From: lisa@watson.ibm.com (Lisa Leutenegger)
Subject: Re: Bradley Classes
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 18:08:06 GMT
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center

In article <92206.35249.L638615@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM> L638615@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM (STAFFORD, KD) writes:
>What's the difference between "Bradley" classes and "Lamaze" classes?

My husband and I are in the middle of our 5 week private Bradley classes,
and 12 years ago I attended Lamaze classes with a friend.  Based on
these experiences and from reading and talking to other people about
childbirth classes this is my understanding of the difference:

The short (and extremeley incomplete) answer is that Bradley classes
teach you to tune into your body and to relax.  The only breathing you 
learn you already know how to do - deep slow breathing.  You will learn
about complications that may arise and when medical intervention is necessary
and when it is not necessary (which is most of the time).  It is basically
a natural childbirth class - they strongly discourage the use of all drugs
during birth as it is harmful to both the baby and mother.

Lamaze classes teach you distraction techniques - and a whole bunch of
complicated breathing (some of which can lead to hyperventalation which
is not good for the mother or baby during labor).  My understanding is 
they are starting to do more relaxation in Lamaze since it is supposedly 
a very effective technique.  You will learn about medical procedures
so you won't be terrified when they do them to you.  These classes are
usually called prepared childbirth classes because they prepare you for
both natural and medicated childbirth.


I have yet to have my baby so I don't know if the "Bradley Method"
will work for me - but they claim that 2/5 of the women using their
method describe their drug free labors as painless.  

If you would like to read what a Bradley instructor thinks the differences
between Lamaze & Bradley are I recommend the book "Natural Childbirth the 
Bradley Way" by Susan McCutcheon-Rosegg, Plume publishers, ISBN - 0-452-26724-2.

I just remember I have my book with me (tonight is class) so I will type in
the short answer Susan has in her book.  She goes on to elaborate on each
point but this is the quick short answer and the beginning of the chapter:


"Briefly, the Bradley Method and Lamaze are:

different in attitude:  Bradley emphasizes being a good consumer and taking
responsibility for your birth, shaping it the way you want it,
while Lamze generally prepares a couple for hospital routines and perpetuates
the role of the docotor as an all-knowing authority figure.

different in basic techniques:  Bradley teaches the laboring woman to relax
completely and use normal, rhymthmic, abdominal breathing during
contractions while Lamze emphasizes three complicated altered-breathing
techiniques and artificial distractions from the sensations that woman is 
feeling.

different in importance of the father (or coach):  Lamaze-trained coaches
(though as dedicated and caring as the Bradley ones) are just not given
the same depth of information or training.

different in expectations:  Bradley works determinedly and assertively for 
an unmedicated, natural childbirth without routine interventions while 
Lamaze is more accepting of medicaiton and other interference, even when 
it is not medically necessary.

different in the rate of successful outcomes:  In the Bradley Method, when we
say successful outcome, we mean a totally unmedicated, drug-free natural
childbirth without routine medication intervention that enables the woman to
exercise all her choices in birthing and give her baby the best possible start
in life.  And we expect this over ninety percent of the time.

What is a successful outcome in the Lamaze method?  Well let's take the words of
Elisabeth Bing, the country's best-known Lamaze teacher.... In her book
"Six Practical Lessons for an Easier Birth" she says,

  I have often been asked the number of successes and failures among my
  students.  I want you to realize that I do not accept the concept of
  failure in regard to women I prepare for childbirth...

We think this is a cop-out.  .... In fact, it is self-serving for a teacher who
is training you in a method with a low rate of success to start off with rules
that remove yardsticks for measuring effectiveness.   WOMEN DO NOT FAIL,
BUT MEHTODS CAN FAIL WOMEN, and it is reasonable for a woman to want to know
the rate of success of a method of childbirth training...... in a study of
500 consecutive Lamaze-prepared patients compared to 500 hand-picked
control patients, only one percent (5 women) using the Lamaze Method gave
birth without drugs. [reference for this study is given - it is from June 
1978.] "

Obviously the Bradley method is not for everyone - but I am extremely
please with the classes I have been taking - and as I said I don't know
if this will work for me - but I sure hope so!


---lisa leutenegger
   lleut@watson.ibm.com


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