Bradley Class #4 - The Coach's Role

 The loving encouragement from a trained coach can do more for the comfort and relaxation of his wife than any amount of medication. - Dr. Robert A. Bradley

 The Bradley birth method is a partner-coached natural birth method.  This meaning that the birthing mother has a support system around her to help her relax, manage pain, and keep up her strength.  Coaches should be:

• enthusiastic, 
• committed, 
• strong, 
• understanding, and 
• a relaxation expert.

Relaxation is key to the Bradley method.  The premise being that tension creates pain.  Birth coaches and moms are encouraged to practice many relaxation techniques together and spend a significant time relaxing each day.  Coaches are also encouraged to be familiar with where mom expresses tension first.  This because every person does it differently, and if the coach recognizes mom tensing up early, then he/she can help mom relax before a pressure wave.

Our Bradley instructor talked about how dads should work to minimize stress in moms' lives.  If there is a bill that needs to be paid, then dad should pay it.  If there is a chore that needs to be done, then dad should do it.  Keeping mom as calm as possible is so very important.  Stress during pregnancy can cause complications and defects in the baby's development.  I started to cry.  There were so many things that had been missing in the first five months of my pregnancy with Lily.  Thank goodness for Kali and Cortney.  And, milkshakes and grass-fed cheeseburgers.

We went around the room to talk about the strengths that we bring to this birth.  Cortney said that her strength was passion and my strength was confidence.  I said that her strength was commitment and excitement and my strength was that if I put my mind to something, I could do it.

We jotted down ways that coaches can enthusiastically encourage moms.  Cortney wrote down that coaches could check exercises and nutrition off of a list.  I said that coaches could ask questions about what mom is doing.  And, that coaches can research birth, too, and that being excited to share information is a big help.