Birth of a Lifetime
Doula Services and Childbirth Classes

Gail Karlovsky, AAHCC, CD (DONA)
Nurturing Hearts and Empowering Minds

Bolingbrook, Illinois
Email:  gail@karlovsky.com

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Doula Services

Childbirth Classes

Childbirth Classes 

  • The Bradley Method® Classes - 10 week class 
      • Please read the welcome to the class letter and follow the instructions for registering.  If you need more clarification, about anything, please send me an email and I'll be happy to answer any questions you have.

§        After I receive your registration (questionnaire and $50 deposit) I will send you a confirmation email.  The remaining balance of the class fee ($250) will be due at the start of the second class unless you have made other payment arrangements with me in advance.  You are welcome to continue to attend the next series at no additional charge until you give birth. 

    • Focus Areas
      • Education - By becoming aware of what the body's natural processes are, and what the benefits, risks and unknowns associated with procedures and/or medications, parents can make informed decisions about the care received and actions taken during pregnancy, labor and delivery.
      • Relaxation - Expectant mom's learn to relax using a variety of physical, mental and emotional techniques, so that when they are in labor, relaxing will come naturally.  Additionally, tension causes extra pain which in turn causes fear and panic.  This cycle can be prevented by having a mom who is well-trained and by her having a partner who knows how to help her relax.
      • Consumerism - The Bradley Method as an organization, and I as an individual, believe the the only people who can ultimately decide what risks to take during pregnancy, labor and delivery are the expectant parents.  Parents are the only people who will live with the consequences of their decisions forever.  It is the responsibility of the parents to choose a birth team who align with them philosophically so that they can trust their birth team to make decisions should a life-threatening situation arise.  However everything carries a risk, in the doing, and in the not-doing.  Parents and their birth team need to work together so that the parents can make an informed decision.
      • Nutrition - This is critical to the health of the baby and the mother, and contributes to keeping mom as low risk as possible, decreasing the chances of true complications, and increasing the chances of a normal labor and delivery.  The nutritional guidelines that The Bradley Method recommends were compiled by Dr. Tom Brewer.
      • Exercise - This is also critical to the health of the baby and the mother, and contributes to keeping mom as low risk as possible, decreasing the chances of true complications, and increasing the chances of a normal labor and delivery.  The muscles used in delivery are quite different than the muscles used during normal activity.  In addition to normal, regular exercise recommended to keep mom fit and increase overall stamina, The Bradley Method teaches additional exercises for mom to increase strength of certain muscles used in birth and increase flexibility of those muscles as well.

This page is maintained by Gail B. Karlovsky, AAHCC,  CD (DONA) and was last updated 1/25/2005 2:20:58 PM.