Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way: Revised Edition

Prepping for my third birth after a 12 year gap and decided to review the book I bought for birth #1 back in 2009. 16 years later it’s still a great way to visualize and support the birthing process. A classic!

This book has taught me how to stay clam, relax, know what to expect, learn about my body, learn about the changes, how to cope and stay strong.I am a first time mom and this book is giving me the confidence to have the natural birth I desire (fingers crossed no complications arise to where a natural birth isn’t an option 🤷‍♀️)I loved this book so much I even bought one for my friend who just got pregnant ~ I’m sure she’ll love it too!

I'm a first time mom and during my pregnancy I have amassed a small library of books on pregnancy, labor, and childcare. There is such a great deal of variation particularly in the Natural Childbirth arena. Some books read like text books and some read like stories from a hippie-commune campfire. This book however, explains childbirth in a way that makes sense to me. McCutcheon describes a natural process without being too technical or too granola. This was the first book I have found that describes 10 most-likely labor scenarios rather than giving one generic description with variations. The book also reads through logically and linearly from conception to prelabor, early labor through transition, and finally the birth of the baby. No nonsense practical advice for mom and her coach at each stage.I found the pictures and diagrams in the book to be incredible helpful, even though they are graphic. Diagrams of childbirth should be graphic in my opinion. Those reviewers who found this distasteful should buy some fig leaf stickers and place them as they see appropriate.Not only was I happy with this book, my husband liked it the best too. This was the first book to put his mind more at ease rather than making him more anxious about the big day. This book made him feel like he has a real role in the labor process rather than someone who is supposed to stand helplessly and terrified on the sidelines while other people tend to me. He even wrote down notes from the book to keep with him at the hospital when the time comes. He is so much more excited about being a part of the labor process after reading this book.The only con in this book, which has been mentioned several times over, is that the descriptions of hospital procedures are outdated. I do think it is still a valid point that hospitals are too quick to resort to intervention - even if those interventions are not as drastic or harmful as they were 20 years ago. I went into triage yesterday for monitoring (for pre-eclampsia) and I had three different doctors/attendees offer me tylenol. I know they are trying to do their best to make everyone happy and comfortable, but it can be overkill!

I great way to make a support plan for birth. Will be using it soon. More of this, less of the hospital. Seriously take a look at this and consider this path. Worked for us. Images are not graphic and are actually very passive for this subject and are in no way inappropriate to the topic. On the contrary, I would have hoped for actual images of a more graphic nature for better preparation, but they are not lacking here as it is not an only-resource type book. See what you think and consider this birth plan. Read this, will not find this level of birth empowerment on the internet that the medical industry will allow seen.

I feel that this book is a great handbook for The Bradley Method - granted it is a little bit out of date with some practices that are not as widely prevalent in the medical field - but I still found this book to be very informative and easy to read. Though it does get a little technical, I still think its rather easy to get through and very clear in what it is trying to convey. After all, birth is TECHNICAL and MEDICAL, though completely natural and beautiful at the same time. My husband does not like this book as much as the Husband-Coached Childbirth (Fifth Edition): The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth book, but he says its because the HCC book is tailored more directly to husbands/partners/coaches.NCTBW is a bigger more extensive book that supplies lots of pictures and diagrams about the process of birth as well as techniques that are utilized in natural childbirth. I have found all of this to be extremely helpful in our journey for a natural childbirth. This book is helpful to me, as the pregnant woman, to try to get a grasp on what is heading my way. I find that understanding HOW and WHY something happens makes it easier for me to deal with - but thats a personal preference. I don't feel like this book is accusatory in any way, it simply provides information on why natural childbirth is a safer alternative IN MOST CASES (they are quite clear that hospitals are to take care of the sick and to help people in dangerous situations, which MOST births are not). I have found that while reading this book, even my negative feelings towards hospitals, medication, and c sections have become more balanced now that I understand what they can be utilized for in positive ways and how many times they are abused. I feel like every woman who is trying to have a baby or currently pregnant should at least read the book, if not take the Bradley Method course, so they can be FULLY informed about their options during labor. I also think that this book stresses the importance of having a trustworthy coach by your side which will make the entire process that much easier.I rate it four starts because I would like to see a more up to date version of this book - but all in all it is only a little late in some very uncommon medical practices, all of the methods taught to assist the parents in a natural childbirth still remain the same. This is a great book for first timers (or just first timers to Natural Childbirth) and I think it gives you a very balanced view about the importance of Natural Childbirth and its effect on the family.

This book helped to relax during contractions and to involve my partner during labor. One tip would be to the spot they are supposed to massage on the low back- BUY A LACROSSE BALL and use that instead of hands. My hubby massages this spot and it must have tipped open my tailbone and baby dropped and I gave birth 15 mins later lol.

Very useful for a conceiving couple. Breaks a lot of myths

Español- EnglishUn acercamiento natural al parto, diferente de lo que nos han contado hasta ahora con todo tan medicalizado. Me ha ayudado a quitarme miedos y a ir preparada y tranquila.A really natural way to describe birth, more natural and not so focused in the medical interventions... it helped me getting ready and more calmed. A must read!

Pros: Very comprehensive, informative (for a second time mother no less), and empowering for women aiming for a natural birth. I found this to be my favourite preparation tool leading up to a homebirth. Cons: I didn't have the benefit of taking an in person or online class (wish it were a possibility) to complete the programme and I found the extraordinarily high level of involvement from the husband to be unrealistic in my experience. I also think the wording could be more sensitive to non traditional couples who have same sex partners or perhaps single mothers with designated "coaches". However all things considered I found this to be an excellent resource for women taking control of their bodies and birth experiences.

My husband and I love this book. We recommend it to friends who are expecting a baby, too. It is a beautiful thing to have your husband as a very present help and support during labor and childbirth. I think this book helps prepare both the mother and father for labor.