Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way

Revised Edition

By: Susan McCutcheon, Robert A. Bradley - introduction

Narrated by: Eliza Foss

The classic guide to an unmedicated childbirth, fully revised for the twenty-first century with updated information. For women birthing vaginally, 90% of Bradley births are drug-free!

The Bradley Method®, used and praised by women for almost seventy years, prepares you for drug and surgery-free childbirth and puts you in control by providing the tools to navigate evidence-based care. Certified childbirth educator Susan McCutcheon, one of Dr. Bradley’s first students, now makes this natural approach to childbirth more accessible than ever. You will learn:

• Exercises and nutrition to get your body ready for birthing
• To defuse fear by understanding all aspects of laboring
• How to involve your partner as a birth coach and a fully engaged participant
• What’s driving the induction epidemic and how to avoid an unnecessary induction
• What’s driving the cesarean surgery epidemic and how to reduce your risk
• How to get the information you need to make informed decisions about your birth

“The Bradley Method’s simple objective, through relaxation, breathing, and visualization, is a birth free of the interventions frequently offered to women in the different stages of childbirth: fetal monitors, drug-induced labor, anesthesia, episiotomy, and Caesarean section. (Its) other defining feature, the husband’s active participation in the delivery, is critical to this overall goal of an intervention-free birth.”—Mothering

*Includes a Bonus PDF with images

Critic reviews

“Instead of distracting yourself from the birth process… you are fully mindful and wholly engaged during Bradley’s method of natural childbirth.”—Natural Life

“Robert Bradley put power in patients’ hands, reducing the number of Caesarean sections and episiotomies he performed and playing up natural ways of making childbirth less painful.”—Slate

“The Bradley Method’s simple objective, through relaxation, breathing, and visualization, is a birth free of the interventions frequently offered to women in the different stages of childbirth: fetal monitors, drug-induced labor, anesthesia, episiotomy, and Caesarean section. [Its] other defining feature, the husband’s active participation in the delivery, is critical to this overall goal of an intervention-free birth.”—Mothering

"I highly recommend not only the Bradley method, but specifically Susan McCutcheon's book to all my pregnant patients regardless of whether their goal is a natural childbirth. Susan does a great job putting her years of experience and research into a readable evidenced based guide to prepare women and their coaches for pregnancy, labor, and birth. I am grateful for the way this book expanded my knowledge and empowered me and my wife for our births."—Dr. Stephen Yip, D.O.

Just what I needed to prepare for birth.

Great, very informative book. I took a short course on natural birth, and this book complemented the course perfectly. I love how the process of birth and various medical interventions are explained in great detail. I got no questions left unanswered after reading it. Looking forward to giving birth and using the information I have learned!

extremely helpful! infinitely insightful!

I can't believe how much I learned from this book. as a father of four already I thought I would already understand much of what I needed to know, even though I'd never taken a Bradley method class. however, I was completely wrong and ended up learning tons of useful information from this wonderful guide. how grateful I am for this book.

Great resource!

This book is an incredible resource for expecting mothers wishing to have an unmedicated birth. From ways to prepare to specific steps to talk during labor, I feel more confident in my ability to go through with a natural childbirth. The personal stories did get a bit lengthy at times, but I suppose it was helpful to hear multiple scenarios, as no two births are the same.

Every expectant mother should read!

I am not a mother, nor can I be. But I am an expectant father. I was blessed to have experienced my youngest three siblings natural childbirth at home by my mother. This book is full of great thanks tips in personal stories and how to go into your birthing moment with truth knowledge and hope. Excellent read excellent attention to detail, even light and funny at times.

Love this book

Super informative! I’m so glad I came across this during my pregnancy. I was able to avoid all of these unnecessary “test and procedures” the hospital wanted to give me.