Comments on: Preparatory Resources for a Natural Pregnancy & Birth

By: Antonetta Mosmeyer

Antonetta Mosmeyer — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:02:27 +0000

great publish, i sure| will likely be visiting some other time

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 22:35:26 +0000

Yes. Brio Birth was previously called Bradley Reborn. As I understand it, basically a bunch of the Bradley instructors approached Bradley about the desperate need to update their materials. I agree that there was some significant outdated materials there. Bradley refused. Bradley Reborn and now Brio Birth is definitely based upon the Bradley materials just updated, expanded, and should be a huge improvement. As for now, the new materials have not been released for Brio Birth, so you teacher will still be working off the Bradley books and such, I am sure.

By: Jill

Jill — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:22:24 +0000

C: I should have replied to your question, but I made a new post instead (see above) I found a book list in case you want to see some of what the Brio group recommends. I like the list, and it includes a lot of books that are already mentioned on this page.

You’ll have to share about your experiences since the Brio plan doesn’t seem to be very well known yet. As of now, there are NO Brio instructors listed on their website (www.briobirth.com) within 300 miles of me (in DFW, Texas). However, it sounds like they are just doing a smart combination of already-proven studies. Looks good so far, and I’m sure it will pick up fast.

Blessings and congrats on your pregnancy!

By: Jill

Jill — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:14:30 +0000

I was looking at the Brio Birthing website, after seeing -C’s post from 1/3/11. It does look really new, but it looks like a lot of it is based on the Bradley System. I was curiously browsing around and found a reading list for their educators. Here’s the list of books, along with their authors. It kind of gives you an idea of what the Brio Birthing stuff is about when you see their recommended reading. I’d love to read all of these!

*Husband Coached Childbirth (Robert A. Bradley, MD)
* Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way (Susan McCutcheon-Rosegg)
*Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering (Sarah J. Buckley, MD)
*Mind Over Labor (Carl Jones)
The Labor Progress Handbook (Penny Simkin)
The Birth Book (William Sears, MD and Martha Sears, RN)
Birth Reborn (Michel Odent, MD)
Birth without Violence (Frederick Leboyer)
Choosing Waterbirth (Bertram, McLanahan, Odent)
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn (Simkin, Walley, Kepler)
The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth (Sheila Kitzinger)
Creating Your Birth Plan (Marsden Wagner, MD)
Gentle Birth Choices (Barbara Harper)
Having a Baby, Naturally (O’Mara, Facciolo, Ponte)
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth (Ina May Gaskin)
The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth (Henci Goer)
Your Best Birth (Lake, Epstein, Moritz)
Childbirth without Fear (Grantly Dick-Read)
Active Birth (Janet Balaskas)
Born in the USA (Marsden Wagner)
Pushed (Jennifer Block)
Immaculate Deception II (Suzanne Arms)
The American Way of Birth (Jessica Mitford)
Misconceptions (Naomi Wolf)
Don’t Just Stand There (Lichtenstein and Stein)
The Birth Partner (Penny Simkin)

*The first four books are considered “required” reading.

By: -C

-C — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 04:33:37 +0000

Does anyone know anything about Brio birth?

My husband and I were all set to start our Bradley course this Wednesday (and paid the deposit). We were so excited after reading numerous reviews about Bradley. Tonight, two days before the first class, we get an e-mail from the instructor that she has switched to Brio but that the course syllabus will be identical. All we’ve been able to figure out so far is that Brio is new, as of 12/2010, and claims to incorporate the best of all natural childbirth methods/philosophies (ex: Lamaze, Bradley, etc.). The Brio instructors seem to claim Bradley is outdated.

By: Susan

Susan — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:14:00 +0000

Hi again! I have a doula friend who is about to have a book published with verses for pregnancy / childbirth. Right now a lot is on her website: http://www.gatewaybirthservices.com/ There are a lot of scriptures and encouraging words, songs, verses, etc. I hope you like it!

By: L.H.

L.H. — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:02:24 +0000

Thanks for this list. With only 13 more days to go before my due date I am trying to get finish Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth before its too late! I am still near the beginning; however, its been great so far! How have you been feeling? Ready to deliver?

By: sara

sara — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:05:22 +0000

I would also recommend the book birthing from within. With my first pregnancy I was younger (25) and I took Bradley classes. My instructor was really nice, but I too felt unprepared for birth (I did have a really powerful water birth at the birthing center by God’s grace). One thing is that I didn’t practice the 20 minutes of relaxing once or twice a day which was recommended (and for very good reason!-you need those skills in labor), but also a lot of the Bradley information is head information and when you are in labor you transcend out of your thinking brain into a more primal brain (if you are laboring without drugs), so even if you wanted to, it is very troublesome to access all that info. Birthing from Within has a lot of art excercises, etc. which make many people uncomfortable, but art exercises use that same part of your brain that you labor with. What a terrific time to start exercising that side of your brain while pregnant. Also, the one thing labor is MOST of the time is uncomfortable. What is your response in uncomfortable situations? (this is a generalized question not directed at you, but please feel free to ponder). I really feel like BFW helps to prepare you emotionally for birth- you birth with your heart not your head.
I did read Ina May’s guide for Childbirth as well and do like it. I think it is important though to have the understanding that all women’s bodies are designed to give birth is an ABSOLUTE statement. Most women’s bodies have been designed well, but for the small percentage of women who have true complications and really are blessed to have the expertise of a o.b. may think to themselves- what’s wrong with me? is my body not made perfectly designed? This is no kind of mentality for a new mother to have. She should feel empowered by her birth experience. Women who have to have an emergency cesarean (and actually any women who births by cesarean) if they can stay heart centered in the birth can have a truly beautiful birthing experience. This is what Birthing From Within is all about.
I just discovered the Christian Childbirth Handbook the other day though and I am very excited to check it out. I work a lot with pregnant women- mentoring BFW classes, teaching prenatal yoga, and sometimes doulaing. I have turned my heart to Jesus over this past summer and I am happy to have been led to this resource because I feel excited about the possibility of learning how to incorporate Christ into my work and using these gifts that God has given me.

By: Allie

Allie — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 02:49:04 +0000

I have to agree–Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth is great! I have not heard of the other books you mentioned so the Ina May’s book was all I had. While slightly “new agey” with their views on birth it was a great resource and I’ll definitely be re-reading it when we get pregnant again! Thanks for the tips on your other books.

By: JC

JC — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:52:51 +0000

I’m definitely going to look into that first one. I read Christ Centered Childbirth with my first, which made me realize that this can be a worship experience (it was!). It’s been a while since I’ve read it so I can’t comment any more.

Also, thanks to a previous commenter for the baby positioning. My son was OP (despite rarely being on my back– he continues to be stubborn ) and I’m hoping this little one will make his/her entry into this world a tiny bit faster and less painful by facing the other way.

The homeopathy book also sounds really interesting. Hopefully I’ll get money for my birthday and can buy a few of these. My library has been a wonderful resource, but some need to be close at hand!

I also recommend Ina May’s. I’ve already read it this pregnancy and plan on reading it again this summer.