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"Thank you so much for the invaluable gift of knowledge you shared with us. Your class has brought us closer as a family, your family has been a model for us to emulate and we have grown so much over these 12 weeks we shared with you. We do hope we get the opportunity to share with you the joy your class has brought in making this pregnancy special. We'll miss seeing you on Saturdays."
~Priti and Elvino

I just wanted to thank you for all of your nutritional help through the classes. I think that I was much more physically ready for this birth and recovery than I would have been otherwise.
~Diane

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I wanted to tell you how much we appreciate the Bradley classes. We could not have delivered without an epidural without these classes. They prepared us mentally for the challenges!!!!
~Mary

I am happy that we decided to do a natural childbirth. It was hard, but I feel like it was the right start for our baby.  The best  part of the experience was that I felt like I could control everything  (excepting the IV) during my labor and that made it a lot less scary. I also think the second stage went so quickly because I could feel everything.
~Emily

I wanted to thank you for all your help. We'd love to stop by sometime and show off our accomplishment. Thanks again for everything!
~Elizabeth

Labor was great! (hahaha) No, really. My idea of what labor was going to feel like was much worse than it really was. I kept thinking I had hours ahead of me, so I kept busy. Yes, contractions hurt, but I never felt like I couldn't handle the pain. What I found helped me most was visualizing pictures from our class text. Thanks for all your instruction. It really helped us!
~Tracy

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I'm not sure I want a natural birth, I just want to try it. Are you ok with that?
So you want to try natural birth? Great! Bradley classes will give you the best chance of succeeding. The great thing about natural birth is you can always change your mind. Once you have chosen the epidural, it is difficult to change your mind, even if complications develop. There is a time and a place for EVERY medical intervention, including epidurals. In Bradley Method classes we focus on preparing you so you will most likely not need any drugs.

Why should I give birth naturally?
Every couple has different reasons. Some of them include: natural birth is safer for mom and baby, it makes the father an integral part of the birth team instead of an observer, parents bond with their baby more deeply, birth becomes a joyful experience, it gives the parents a sense of accomplishment, and many more. Take a look at the results of the average prenatal care plan. 1 in 4 result in a cesarean section, and 90% of births are more of a medical procedure than a special event… Do you want to settle for average or try for a joyful natural birth?

Doesn’t natural birth hurt more than taking labor drugs?
Not necessarily. Women are designed to give birth; when we work with our bodies instead of against them, it doesn’t hurt so much! If you prepare yourself thoroughly, learn to relax and have a good coach, birth is usually a normal, natural, healthy event during which you won’t need drugs. Besides, those drugs DO reach the baby, and can be dangerous.

Why is this class 12 weeks long when other classes are only 6 weeks, a few nights or a weekend?
Decades of trial and error resulted in a 12-week class series. You could probably learn all of the information in the birth class in a single weekend, but you wouldn’t remember much in labor and it could make your brain hurt! Twelve weeks of natural childbirth classes allows the information to sink in, and gives you time to get your body in shape. It also takes about 12 weeks for someone to learn the deep level of relaxation required to have a natural birth.

Will my doctor or midwife know about the Bradley Method and support me taking classes?
Maybe. Some obstetricians and midwives in the Atlanta area are very supportive of natural birth and the Bradley Method^®, and may even actively encourage you to take classes. If your birth attendant seems hesitant about you taking Bradley Method^® classes, I can send him or her some materials that may put their mind at ease. I would also be happy to speak with them, if they so desire. We will also help you develop a birth plan for you to review with your doctor to make sure everyone is in agreement before the baby comes.

I have already given birth. Why should I take another class?
If you were not happy with your previous birth experience, then this class may help you have a more joyous natural birth this time. And even if you were happy with your last birth, each birth requires that you be in the best condition possible, and as relaxed as possible, something that’s a lot harder to do if you already have a child.

I’m single. Will the Bradley Method^® work without a husband-coach?
Yes. If you aren’t married or your husband won’t be available, someone else can be your coach. It’s best if they are dedicated to natural birth, emotionally close to you and will be involved in the baby’s life. We can also arrange for me to coach you as your doula.

I’m an active woman. Does being pregnant mean I have to stop exercising?
No! Pregnancy is usually a healthy time in a woman’s life. You need to exercise to stay in shape for the athletic event of giving birth. Most activities that you pursued before pregnancy can continue, with a few modifications. Avoid excessive bouncing, avoid possible trauma to the abdomen, take special care to remain hydrated, and avoid letting your core temperature and pulse rate get too high. Lisa Stone at Fit for 2 is also a great resource for exercise during pregnancy.

