What is the Bradley method

Bradley method is husband-coached natural childbirth ¹. The Bradley method emphasizes birth as a natural process. You’re taught to manage labor through relaxation techniques and the support of your partner or labor coach. The Bradley Method involves a set of classes that are, in the aggregate, intended to educate on multiple components of pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. Class content includes ways to stay healthy in pregnancy as well as dangers in pregnancy and dangers of medication use in labor.

With the Bradley Method, women are taught relaxation exercises to help endure labor. The “coach” is the woman’s main support; the coach’s role is to aid her in achieving a physiologic birth and to help to keep outside factors from interfering with the process. The coach has an integral role in the success of the method.

According to the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth website (http://www.bradleybirth.com/), the purpose of the Bradley Method is to teach “natural childbirth and view birth as a natural process. It is [their] belief that most women with proper education, preparation, and the help of a loving and supportive coach can be taught to give birth naturally”. Dr. Robert Bradley, an obstetrician/gynecologist, developed the method in 1947 as a result of his objection to artificial conditions in the hospitals at this time ². Dr. Bradley grew up on a farm in Nebraska and was accustomed to seeing the natural process that animals went through to give birth. He believed that humans could be taught to give birth without pain and fear ².

Dr. Bradley believed certain conditions were essential for a laboring woman: darkness, solitude, quiet, physical comfort during the first stage of labor, physical relaxation, controlled breathing, and need for closed eyes/appearance of sleep. He espoused the fundamental premise that the laboring women would have a supportive coach/husband in this process ³.

According to the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth website (http://www.bradleybirth.com/), more than 86% of the women who used the Bradley Method nationwide achieved a spontaneous, unmedicated vaginal birth. Varner and her fellow researchers have made several attempts through e-mail and phone messages, to contact the international headquarters of American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth in Sherman Oaks, California, to discuss with the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth how this number was obtained, but no response was received ¹. Several Bradley instructors reported that these statistics are compiled from the self-report of clients to their instructors or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth website.

Although no published studies discussing the success and effectiveness of Bradley Method could be found, two articles, both peer-reviewed, were identified. In the first article, a birthing instructor discusses her own statistics for women she had trained ⁴, and in the second article, results are given from 16 couples who participated in 4 different Bradley Method classes with different instructors ⁵. An outcomes comparison on the Bradley Method and HypnoBirthing can be found in Table 1.

Table 1. Evidence of Outcomes From the Bradley Methods and HypnoBirthing

Footnote. ↓ = decrease; ↑ = increase; RR = relative risk.

To date, there are no well-designed studies of the Bradley Method, and the data that is available is based on self-reported outcomes ¹.

The Bradley method Classes

The following section is copied directly from the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth website (http://www.bradleybirth.com/).

The Bradley Method is a 12-week course that includes an in-depth curriculum and study guide that walks you through the entire process of having a baby, beginning with pregnancy. It teaches relaxation methods for the expectant mother, but also includes a heavy focus on training your birthing partner (or “coach”) to be more than just a spectator. Coaches learn how to guide their partners through the pain. They also learn about effective birthing positions that can help relieve pain.

The philosophy behind the Bradley Method is that it takes months to properly plan and prepare for childbirth and parenthood.

Class 1. 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.

Class 2. 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.

Class 3. Pregnancy

During this class, 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.

Class 4. 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.

Class 5. Introduction to First Stage Labor

This class is on how 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.

Class 6. 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.

Class 7. 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.

Class 8. Variations and Complications / Postpartum Preparation

This class covers two units of information. We cover various complications including cesarean surgery 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.

Class 9. 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.

Class 10. 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.

Class 11. 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.

Class 12. 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.

1. Varner CA. Comparison of the Bradley Method and HypnoBirthing Childbirth Education Classes. J Perinat Educ. 2015;24(2):128–136. doi:10.1891/1946-6560.24.2.128 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4744344/
2. Bradley R. A. (2008). Husband-coached childbirth: The Bradley method of natural childbirth (5th ed.). New York, NY: Bantam Dell.
3. Walker D. S., Visger J. M., Rossie D. (2009). Contemporary childbirth education models. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 54, 469–476. 10.1016/j.jmwh.2009.02.013
4. Bradley L. P. (1995). Changing American birth through childbirth education. Patient Education and Counseling, 25, 75–82. 10.1016/0738-3991(94)00703-O
5. Monto M. A. (1996). Lamaze and Bradley childbirth classes: Contrasting perspectives toward the medical model of birth. Birth, 23(4), 193–201. 10.1111/j.1523-536X.1996.tb00492.x
6. Cyna A. M., Andrew M. I., McAuliffe G. I. (2006). Antenatal self-hypnosis for labour and childbirth: A pilot study. Anesthesia and Intensive Care, 34, 464–469
7. Madden K., Middleton P., Cyna A. M., Matthewson M., Jones L. (2012). Hypnosis for pain management during labour and childbirth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 11, CD009356. 10.1002/14651858.CD009356.pub2