Bradley Method Childbirth Education
Key Points
- Bradley preparation emphasizes natural birth physiology, partner coaching, and continuous support.
- Program content heavily includes prenatal nutrition, movement, and comfort-skill rehearsal.
- Partner involvement is central and can improve continuity of support in labor.
Pathophysiology
The Bradley model assumes that reducing fear and promoting physical readiness improves labor coping and may reduce intervention cascade risk in low-risk pregnancies.
Classification
- Preparation domain: Nutrition, exercise, and discomfort management.
- Support domain: Partner as trained labor coach.
- Labor domain: Low-intervention coping and position-centered strategies.
Nursing Assessment
- Assess patient and partner readiness for active coach roles.
- Evaluate nutrition/exercise feasibility and safety.
- Clarify expectations about intervention thresholds.
Nursing Interventions
- Integrate partner coaching into intrapartum support planning.
- Reinforce evidence-based comfort measures and mobility.
- Clarify when medical intervention supersedes planned low-intervention approach.