I often think about pregnancy in the context of a sport event. You have the players (Erin), the coach (me), and other teammates to help lead the team to victory (mid-wife, nurses, etc.). For a team to be successful, a coach needs to understand his player's strengths and weaknesses. In other words, a coach that leads a team for the first time with no practice may have a harder time leading a team compared to a coach who has prepped with his team for months on end.
In the Bradley classes, I am understanding more of my role as a coach to Erin. This is one of the most important things I have learned in the class because I realize now that Erin's pregnancy, labor, and birth will not be successful if I am not able to be an effective coach. This means that I have to understand her strength and weaknesses like never before. For example, I know that Erin drinks a lot of water, but I also understand now that she has to drink more water during pregnancy as Erin may get more dehydrated more often. Therefore, I have to be more in tune with what she is doing on a daily basis to make sure she is treating her body (and Pooka) well. This also applies in delivery, where I will be actively walking around with Erin supporting her, giving her massages, etc. to make her feel comfortable for delivery. Now just to be clear, I won't be delivering the baby, but I certainly will be helping Erin throughout the entire process.
I think this is one of the things that separates the Bradley Method from other birth classes: it places a heavy emphasis on the coach and how well he/she needs to be prepared to coach the mother through a successful pregnancy. It's certainly different from I've seen/heard in the past, where the husband sits outside tapping his toes or watching the doctors and nurses deliver a healthy baby. The Bradley Method may not work for everyone, but it's certainly has worked for us. It's also helped me in the following ways:
1.) The Bradley Method has helped me learn more about the history of births in the U.S.: We have spent some time in our class learning about the background of births in the United States and some common misnomers in pregnancy. This has helped my understanding of the birth process and why I have learned some things over time that are either true or false. Therefore, it helps me set realistic expectations going into the labor and delivery process.
2.) The Bradley Method has helped me understand more about the role of mid-wives: I must be honest. When I first heard about using a mid-wife, I had many questions and doubts. I did not have a lot of background or knowledge on mid-wives, and assumed that a doctor would be performing most of the work in Erin's water birth. This class has certainly educated me more on mid-wives and I have a better appreciation for them during the birth process. Most importantly, I have learned that they can be a great advocate for Erin (and Pooka's) health during the labor and birthing process.
3.) The Bradley Method is leading Erin and I to have a deeper connection: Erin may have a different opinion, but I feel that the class is helping me to learn about my wife in new and fun ways. I now need to be more in tune with Erin's physical, emotional, and mental activities, and through the pregnancy, I feel that it will draw us closer and help us become effective parents.
Off to bed now. Have a great week everyone!
-Pooka's Dad
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