Conscious Childbirth Choices:

Bradley Method Natural Childbirth Classes

& Doula Service

Our program teaches:

1. Natural childbirth - Nearly 90% of Bradley^® moms having vaginal births do so without pain medication.

2. Active participation by the husband or someone close to the mother as coach.

3. Excellent nutrition (the foundation of a healthy pregnancy and baby).

4. Avoidance of drugs during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding, unless absolutely necessary. No drug has been proven safe for an unborn baby.

5. Training: Weekly classes starting in the 5^th month and continuing until the birth.

6. Relaxation and NATURAL breathing 

7. "Tuning-in" to your own body and trusting the natural process.

8. Immediate and continuous contact with your new baby.

9. Breastfeeding, beginning at birth provides immunities and optimum nutrition.

10. Consumerism and positive communications.

11. Parents taking responsibility for the safety of the birth place, procedures, attendants, and emergency back-up.

12. Parents being prepared for unexpected situations such as emergency childbirth and cesarean section.

13.  Birth art, journaling, and communication, and visualization exercises to honor the spiritual dimension of pregnancy & birth.

                                                      

 

For more information on the Bradley Method, click here.

 

Email us to learn more about Childbirth Classes and Doula Services

What is The Bradley Method®?

It is a method of Husband-Coached Natural Childbirth that promotes self-awareness and teaches both the the mother and her coach to deal with the stress of labor and birth.  Bradley®  classes:

* are small, allowing for individual     attention

*include 10 classes with review sessions until birth

*teach both mother and coach relaxation, physiology, nutrition, and parenting skills

*emphasize labor support so that the mother feels protected and supported in labor    

*advise parents on how to be    an intelligent consumer of obstetric services, emphasizing positive communication with birth attendents.

 

How is The Bradley Method® different from other childbirth classes?

While other methods teach distraction  and unnatural breathing, Bradley® encourages mothers to trust their bodies and for couples to find and utilize what is comfortable for them in labor. The Bradley Method® emphasizes relaxed abdominal breathing and relaxation throughout labor.

 

Why Natural Childbirth?

Natural Childbirth is the safest for mother and baby and facilitates a joyfully aware birth experience and strong family bonds.

What is a doula?

 

Doula is a Greek word meaning woman servant.  Doulas are professionally trained to provide physical, emotional, spiritual, and informational support to a laboring mother and her partner.  The doula’s job is to help the woman have a safe and empowering birth experience no matter what kind of birth the woman is planning—home, hospital, medicated or natural. 

 

Having another woman who has experienced childbirth herself can be a very supportive and nurturing presence for a birthing woman.  A doula is not meant to replace the partner in labor, but to be an assistant to both the mother and her partner. 

 

What does a doula do?

 

Doulas can provide comfort through pain relief techniques such as relaxation, visualization, massage, breathing, suggesting effective positions, and offering reassurance to the laboring woman. 

 

Doulas are also available to answer questions about pregnancy, breastfeeding, and baby care.

 

A doula does not judge or criticize a mother’s choices in birth.  A doula can also not speak for a client with the birth team.

 

Why have a doula?

 

Many studies have shown that having a doula present in labor has many benefits.  Women who have a doula present in labor report a more fulfilling birth experience, which is the ultimate goal.    The following study revealed that having a doula present has the following benefits:

 

· 50% reduction in the cesarean rate

· 25% shorter labor

· 60% reduction in epidural requests

· 40% reduction in oxytocin use

· 30% reduction in analgesia use

· 40% reduction in forceps delivery

·  

Information was obtained from Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth, Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus (1993).

 

 

About me

 

I am a mother of two children, one born at the hospital and one at home.  I have been teaching Bradley Method Natural childbirth classes since 2004.  I am also an educator at Angelic Organics Learning Center and a co-leader for Holistic Moms Network of Rockford.  I am a participating member in the doula back-up and support group, Mothering Roots.  My goal is to help restore women’s faith in their bodies to not only handle childbirth, but appreciate the incredible transforming life experience that it can be when a woman gives birth in awareness.  My training as a doula comes through both experience and through the Birthing From Within doula training.

 

Contact Jessie Crow Mermel at serendipitree@gmail.com or call 815-955-0653 if you are interested in doula services. 

 

My Rates

 

My rates reflect my commitment to be on call for 2 weeks before and after your due date as well as a prenatal interview, prenatal informational visit, unlimited support calls, attending the labor, birth, staying for 2 hours post-partum as well as an additional post-partum visit.  My rate is very affordable and I offer a discount to parents taking my childbirth classes.  We can discuss my rates at the prenatal interview. 

 

“If the success or failure of this planet and of human beings depended on how I am and what I do . . .

 

How would I be?

What would I do?”          ~R. Buckminister Fuller

 

Sign up now...our new series begins soon!

Call Jessie at 815-955-0653