For this pioneer of natural Mcet ftr, gradldy
childbirth, figltting tt:
&ffiwwtr
H$ffiKfumdffiw
By Leah Yarrow
tn 196i Marjie l{athaway, iust days before she v/as due
to give bjrtl, flew wtth hei husband,.1ay, and- three snrall
clrl-idren from California to Denver. The Hath,rways had
heard Dr. Robefl Bradley, a Denver obstetriclan, sf;eak
about his rnetho<J of natural chlldblrtir and rvere deter'
mlned to attcmpt the klnd of delivery he de.scribed; a
sDontaneous, unmcdicated birth with husband oaching
d'urtng labor and dellvery and the rnother breast ft'cdlng
the newbonr on the dellvery table 'l hey couldnl flnd a
dodor ln their area to agree to thosc conditions, so tltey
new rlght to lhe soutce. And afier a reladvely easy labor
and blnh, they werc holdtng their fourti chlld wtthtn 36
hours of landing orr Dr. Bradley's doo6tep So that o$ers
CN
wouldn't have to travel so far for this kind of bjrth, dle
Hathaways, along wlth Dr. Bradley, founded tlte tultetl'
can Acadetny of Husband.Ctachcd Chlldblnh to tcach
tbe Brarlley method.
Co0peratlng wfth Mothef Nature.
Inlhose diys, few people ln this country had heard of
natural childbirth, althorrgh tJr. Bradley had begun dwef
oplng his technique ln 1947. And even today, lll"l P9
tirm naturat chiklbinh is well known, this granddaddy's
(he has thineen grandchildren) method and philosophy
are stlll consldercd fairly radtcal. 'Ihe doctois crcdo--
"lt's not nlce to Ibol Mother Neture, and lf you do, you'll
wlsh you hadn'f '*did and stlll docs bring him lnto daily
defiance ofstand.rrd obstetrical practice (for insuoce, as
far a,s hc knows, hc's the only doctor In Colorado who
dcrs rtot have a statrding order to stan a glucose I V whcn
hls obstcuical paricnls arrivc at tlre hospital. ) But d)e 5t3
tistics pror,c rhis 64-ycar.otd mavcrick klows whcrmf he
speaki. tn all his years of prlctlce he ha-s nenrcr lrad a
riratemal dcnth, am.l he hoa.sts that 9"i perccnt of hi\ pil'
ricnLs havt'unrtrcdicated hinlrs. ()f thc lenlain.lcf, :J [.cr'
, cnt inu)lt('50tllc r rtntplr,.ltiott tltzi tnluirts ttt(t{it'lrlult
and .l pcrctrtt arc cesaruan biflhs this 6 peftisot llndlL-v
r:onsidcrs an irreduciltlc tuitrittrttnr'
Strnply, Bracllcl hm lxcn insisting for 34 yc.trs thet
merlic'ation of anv kind is hatnrful to tlle laboring motltcr
1!l Additionrl intormation arailablo from;
Photographed by Jint Roderick
AAHCC Er:x 5224 $homran Oaks, CA 91423
O intere slcd ilr lhc
(s18) 788-6662 (800) 423-2397
:b
I
a:)
(')
(c0nrlnued)
pr0vidr the hest {crr Parenls
and thc'ir children has
been a iifelong joY'
and ro the baby, that labor and blnh rvere not tneant to tle
arvful and couid be a less palnful, even exhllaratlng rxpe'
rlelrce, Er€n before reseerch proved hlm conect about
clrulls, Bradley set olrt lo piorlecr a merhod of blnh lhat
would exclude tlte neccslty foc tlctr ut In all but compll'
cated labors and dellverles,
Bradlev's leverence for things natural was leamed
while a ihild on a fan:t. Afler watchlng cound$s cats,
dogs, Elals, sherp, alrd horses lxar young' Rradley was
trriked on babid and binh. llls only goal was to become
an obstetrlclan. So gre.at was hls desire, so narrow hls
scorx, tlrat he earned the ntckname "oB Bradley" tn mctl'
ical^school. It was his comparlson of the serenlty of fiose
laborlnc animal mothcrs wlth thc screaming, writhtng,
laborlnl human molhers he encountercrl ln hosplal ma'
temlty iards tlrat led hlm to dwelop his medrocl of natu'
ral childbtnh.
Nlne months to makc a Par€nt.
