. During this class, we will begin to study things you can do to keep yourself healthy and low risk during pregnancy. We will introduce important pregnancy exercises and we will lead discussion of how to handle pain and give a lesson in how to avoid unnecessary pain in labor.
Nutrition in Pregnancy
The primary focus of this class is on nutrition. We will discuss good nutrition during pregnancy so that you will understand which nutrients are important and what quantities are necessary. We will help you to evaluate your diet and suggest ways to improve it if necessary. We will also review the pregnancy exercises and discuss: sex during pregnancy, breastfeeding and continue studying what you can do to stay healthy and low risk during pregnancy.
Pregnancy
We will discuss the many changes your body goes through during pregnancy. We will focus on anatomy and physiology as well as common discomforts and how to handle them naturally. This is helpful for the coach as it makes him more aware and therefore more understanding of these changes. We will also begin to discuss some of the many choices you face regarding labor and birth.
The Coach's Role
This is the first of two classes that focus on pregnancy and childbirth from the coach's point of view. In this session we will discuss: coaching during pregnancy, the importance of natural childbirth, bonding, and the father's role in breastfeeding. We will conclude our study on staying low risk during pregnancy and discuss drugs, myths and birthing.
Introduction to First Stage Labor
How does your body works in first stage labor? We will cover anatomy and physiology of first stage, stressing our respect for the natural process and examining the built-in safeguards for you and your baby. We will teach basic coaching techniques and instruct you on how to practice together. Standard hospital admitting and prepping procedures will also be covered.
Introduction to Second Stage Labor
This class is on how your body works in the second stage of labor. We will cover the anatomy and physiology of second stage labor stressing our respect for the natural process and examining the built-in safeguards for you and your baby. We will discuss the importance of the natural alignment plateau and the fetal Heimlich maneuver. Basic pushing techniques and second stage positions, as well as the coach's role, will be covered. Third stage will also be discussed briefly.
Planning Your Birth
Class seven covers consumer information and how to make a birth plan. We discuss: what your choices are, the importance of evaluating your feelings and listing your priorities, and meeting with your medical team to discuss your choices in a positive way. There is also a first stage labor rehearsal in this class.
Variations and Complications / Postpartum Preparation
We cover various complications including cesarean surgery and emergency childbirth discussing: how to avoid these problems if possible, how to evaluate whether it is necessary to intervene, and how to handle interventions that become necessary. We also cover information on taking care of yourself after your baby is born.
Advanced First Stage Techniques
This class is filled with advanced coaching techniques dealing directly with the challenge of handling first stage labor. We will go over the First Stage Study Guide so that you can be sure you are well-prepared. We will also have a labor rehearsal and do some role playing.
Advanced Second Stage Techniques
This class begins with an advanced labor rehearsal which helps to pull together all of the information you have learned so far. We will also cover the Second Stage Study Guide to be sure that you fully understand and are prepared to handle the second stage of labor.
Being a Great Coach / Are You Ready?
At this point we will go over the B.E.S.T. techniques for labor and birth as a comprehensive review of the most important points you will use while in labor. This class also covers information for coaches on how to handle the challenges they will face in labor. Emergency childbirth will be discussed, just-in-case the baby comes before you get where you're going. We will also participate in an intriguing discussion on the theory of "what is labor" and why it is so different for each woman and even for each pregnancy.
Preparing for Your New Family
The last of our twelve week series begins with an advanced labor rehearsal. Next we will discuss the concluding chapter in your student workbook which is titled "Your Labor and Birth". We will also cover: newborn care, mothering, fathering, breastfeeding, how to handle a crying baby, and adjusting to the many changes you will face during this time.
Though every class has a specific topic which is covered in detail, each class will also cover nutrition, exercise, positive communication, and coaching. A different relaxation technique will be demonstrated and assigned for practice each week. Classes may also feature a video presentation.
Introduction to The Bradley Method®
This class deals with the history of The Bradley Method®, its philosophy and goals. It is a time to get to know us and the members of your class. During this class, we will begin to study things you can do to keep yourself healthy and low risk during pregnancy. We will introduce important pregnancy exercises and we will lead discussion of how to handle pain and give a lesson in how to avoid unnecessary pain in labor.
Nutrition in Pregnancy
The primary focus of this class is on nutrition. We will discuss good nutrition during pregnancy so that you will understand which nutrients are important and what quantities are necessary. We will help you to evaluate your diet and suggest ways to improve it if necessary. We will also review the pregnancy exercises and discuss: sex during pregnancy, breastfeeding and continue studying what you can do to stay healthy and low risk during pregnancy.
Pregnancy
We will discuss the many changes your body goes through during pregnancy. We will focus on anatomy and physiology as well as common discomforts and how to handle them naturally. This is helpful for the coach as it makes him more aware and therefore more understanding of these changes. We will also begin to discuss some of the many choices you face regarding labor and birth.
