The Bradley method of childbirth was developed in the 1940′s by Dr. Robert A. Bradley, an American Obstetrician. It is based on the philosophy of ‘natural childbirth’ (drug free) and was pioneering in the involvement of fathers during the birthing process.

The Lamaze technique was also established in the 1940′s by Dr. Fernand Lamaze, a French Obstetrician. Lamaze was influenced by Soviet childbirth practices and he particularly endorsed the role of Midwives during labor. His method began to gain popularity in the USA in the late 1950′s and is now the most commonly used childbirth technique.

While both the Lamaze and Bradley techniques lead to the same outcome, they differ in a variety of ways. The most significant contrast between these birthing methods is the issue of pain management and how parents confront this challenge. But what do these two methods reveal and how do they differ?

The Bradley Technique

The Bradley Method is a twelve week course that teaches parents how to control the pain of childbirth. It advocates natural childbirth philosophies and is also called ‘the husband coached’ birthing technique. It encourages parents to use deep breathing and relaxation exercises as a means of coping with labor.

The Bradley approach rejects the idea of ‘distraction’ as a way of dealing with childbirth and disputes the use of painkillers and cesarean sections unless absolutely necessary.

However, classes that focus on the Bradley technique do prepare parents for unexpected complications which may result in a cesarean section or other forms of intervention. His methods also include advice on nutrition and diet for the Mother during her pregnancy, which inevitably has a positive effect on the growth and wellbeing of the fetus. The expectant Mother is always encouraged to take reasonable and regular exercise, so that she is properly conditioned to give birth.

The Bradley Technique also educates parents about the different stages of labor and teaches them how to react to the Mother’s changing body. The Father is assigned the role of ‘Coach’ during the birthing process, keeping the Mother focused on the task at hand, helping with breathing exercises and giving plenty of reassurance. Different forms of massage can also be used.

The Lamaze Technique

The Lamaze Technique uses a Pavlovian response to the pain of childbirth. Lamaze believed that giving birth was a physical exercise that requires both energy and concentration. His method focuses on arming the expectant couple with various tools to ease discomfort and conserve energy in order to control pain as it occurs.

The Lamaze Technique encourages the couple to use deep breathing exercises and various ‘distraction’ techniques, which can include concentrating on pleasant memories, as a way of distracting the woman from the pain of labor.

Lamaze childbirth classes often recommend the benefits associated with changing positions during the birth, as well as the use of hot and cold packs and ‘birthing balls’ to ease contractions.

The Lamaze Philosophy is not as regimented as the Bradley Method. It gives parents all the facts, yet allows the couple leverage to use the information in ways that work for them. It’s more liberal approach offers a neutral position with regards to pain medication along with other medical and surgical options. This is left for the couple to decide.

Conclusion

There are many subtle differences and similarities between the Bradley and Lamaze birthing techniques. The primary difference is that the Bradley method instructs women to focus on controlling their pain. While according to the Lamaze technique, they are taught to distract from it. Similarities include the use of deep breathing techniques, the encouragement of appropriate exercise for the Mother during her pregnancy, and the involvement of both parents in the birthing process.

For expectant families the best option is to gather as much information as possible from either their Obstetrician or Midwife, before making a firm decision on which childbirth class to attend. It is always preferable to choose the birthing method that most appeals to each, individual couple, as it will allow them to feel in control and therefore experience the form of childbirth which best suits their needs. Read more other articles about what is prostate cancer and prostate cancer symptoms.

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Morning sickness is often the first sign of pregnancy, as it can start as early as 2 weeks after conception. Despite the name, the sufferer can feel ill at any time of the day, although as an empty stomach is thought to be one of the triggers then mornings are a common time for it to appear.

Not every pregnant woman will experience morning sickness, although most do to some degree, and it can vary from a feeling of mild nausea or queasiness ranging up to feeling truly dreadful and unable to keep any food or liquids down. The severity of the effects seems to be greatest in women with a history of migraine or travel sickness.

It’s not known exactly what causes it, but most doctors agree that the changes in hormone levels that pregnancy triggers are the most major factor. One of the effects of these hormones is to change the way your digestive system works, which can lead to higher levels of acid.

Another possible cause is that many women experience a heightened sense of taste and smell while pregnant, which can make nausea feel worse when unpleasant or strong odours are around.