Although Bradley orlglnally set out to examtne iust la
bor and btrth, wlut evolved ls a comprehenshe program
for hls Dadents that lncludes-in addition to obstetrlcd
care-a series of classes once the pregnancy has bctn
conflrmed, a five.leclure series by lrr' Ilradley on toplcs
ranqinq fronl famlly relatlons to children's dentlstry, and a
oosioa"nr,m exerclse class. Most childbirtlr classes ue giv
Ln iri tlre last six to twelve wu:kd of pregnanry, but Bnd
lcv bclleves it lakes the entire nine montlrs of pregnancy
toprepre physlcally forgivlng binh and emotlonally for
b€corninq a Darent.
Amon[oOrer r]rings, dte classs tca<:h excrc iscs Rradky
has cln cioJrd to hcip casc rhe div omfofts of prcgnancy
and to prepare thc muscles for p,iving b rth. '!'he class{rs
also encoumgc practice t>f tl)| sltrep in)lt:lllon posilion'
abtkniltal bretthilg, alrd (ela-\atiorr 16 fu rrscd during
fi:st stag(: lalror altd prrctirt uf the ptcJrqr Posltion and
breathtng for pushjng tht) baby otll
nmdltrrs rnethtxl is basexl crn his obseffalbns on the
farnr. AIrimals, he founcl, retrtrn to thcir slerp placc and
Inclc-ed look as if tfil-y are slc{lllng dllting f}rsi stage hlx-tr,
F:
F.t
-<
so Bradley has his patients assunte their slccp position at product, the children, or "Bradley Brats" as he affection
@
that tirnc. For pregn'ifrl wom(:n tltis ttsttally tneans lying rtely calls them, as well as in his parients. IIc cuddlcs the
on the stcle in lhe running position, with onc leg up, infant-s, spcaks ldndly to the children. Many women com
m
allowing no pan of tlre trody to rest on any othcr. Bradley plnin tbat their obstetriciurs arc totally turintcrested in the Dt
ct
has found that patieDts arc most cofilfortable in this pos! babl' 611." it is <lt'livererl. l)r. Rradlcy cuttltl never be
riolr (as opposed to tlre fl'at.on the.back 1x:siLiou often ar;cused r:l'that, Hc is proud of thc babies he clelivers and m
inslsted upon bv doctors ancl hrtspitltl stafl ) and that relax lovcs thcrn. flis wife, Mrnha, says about hint, "For Bob, 4
v,
arior.), which i.9 essential to allay rnuch of thc prin of labor, cveq, brbv lre crtchcs is like tlre lirst one he caught."
is easiest. 'l'hc slc<1r l)ositi{)r) cxn be ;rltcrnatetl with lhe
.i(irh I4:lr(hr,rs his assistrrnt,:rnd hi-s youngest daughter, 3
contour chalr lrcsition -a scnrireclining position with all Srrsan. irs thc rcctlrt ionist, Bril(lley's officc ha-s the feel of a
2
joints slightly l;errt. home rathel thln tltcaustcriry of;t rloctor's offit'c. l)lttients e
tuiinials, Bmtlltl'also ol>st--n'ed, brcalhe ir lirb(-)r itrst lls rntl doctor alikt'olic:t rt'nrark thlt thcy fcci likc tanrily to }'
thcy do iu slcep, :tnd so lte has his palicnls pl:lclic!'sk)w, cach olber.
