Simply Birth

Tag: preparation

  • Joy and Marlon

    “We spent 12 weeks in Alyssa’s Bradley class preparing for a drug-free labor and home birth.  The curriculum is very thorough and focused on making sure you are able to apply the material (even during the most hormone filled hours of your life).  There was homework every week, followed by in class learning and activities to ensure retention.  We enjoyed sharing our prenatal journey with other couples and hearing other birth stories.

    One of the things we really appreciated was that there were additional learnings aside from the birth experience.  Alyssa went through some techniques that could be used to invert babies that were positioned “head up” late in the pregnancy, relaxation, nursing, teething, baby carrying, and more.  She is a wealth of knowledge, candidly shares her own experiences, and is very well connected in the community.  Her guidance in creating a birth plan (in case we had to go to the hospital instead of our planned homebirth) was invaluable… especially when we DID end up in the hospital when my water broke four weeks early.  Alyssa was there with us as our doula as well and she was fantastic in guiding both of us.  Even though we had studied hard, she still spotted things that could help labor progress.  We highly recommend her class and her doula services and will be using her as our doula for future births as well!

    Thank you Alyssa for all of your investment in families in our community!”

    – Joy, Medical Sales Rep and Marlon, Army Recruiter

  • Jessie

    “After a remarkably traumatic birth with my first child (I suffered a rare Amniotic Fluid Embolism), my husband and I were very aware of our need for support for the birth of our second child.

    Delivering at a birthing center was not an option for us, given my history — but we still very much wanted a natural, intervention free delivery if at all possible. I truly believe that Alyssa helped make that happen!

    We had taken The Bradley Method® course with our first pregnancy, but Alyssa gave us a very helpful “crash course” a few weeks before our second delivery. That session gave me confidence in my ability to have a baby naturally.

    She was also the second person I told when I went into labor (after my husband, of course). She met us at the front entrance of the hospital and guided me through the entire process.

    I cannot tell you what an amazing resource and source of comfort and encouragement she was throughout the labor and delivery of my daughter. She gave me continued support, asked the doctors and nurses the right questions when I was in “business mode,” and even took pictures of our daughter’s first moments of life outside the womb. When I felt like I couldn’t handle it, she gave me new positions to try and talked me through. I am convinced that her presence was a huge factor in having the most amazing birth I can imagine.

    My daughter was born naturally, “in the caul,” with absolutely NO interventions. What an amazing experience after our first delivery. I am so thankful that Alyssa was there — it wouldn’t have been the same without her!”

    – Jessie, High School Teacher turned Stay At Home Mom

  • Jackie

    “I had never heard of the Bradley Method before, but we did know that we wanted to have a natural childbirth and were not prepared for it. After my friend suggested Bradley and I did some research, I knew that it would be helpful for us. The only time I have ever seen my husband frustrated is when he feels like we did not prepare well for something, so I figured that the Bradley class would help him to feel more prepared. Little did I know that I would need the preparation just as much, if not more, than he did!

    The Bradley class did an amazing job of preparing us for any and every birth situation. Alyssa did a great job of communicating and presenting the information from each lesson. She is very knowledgeable and also very approachable with all the questions that we had. Before I started the classes I was having a lot of back pain. As I started doing the recommended exercises, my back pain disappeared and I was much more comfortable for the rest of my pregnancy.

    In class we learned so much about the process of labor and what signs to look for. We also practiced relaxation techniques, and one of my favorite things was the labor rehearsals. We both approached our due date with confidence instead of fear. Our labor started and we had lots of opportunities to use the things we had been practicing. About 30 hours into it we were wondering how much longer it could last and Alyssa was a huge source of encouragement and a great resource to help us through all the way until the 59th hour when our precious baby girl was finally born naturally and without the assistance of any medication!

    I’m positive that we would not have met this goal if we had not taken the Bradley course. I would recommend that anyone who is pregnant take the Bradley class with Alyssa!”

    – Jackie, Social Worker turned Stay At Home Mom