Finally, tiredness and stress play a part, and most pregnant women are tired and stressed a lot of the time!

Morning sickness can occur over the full range of your pregnancy, but most women find that it more or less disappears by around 14 weeks as hormone levels in the body stabilise.

There are dozens and dozens of traditional ‘cures’ for the feelings of nausea, with every mother having an opinion on the subject! The fact is that every woman’s body is different and so no single thing will work for everyone. However, there are some simple things to try which can help most feel better.

As previously mentioned, an empty stomach can be a cause, so snack little and often to keep hunger at bay, and keep a couple of biscuits by your bed for if you wake up during the night.

Sucking on an ice cube can help, as can fizzy drinks. Fresh ginger is reputed to calm the stomach, so making a tea from crushed root ginger or even chewing on a piece can be worth a try.

Remedies for travel sickness can also help, so it might be worth trying the magnetic wristbands you can buy, but you should never take any medication while pregnant without consulting your doctor.

Morning sickness is a natural part of pregnancy and will not harm your baby in any way, but in severe cases you may be unable to keep any food or fluids down and if this continues you could become dehydrated, which is very dangerous for your baby. If your urine starts to become very dark in colour this is a sign that your fluid levels are too low, and you should speak to your midwife or doctor.

Finally, when you’re in a bout of morning sickness, don’t worry too much about what you’re eating – getting enough energy is more important than a balanced diet at that moment, so if chocolate makes you feel better then go for it! You can always stock up on healthier foods when the sickness has abated a little. Read more other articles about Summa Health and Defence Health.

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Pregnancy Health – What You Need to Consider About Salt
By J Franco

It’s astonishing to hear all the talk about the importance of salt during pregnancy with no mention of the fact that not all sources of sodium, or salt, are the same. This is a key consideration for pregnancy health.As far as the body is concerned, there’s no connection between the chemically cleansed sodium chloride table salt you buy at the supermarket, contained in virtually every processed food you buy, and the mineral rich organic sea salt available over the Internet or your local health food store. These minerals are needed more than ever for pregnancy health.

Standard table salt is highly refined, chemically cleansed, and unfriendly to the body. Unrefined sea salt is a naturally occurring complex of sodium chloride, which includes major minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and a host of around 80 essential trace minerals. These are instrumental for pregnancy health.

Although the benefits of consuming these trace minerals are too numerous to list here, the nutrients and minerals found in sea salt help your body preserve blood cells, a major advantage towards insuring pregnancy health.

On your next visit to the market, take a look at the nutritional content on a container of the table salt you typically buy. Now compare that with the label found on a package of unrefined, unprocessed sea salt. One can destroy your health, while the other heals you. Those trace minerals found in unprocessed sea salt are essential for life, and for pregnancy health.

These essential minerals are stripped during the processing used to create the table salt we typically consume in our diets. In fact, potassium iodide has to be added back in to prevent goiter, a thyroid gland problem caused by lack of iodine. The differences are noteworthy for any mother concerned with pregnancy health.

Keep in mind that not all packages labeled “sea salt” are created equal. Look beyond the words “sea salt” on the label for a mineral analysis. Also, look for details assuring it has not been heated nor had chemicals added. Real sea salt is rarely pure white in color. Different coloring, depending on where the salts are harvested from, bode well and are an indication of the salts mineral content. These trace minerals will serve as good insurance towards pregnancy health.

Copyright 2008 John Franco. John Franco has been directly involved in the Health and Fitness Industry for close to thirty years. After witnessing hundreds of postnatal women joining the gym to regain their figure, he has observed some amazing transformations and become a firm advocate of proper diet coupled with regular exercise. To take the mystery out of how you should be eating to permanently strip fat, increase energy and maintain good health, visit http://www.fatfreemommy.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_Franco

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Pregnancy Health Concerns – Effective Remedies For A Happy Pregnancy
By Apurva Shree

If you are concerned with the expanding waistline problem, abdominal pains, groin area pains and thighs and so on, then you should not be surprised, as they are pregnancy health issues that affect your entire body. There are many ways by which you can feel better with pregnancy health issues. Body changes, digestion problems, weight gain problem, acnes, pains and backaches can be dealt effectively if one follows a proper routine. To ease some these pregnancy health problems try lying down as much as you can, rest your back and apply heat wherever the pain is awful. If pregnancy heath problems still does not get better with natural methods, it is always better that you consult your doctor.

