Sweet Peas, Pods & Papas
Sweet Pea Births - ...celebrating every sweet pea and their birth
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Recent Posts

Rights For Homebirth - May 2013 Update
Natural Oxytocin Boosters
10 Wishes For Your Birth and Beyond
Postpartum: Unplugged
Bébé Concierge: J'aime la vie by Victoria Antoinette

Most Popular Posts

Planning for Baby - Part 1
Hyperemesis Gravidarum In The News
An Inside Look: Placenta Encapsulation
An Inside Look: Modern Mommy Boutique
Stay Safe and Cool Through Your Summer Pregnancy - Part 2

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Sweet Peas, Pods & Papas

Coach's Corner

Coach's Corner: Why Take Childbirth Classes?

Coach's Corner
Bruss shares some coach's insight to questions asked in our classes

We were asked a question in a recent class regarding the *natural* birth process.  To paraphrase the question, why not just turn your birth experience over to the medical professionals and trust them to do the best job for you, since they have had years of training and more years of experience in attending births.  Why get educated in the birth process, since you will never know as much as the professionals.

My Most Important Thing I Have Learned

Bradley Method® classes offered in Chandler, Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Ahwatukee, ScottsdaleCOACH'S CORNER
Bruss taught class last week.  As is our custom, he writes the next blog post as a follow-up to his class.  Here are his thoughts on an original question he was asked last week:

We are teaching our winter Bradley class and I just finished the fourth class on coaching.  I received a question from a student that I've never had before.  Specifically, I was asked, what was the single most important thing I've learned from our first labor.  What a great question that was.

A Father's Perspective on Breastfeeding

"This post was written as part of The Breastfeeding Cafe's Blog Carnival. For more info on the Breastfeeding Cafe, go to www.breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com. For more info on the Carnival or if you want to participate, contact Timbra Wiist landslidephotography {at} hotmail {dot} com. Today's post is about breastfeeding from the male perspective. Please read the other blogs in today's carnival listed in the comments section at www.breastfeedingcafe.wordpress.com The Carnival runs July 16th through the 31st!

Labor Readiness

Bradley Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale Coach's Corner
Labor readiness

With The Bradley Method®, the labor Coach has lots of responsibilities.  During pregnancy, Coach must ensure that Mom's diet is great and that she's doing regular exercise.  Coach is encouraged to work with Mom on various relaxation techniques and practice.  These are added to the weekly Bradley™ classes (12-week course) to absorb a wealth of information on pregnancy, birth and beyond.

But it doesn't stop there.

There are Coaches that tell me, 'I'm not sure what to do.

Mental Relaxation


Bradley Method® natural childbirth classes offered in Arizona: Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa, ScottsdaleCoaches Corner
Today's post is from Bruss' perspective.  He led class on Monday and told a story he had never shared in a class setting before...here it is along with an introduction that shares the line of thinking that went along with the story...

An important part of The Bradley Method® (some say the most important) is relaxation.

The superficial view I had of relaxation going into our first Bradley class and subsequent birth was that of *physical* relaxation. Krystyna and I were/are regular Yoga practitioners and my mental picture of relaxation was the final Yoga posture where one lays prone on the floor after a hard workout where the only option is total physical relaxation.

Good to Great Birth Coaching

Coaches Corner
After teaching Bradley® classes for a few years now and hearing dozens of birth stories there have been a handful of coaches that stand out as being truly great in that role.

What are the differences?  What makes a good coach great?

It has been our experience that almost every coach that signs up for and completes Bradley® training is already *very* committed to his spouse, the pregnancy and birth.  Yet some coaches seem to be able to go over and above in their coaching.

Coach's Pep Talk

Coach's Corner
Bruss reveals his secret to being a great coach today...this is my first insight into his process, too.  He has been an amazing coach at all of our births - now I know how he does what he does for our baby and me!~Krystyna

We are regularly contacted by our Bradley® students as they go into labor.  For first time parents there is almost an universal excitement.  It is great to talk to the Dads and hear the excitement in their voices...the nervous, anxious energy as they start the wonderful experience of child-birth with their partner.

Being the Best Labor Coach Possible

Coach's corner 
Preparing yourself mentally to be the best labor coach possible

In the spring I wrote about the role of coaches in the labor process and the key attributes of successful coaches.
 

In this blog entry I’ll explore some of the techniques I’ve used to prepare myself mentally for my role as coach in our three births.
 
Of course this assumes that you are already fully committed to being a great labor coach and have been actively involved during the pregnancy in supporting our spouse to prepare for a great birth.

In Their Own Words: Dad's Perspective on BF

A Father’s perspective on breastfeeding:

There are countless choices that you and your partner are faced with when deciding to start a family.  Like a lot of fathers I was excited to start a family and like most fathers I had a minimal understanding of what was required in the process of pregnancy, labor, delivery and caring for baby in the first years of life.

Throughout the process of all our children’s pregnancies, labor/delivery and first years I have been open to most ideas with the overarching goal of doing what is best for the health and well being of Krystyna and our children.

Having a homebirth

Why a home birth?
 
We are planning a home birth for our fourth child early this fall.  
 
Personally, I have always been a big proponent of hospital births.  With our first three children I was always adamant that my preference was to deliver in a hospital setting.  The overriding reason was the safety net.  If something goes wrong I wanted for Krystyna and our babies to be as close to a medical team and an operating room as possible.
 
What changed?
 
Education:
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