I’m vegetarian. Does being pregnant mean I have to start eating meat again?
No. Your body is working hard enough during pregnancy that you don’t want to add a drastic change in diet! It is perfectly safe and do-able to remain vegetarian, or even vegan, during pregnancy. You do need to do a little special planning, but not much more than any other pregnant mom should do. I personally have had 2 vegan pregnancies and would be happy to give you some tips, regardless of whether or not you take my class.

I’ve heard a lot about waterbirth. Do you teach that?
Waterbirth is not a birth method as much as a location. We do not teach it, but waterbirth is completely compatible with the Bradley Method^®, since you need to have a natural birth in order to do it in the water. Students of mine have recently had beautiful waterbirths. I can help you find a Georgia birth attendant that attends waterbirths if you do not already have one.

I’m considering hypnobirthing. How does the Bradley Method^® compare?
Hypnobirthing has a very similar philosophy to the Bradley Method^®. Both focus on natural birth and work on the principle that a relaxed body and mind prevent undue pain during labor. However, from my understanding of hypnobirthing classes, they do not cover many other issues associated with labor and birth, such as exercises, nutrition, the physiology of pregnancy, medical procedures, birth planning, labor positions and newborn care, all of which are covered in Bradley^® classes.

I’ve read a lot of books and have a lot of information, why do I still need to take a class?
If you are one of those people that can read a few books, practice daily and feel secure that you will have a natural birth, great! Just remember that come "labor day" you won’t remember much – it’s all on your coach. He needs to know everything and practice, too. Most couples are very busy and benefit from the structure, interaction, feedback and practice of a birth class. Sometimes even the most well-meaning couples won’t keep up with their homework (honestly, I didn’t always do it the first time around), but at least they practice in class! We also watch videos, help you with your birth plan, teach positive interactions with hospital staff, and offer many special tips.

This class could possibly save me money? How?
Some health insurance plans do not cover the cost of "normal labor and delivery." Even if it does cover some of the cost, you usually still need to pay a percentage of it. Everything that happens during labor has a charge: the IV, pitocin drip, the epidural drugs or relaxant, asking the lactation consultant a question, sometimes even extra pillows! By learning how to avoid drugs or procedures unless there is a real complication, you avoid paying for what you don’t need. (Most insurance companies will pay for the costs associated with true complications of labor and birth.) This is not a guarantee, but especially by giving birth naturally, in most cases you will end up spending less money on labor, birth and recovery than you would have without the classes.

What if I do need a procedure or end up with a cesarean? Have I then wasted my time and money?
Not at all! If you do need medical intervention, you will feel more comfortable making such an important decision, better understand what is happening, and you and the baby will recover more quickly because of your preparation.

Can I have a natural birth if...
...I’ve had a previous cesarean? Yes. Many women have joyous, natural births after a c-section during a prior birth (it's called a VBAC).

...I’m having twins? Yes, though your birth attendant must be willing to try, and be knowledgeable in, natural vaginal birth of twins (and breech babies). Some are not willing to do this because of the higher risks involved.

...I am overweight? Yes. Many women with a few extra pounds have wonderful natural birth experiences. Like all other women, you need to take good care of yourself (and your baby) with excellent nutrition and exercise. You may also want to educate yourself about some of the special issues associated with overweight pregnancy: see www.plus-size-pregnancy.org

...I have diabetes? Yes, though you will need to take extra-special care with your nutrition and maintain close consultation with your health care provider.

...I’m high-risk in another way? Most likely. Many women, including those who are over 35 (or even 40), had in-vitro fertilization, have fibroids, and many other types of high-risk indicators have successfully had natural births. In many cases starting classes earlier than low-risk couples seems to help. If there are special considerations you need to know about, we can discuss them together and with your health care provider.

Where are classes located?
I have two class locations, both inside the perimeter of Atlanta: in the Buckhead near the corner of Piedmont and Peachtree, and on Howell Mill Rd near I-75.

What does the class cost?
The fee for the 12-week class series, including student workbook, articles & research binder, companion book: Natural Childbirth The Bradley Way, coach's resource pack, make-up classes, unlimited phone access for urgent matters (even at 3:00 am!), and review classes until your baby is born is only $295.