Initial Problems, Natural Remedies:
The initial signs of pregnancy health issues are the leak of colostrums during the third month. Colostrum is a thick, yellowish fluid that contains antibodies and protects the newborns from infection. Oozing out of Colostrum from breasts can be quite an embarrassing situation for pregnant mothers and this pregnancy health problem has to be dealt effectively. Wash you nipples regularly and avoid the application of soap. Moisturize your nipples regularly to avoid cracked nipples. The use of maternity or nursing bra is advisable as it provides extra support.

An early pregnancy symptom involves dizziness and lightheadedness and continues throughout pregnancy. Fainting is a very rare phenomenon but do occur even in some healthy pregnant women. This is not at all a serious pregnancy health related concern. At this stage, there is growth of more blood vessels and the pressure of expanding uterus is felt on the growing blood vessels. Moreover, continuous urge for food during pregnancy can make you feel dizzy and giddy.

Effective remedies for such pregnancy health related problems, as mentioned above, mainly require you to stand up slowly, and lay on your left side when you feel lightheaded. Do not overeat but try to have healthy snacks and small means frequently. Change your sitting or standing position continuously as eases the problem of dizziness.

Early sign of pregnancy such as weight gain, dizziness, lightheadedness, cramps, needs to be continuously monitored and consulted. Pregnancy health issues especially to matters concerning weight gain generally depend on how much you weighed before pregnancy. Safe sex is something which all doctors will advise under pregnancy health related issues. Pregnancy increases the sexual urge in some women and vice versa. Incase, you face any difficulty during sexual intercourse such as pain in the vagina, bleeding or leaking of fluid from the vagina, vomiting and nauseatic feeling and so on, you should immediately consult the doctor.

Apurva Shree is the online editor of free pregnancy information resource http://www.earlypregnancy-symptom.info She has developed this site to provide valuable information on early pregnancy symptoms and useful methods to enjoy your pregnancy period and the ways in which you welcome your new world of motherhood. http://www.earlypregnancy-symptom.info is your free resource that not only provides information on early pregnancy symptoms but the other aspects of pregnancy too.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Apurva_Shree

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Many women have questions about the types of food that are safe to eat during pregnancy. It is actually easier to discuss the types of foods you should avoid during pregnancy than it is do discuss the foods that are safe to eat.

There’s a lot of food to avoid during pregnant because they may be harmful to you or your developing baby.

Food To Avoid During Pregnancy

Deli and Processed Sandwich Meats – these meats might be contaminated with Listeria, a potentially deadly bacteria that can result in miscarriage or even a stillbirth. While listeria is relatively harmless to most ordinary people, it can be life threatening for your unborn baby. Pregnant women are more susceptible to listeria because of their lowered immune system. If you want to eat deli meats, be sure that you cook them until they are steaming hot, which will help kill any bacteria that might be present.

Raw meats – much lie deli meats, raw meats should be avoided because they can carry bacteria that are harmful for both mother and baby.

Certain types of fish – while most fish is healthy, there are certain kinds of fish that contain high levels of mercury, which is harmful for your unborn baby’s brain. Consuming too much mercury during pregnancy can result in developmental problems and even brain damage. The types of fish that contain the highest levels of mercury include: swordfish, shark, king mackerel, tuna, sea bass and tilefish.

Raw eggs – like raw meat, raw eggs have the potential to carry bacteria, particularly salmonella. Believe it or not raw eggs are in a number of various products including some forms of Caesar dressing, mayonnaise and even ice cream. If you are uncertain about whether or not something you are eating contains raw eggs, avoid it unless you can find out for certain whether or not it is harmful.

Unpasteurized soft cheeses – some chesses that are imported also have the potential to carry life threatening Listeria if they are not pasteurized. The most common types of cheese that carry this risk include certain forms of Brie, Camembert, feta, Gorgonzola and Mexican cheeses like queso. If these cheeses are pasteurized however they should be safe to consume.

Unpasteurized milk or juices – remember that any type of milk product or juice that has not been pasteurized has the potential to carry Listeria and other bacteria that may be harmful for you and your baby during pregnancy.