The Coach's Role
This is the first of two classes that focus on pregnancy and childbirth from the coach's point of view. In this session we will discuss: coaching during pregnancy, the importance of natural childbirth, bonding, and the father's role in breastfeeding. We will conclude our study on staying low risk during pregnancy and discuss drugs, myths and birthing.
Introduction to First Stage Labor
How does your body works in first stage labor? We will cover anatomy and physiology of first stage, stressing our respect for the natural process and examining the built-in safeguards for you and your baby. We will teach basic coaching techniques and instruct you on how to practice together. Standard hospital admitting and prepping procedures will also be covered.
Introduction to Second Stage Labor
This class is on how your body works in the second stage of labor. We will cover the anatomy and physiology of second stage labor stressing our respect for the natural process and examining the built-in safeguards for you and your baby. We will discuss the importance of the natural alignment plateau and the fetal Heimlich maneuver. Basic pushing techniques and second stage positions, as well as the coach's role, will be covered. Third stage will also be discussed briefly.
Planning Your Birth
Class seven covers consumer information and how to make a birth plan. We discuss: what your choices are, the importance of evaluating your feelings and listing your priorities, and meeting with your medical team to discuss your choices in a positive way. There is also a first stage labor rehearsal in this class.
Variations and Complications / Postpartum Preparation
We cover various complications including cesarean surgery and emergency childbirth discussing: how to avoid these problems if possible, how to evaluate whether it is necessary to intervene, and how to handle interventions that become necessary. We also cover information on taking care of yourself after your baby is born.
Advanced First Stage Techniques
This class is filled with advanced coaching techniques dealing directly with the challenge of handling first stage labor. We will go over the First Stage Study Guide so that you can be sure you are well-prepared. We will also have a labor rehearsal and do some role playing.
Advanced Second Stage Techniques
This class begins with an advanced labor rehearsal which helps to pull together all of the information you have learned so far. We will also cover the Second Stage Study Guide to be sure that you fully understand and are prepared to handle the second stage of labor.
Being a Great Coach / Are You Ready?
At this point we will go over the B.E.S.T. techniques for labor and birth as a comprehensive review of the most important points you will use while in labor. This class also covers information for coaches on how to handle the challenges they will face in labor. Emergency childbirth will be discussed, just-in-case the baby comes before you get where you're going. We will also participate in an intriguing discussion on the theory of "what is labor" and why it is so different for each woman and even for each pregnancy.
Preparing for Your New Family
The last of our twelve week series begins with an advanced labor rehearsal. Next we will discuss the concluding chapter in your student workbook which is titled "Your Labor and Birth". We will also cover: newborn care, mothering, fathering, breastfeeding, how to handle a crying baby, and adjusting to the many changes you will face during this time.
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WHY Take Bradley Method ® Birthing Classes?
Thorough Training. Statistical analysis shows that students who attend a complete class series are more likely to have an unmedicated birth. In looking at renewal information we have found that the fewer the weeks of classes the higher the rate of induction, medication, and C-section. There are many reasons for this and perhaps the first is that there is a difference between learning information and preparing the body physically for an athletic event. No one would go out for an Olympic event with less than 3 months of training. Shortening the time of preparation for birth is like being in a rush to run a marathon and only starting to train the week before. Training to run in a race takes time and the human body takes time to prepare for birth. Physical training: It takes time. Many women who attend our classes may not be active, and those who are may not be doing physical training to prepare them for birth. All of the physical exercises in the Student Workbook have been used by hundreds of thousands of women in preparation for birth and they feel were important for adequate preparation for birth. We encourage women to review any exercise program with their health care practitioner before starting. Bradley Method™ teachers will cover many exercises and reasons they are helpful for birth. Here are a few exercises and some reasons why they are important: Squatting: Knowing how and being able to squat with ease can make a big difference in the birth process. It can open the outlet of the pelvis by 10-15% or more. Squatting is the only exercise we know that gives elasticity to the perineum making it more likely the mother will stretch without tearing and avoiding an episiotomy. Although squatting is normal for a toddler, most women gave it up by the time they were 5 years old because someone told them they could see their underpants. They haven’t squatted since. Other cultures squat as a way of life. Kegel: The Kegel exercise can make a difference in how the baby’s head presents. If it is in good shape it encourages the baby to put its chin on its chest. This exercise also helps problems with incontinence during pregnancy and later in life. It takes 3 months of daily practice for most women to have noticeable results with the Kegel muscle. Stamina: Birth is hard work. Labor can take a short or long time and we generally don’t know in advance which way it is going to go. Stamina can be very important for the long labor. This is why we encourage pregnant mothers to do some form of exercise that will build stamina, like walking or swimming. All