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Business & Tech

Labor of Love

Natural childbirth classes part of a healthy prenatal life for area couples.

It's Wednesday night in a not-so-typical classroom—a space in the back of

At first glance, it might seem to be just a few couples hanging out in a comfy living room, laughing and sharing stories, until you notice all the women are very pregnant. They are part of a growing trend toward less medical intervention in childbirth and are here to learn the Bradley Method of Husband-Coached Natural Childbirth.

The class is open to any pregnant couple, but all the participants tonight plan to use midwives rather than obstetricians for their births; and all but one plan to deliver at the Midwife Center for Birth and Women's Health in Pittsburgh. The center asks its clients to attend some sort of preparatory classes before delivery. 

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After two months of classes together, everyone seems at ease, bonded in their shared anticipation. Husbands join in on banter comparing prenatal Internet sites, debating cloth versus disposable diapers and extolling the benefits of favorite organic snack foods. 

The students joke back and forth with instructor Karen Crow, who is certified to teach the Bradley Method, and is a trained doula, a professional labor coach. 

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It is the ninth of 12 weekly classes and everyone seems to know a lot about each other's pregnancies. Today's class is a difficult one, centering on a long and intimidating list of what can and does go wrong with labor and childbirth and what parents can do about it. 

Crow gently guides her students through these fearsome topics with a comforting hand. The raw facts are tempered by much reassurance.

"Just store it up in the back of your head. You're not going to need it. But, should you need the knowledge, it will be there for you," she repeats often. 

At one point, Crow is hanging by a sheet from the door, at another—bouncing along on a giant exercise ball, demonstrating techniques to relieve labor pains and keep baby in proper position.

Discussion and book learning is followed by a picnic-style snack laid out on the center of the floor, meant to comfort Mommies' ever-rumbling tummies with mostly-healthy foods. A video of a different birth plays every week. The scenarios offered include non-traditional settings such as water births and show various methods to ease labor and delivery.

The Bradley Method® website (http://www.bradleybirth.com/WhyBradley.aspx) says its classes cover all aspects of pregnancy including: nutrition, exercise, being more comfortable during pregnancy, the coach's role, introductory and advanced techniques for labor and birth, complications, cesarean sections, postpartum care, breastfeeding and baby care and even what the coach should do if the baby is accidentally born in the car. 

Classes are about two hours long and are held for 12 weekly sessions. Cost is about $300 and some insurances pay for some or all of the fee.

Why the back room of Wellness Pittsburgh, the offices of chiropractor Dr. Christopher Powell? Powell is a passionate advocate for natural childbirth.

"I guess the biggest thing you see is a lack of education and a lot of fear when it comes to childbirth," says Powell. "The way a child is brought into the world is a good start to a healthy life. You wouldn't run a marathon without training; why would you have a baby without preparation?"

Powell's wife, Dr. Monique Powell, also is a chiropractor and a doula. The Powells' three sons' births were attended by a midwife and utilized the Bradley Method. 

When Crow, an associate of Monique's, needed a new setting for classes, he offered his office. Having the classes on site complements Powell's desire to create a one-stop wellness center with a variety of services, including a massage therapist, nutritional advice and health coaching.

Wellness Pittsburgh is holding its Fourth Annual Christmas Toy Drive this month. Toy donations will be accepted at the office. New clients who donate new toys with a value of $30 or more will receive a free exam and consultation. Santa will deliver the wrapped gifts to needy families on Christmas Eve.

Powell Chiropractic/Wellness Pittsburgh is located at 1141 South Braddock Ave. in Regent Square, 412-243-9355 .

The next 12-week prenatal class session begins at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012. For more information, call Crow at (412) 363-4837 or email her at dandkcrow@verizon.net 

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