You should also avoid alcohol during your pregnancy. There is no known safe amount of alcohol that can be recommended during pregnancy. There are numerous fetal abnormalities and birth defects as well as developmental problems that have been associated with alcohol use during pregnancy. Alcohol should also be minimized or avoided during breastfeeding, because it can pass through the breast milk.

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Many women in America are in this situation today of not having Arizona Maternity Coverage. The reasons for not having maternity coverage are all too common: “I cannot afford it”, “I thought my coverage included maternity”, or “I just didn’t choose to have it in my plan because, we weren’t planning on having a baby yet”. Even though the reasons are different the end result is the same. It is such a shame that during one of the happiest times in a woman’s life has to be mingled in with worry and fear. It is my hope that the information in this article will provide clear answers and will help remove some of the anxiety you may be feeling. I remember when my wife was pregnant; we had enough to worry about let alone the financial aspects of having a baby.

So what are your options if you do not have Arizona Maternity Coverage? Unfortunately, as you probably have already experienced the insurance avenue is out! Once you are pregnant, insurance companies will not accept you. It is kind of like trying to get auto insurance after a car wreck. Fortunately, there are a few choices you can make:

**Discount Medical Plans— Discount medical plans like Ameriplan are similar to traditional major medical plans yet are different. Major medical insurance plans are designed to help cover the costs of medical claims. Discount plans, however, just provide a better rate for health services. The nice thing about discount plans are they are significantly less expensive than traditional health plans and you can begin using the benefits from day one.

**Advocacy Groups— Similar to discount medical plans are maternity advocacy groups like Maternity Advantage. They help to negotiate the best pricing for lab work, help find the best doctor fees in your area, and help find errors in billing to help cut costs. Click the link above to have a maternity specialist help you better understand the different programs they have available for you.

**Cash Pay Option— Most OBGYN’s have two billing methods 1) Global billing—which is used for insurance and 2) Cash payment. With a cash payment option they give you a cash pay discount for their medical services. Typically, the doctor’s office will charge you around $2000-$3000 dollars from conception to delivery. Next, you will need to contact the billing department for your hospital. Every hospital has a prepayment package for delivery services. Usually these packages range from $3000-$5000 dollars. As you can see this is a much more expensive option to experience on the front end, but you do save at the end. On average a normal pregnancy if you do not have insurance, use an advocacy group, or discount plan will cost you from $7500-$10,000 dollars—just for delivery!!!

As you can see there are options available for pregnant women. I wish they were as comprehensive as traditional health insurance with maternity care, but these programs do help save women a lot of money in their maternity expenses. I hope after reading this article you have a better understanding of what your choices are and are able to develop a road map of what to do next. But most of all, I hope that now you can rest a little easier at night because in a few short months you will have a lot of late nights with your new baby.

About the Author: Matt Irons, an Arizona independent health insurance broker, is dedicated to the well being of his clients, by providing peace of mind and helping them find quality Arizona health insurance at an affordable price. He cares by giving honest answers and advise to solve your health insurance needs. Visit him at www.ironsfamilyinsurance.com

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Pregnant women have no shortage of things to worry about, and it doesn’t help matters that hemorrhoids and pregnancy often go hand in hand. While hemorrhoids are very common amongst the general population (nearly 50% of adults get them at some point) they are especially common during pregnancy.

Hemorrhoids are common during pregnancy because carrying the baby puts extra pressure on the rectal area, and pressure on that area is the primary cause of hemorrhoids in anyone. Fortunately, hemorrhoid symptoms normnally improve after the baby is born, but until then there are some things you can do to help alleviate your symptoms.

One thing you can do is to avoid sitting for long periods of time. Sitting puts pressure on the rectal area and as I said above, this is the primary cause of hemorrhoids. Try to get up and move around for a few minutes at least once every hour, and at home you can lie down instead of sitting whenever possible.

You can also try making some simple changes to your diet, such as drinking more water and consuming more fiber. This will allow you to pass your bowel movements more easily and with less strain placed on the rectal area. This should help to reduce swelling of your hemorrhoids and cause them to shrink over time. Getting regular exercise also help to keep your bowel movements regular, and avoid constipation.

So while hemorrhoids and pregnancy often go together, there are ways of eliminating your hemorrhoids. I was able to cure my hemorrhoids naturally, and they have never returned. Click here to discover how I cured my hemorrhoids naturally.