of these exercises plus others in Bradley Method™ classes were chosen to help pregnant women get in shape for the big event. All physical exercises take time to become expert in performing. Confidence: Attitude and habits take 3 months to change. The natural process of birth is foreign to most people. It takes time to understand the process, have confidence that it works and form healthy habits to make it work. Learning takes time for most people. The first time you hear a new idea the response is generally "Oh that’s interesting." The second time you hear the same idea the response is "I think I heard that before." The third time, "I know that," and the fourth time, "Yes, that’s what I always say too." It takes time and repetition to learn and develop new habits and confidence. Practice: Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Students learn 10% of what they hear, 20% of what they see, 50% of what they read and 90 % of what they do. For this reason we incorporate labor information, practice and rehearsals right from the beginning of class one. The more a couple rehearses the better they get. Can you remember when you learned how to drive a car? The more practice you had the more confident you felt and the better you did on the driving test. The same is true for birth. Practice, practice, practice takes times. Nutrition: The key to a healthy pregnancy and life is good nutrition every day. You are a reflection of what you ate 3 months ago. The human body does not change overnight. It takes time. Sure eating a balanced diet one day is good, but eating a well balanced diet for months is even better. The National Institutes of Health has reported that during the 1990’s there has been a 33% increase in what is often called toxemia, pre-eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, or PIH. This is a life threatening condition where the mother can go into seizures and the baby can die. Dr. Tom Brewer tells us many of these cases are metabolic in nature resulting in metabolic toxemia of late pregnancy. In these cases nutrition is the key to prevention. Good nutrition the last trimester of pregnancy is critical to both the mother and baby’s health. Sharing nutritional information at early pregnancy classes is even better. Relaxation: The key to labor is relaxation. The body works best when the mother is relaxed. Without relaxation the body produces epinephrine which interferes with the natural process of labor, stopping or causing dysfunctional labor. The National Institutes of Health, in a collaborative study on pain management, found that one of the most effective forms of pain management is relaxation. But since relaxation is a skill, it takes time to get good at it. This preparation is often time-intensive taking 12 weeks of sessions with practice in each session and practice at home. Learning about relaxation is not enough, because it is a skill it must be practiced over a period of time. The Bradley Method® classes offer relaxation techniques and practice every week. Education: Dr. Bradley liked equating birth with swimming. If someone told you they would throw you into 10 feet of water at the end of nine months it could be very scary. Someone who did not know how to swim could drown or be saved by a life guard kicking and screaming along the way. If you took that time to take classes and learn how to swim it would be a different story. After getting in the water you could swim to the side and climb out. Birth is very much the same. It is so much easier if you know how. The problem of not knowing what is going on can be scary. If you were in a dark alley at midnight and someone tapped you on the shoulder you would tense up and scream. If you were at a party where you know everyone and someone tapped you on the shoulder you would turn around and say Hi. Twelve weeks of information, practice, education through lecture, discussion, videos and knowing what to expect can make a big difference. Preparation: Getting ready for birth takes time. Dr. Bradley liked to say it is an athletic event. Birth is very much like climbing a mountain and it is wise to get in shape physically, mentally, and emotionally before making the climb. This is the birth of your baby. Commit to being the best you can be for your baby. Take the time to learn, practice and enjoy the thrill of birth. A healthy baby, healthy mother, healthy family is our goal. Twelve weeks is a small commitment for a life enriching experience. Coaching/Doula: We have found that given the opportunity most fathers are willing and anxious to learn how to coach/doula at their baby’s birth. Much of class is directed at the coach to learn the natural process, how to make the mother comfortable and how to be an advocate for their family. Standard of Practice: A few weeks to learn and incorporate nutrition, relaxation, coaching, knowledge, exercise and rehearsals into birth is a small investment of time, making it more likely they will be able to birth without drugs. A healthy baby, healthy mother, healthy family and a labor that is natural is beneficial to the start or growth of a healthy family. Preparation works. The standard series in The Bradley Method® is designed for small classes with lots of individual attention. The Bradley Method® Student Workbook is required in classes. It is 130 pages with over 75 pictures and illustrations. A Coach Card and Certificate of Congratulations is also included. Your local instructor in The Bradley Method® is an independent affiliated instructor. My birthing classes are video enriched. Congratulations on being pregnant and have a Happy Birth-Day! |
This web site contains information about my classes available in Gadsden, Alabama and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®.
The views contained on this web site 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 contact:
The Bradley Method® Box 5224 Sherman Oaks, CA 91413-5224
(800) 4-A-BIRTH or (818) 788-6662 www.bradleybirth.com
The views contained on this web site 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 contact:
The Bradley Method® Box 5224 Sherman Oaks, CA 91413-5224
(800) 4-A-BIRTH or (818) 788-6662 www.bradleybirth.com