deep, al:douritul breatlrirtg witlr tlte nxlth slightly opclt Dcspite hi:; cr;urt11'doctor lpgreal, horvcrcr, l)r. Bf:ld
'l'irct' rnust toc
Oniy anirnills thrtt rlont pcrspitc pant during hbor, lrtr Irry is stricl antl clenrarrding of iris l)atienN
explains, rnd tltis is onc rcilson ht: bcliet'es the l.rnlaze drc linc lry rk;in1i tlrt'cxctciscs tltc prc'scril;tcl nutrttrcr of
tecl)ni(lue ()f shallorv l)snting (o l:c incortect. lill(:s, t()ugllrniiril thcir ripplcs lirr bLt'rst fcctlirtg (;tll of
his paticnts plan to nurst:; ht: rvon t :tctrltl r t)ittient $'|rc
Rerrrcttrbcdng thc eod prutlrrct--ilrc bablcs. rcfusts), lrrrd t':rlirrll trrrrt:tlv livcn in tlrt'<lr1t s'lrtrt lirtr
As lhe ull, irrrpressivclt,gitthctl rlttr:tot Ltslrets p:ttit'tits l{ing i l.)rcllrxrl \!rr.trr's q't'ight wrs in v()gue. l]ratalla')
into lrir; rncih:st olfjc('s. tirlkirlg frrli spettl irt r lrr'c;tthlcsq, n('\,ci rcstri(((r(l rrtight 'l \\'rs ( ri(i( i/('Ll vt'ltt:tttetltlr' l,t'
l'1id\vcstcril t\viing, lt s hard to int:14i:tt: Ititn ts llte sttLr, r rl) I)ra,rs ll ut; rrrrltt'rrrrl,,I itt tlrc tinrc." ltricllc\':iitls,
,lilt('nr(Jtlicr t(l I)xl)\'Ar)iil:; |[r'li on tltr( lanll l]ill i{l ll)e l.rrt I lt t litli'lris thr' \\{ itr)l
srnle \r,ry lre et>llrcrel plts, lrc rr':rn'cttilcits ot;it,:tri,;rl rtlrlrr ioI l\
prlirnl:j xnd th€ir l)rl)ics tlr;r<lk"'"s rc!cl)li():r ilt(j:l i:i (rfLrrr
flliccl vrith chillrcn :rs w('ll.rs prljcil{b iir\{ lrtolll(rlli nt( iltc l('illr rr8il. {ila8,il
urgccl tu l:ring lirrir iillants with lltcrn *ltitn tltt't,r:ntttc lirt rlrr:cr<, I rcl,lr liLtit-r .rltl', tg,t t rl rltl ,r0d llrr;Jr: grai;r:; tltrt
their postparturil clrtrlQrps: pfrgrrrrl prtitlrts i1r(' cllcouf t1'lt),rrr.r' .l. ,ltrrltt' ltr lI1.,1,\ 'I:l.ttj
'it'i.tl,,
rgccl to bring their cltilcltetr. ls,r'cll ts l11cir lriislrilo.is. lirf itl( s 0Lnlrs ,lt)(l s;r lortfr to tltt lrif.il i)f\r)ilr .rPl)cli1(' \\t
their mcrrtthlv or q'ccltlt' cxatns inli thc nr()rit in)lv'nrni thing uhcn rtlrr're n(rgnrnt is
rlr
'[ hc doctor llrs marlc it clcrr lrr-' is slrt,rrkl fi:r'.1 rrrrt llrlrt, ;rn<l noi clcr tlirruglt
rotl rlut
P PaNT\ MRarr r9C2

.;i,'
$QildY .'."';i,,;; ,p.1^':i rrr;,,ll. r Lt,r"'-
,st,l,t tItW 1,,'r'tl' t,'l ' ( lt:,rt('(l((rl)'rltll('fl lrr'.r(r' llr'\L
{ VrAtSlt.,.ltrlrr,lirrrllii\r)\\r)//r.Jl;//rr't\''4t(11?J(l'tlrlltrrtlt.
a:1,,' ... ll,'\( i 1\ fill'. tr rrl l'ri," 1ll(l'( rl((\l ill Iir | .r'r
if'i:;.,tn
ttr lyt{J. 'lrt r((trit,((l r('.1(lit,ll li L tltil Ll.rs.il lli
i)itllt nts Jrlr rcl iili('t1r!
A ccrrpkfs l()vc ls cssetrtlll.
tlrrs6rntls' irtvrilr'(nt('ttt is t'sst'ttttrl l(r tll(' flrr(lle!
r]](:il,(xl, ilr r(l I tt' is rs tli rt't t rvitl t rtrtl clottlt tl< li t41 trl lhr:nt
is ir(' is of his nxticnl:i. /\ ltttslr:lttcl's trltr::ttioll lx'llitrs lhu
tl,rv ill- tltr''irs{ i.'\.1))lil)lltir rll. \\'ltrtr l}r;lditll' 1-reler\ hilll l(}
,lrli r)tl l)urinBllit plhirt:xrln 13r;tr'llcvc.rplrtitts lltc rnlnr.
,ttt's xtltl()rtrv lo lllt' llitsl);lll(l rvht:rtl llte tcrl'Lr is :lntl
\\'h;tt i( looliJ likt', krr itt:rlrtrr:c 'flrrltt'ltttl tlri'r1r srttllt'
'li'lucti\ttt ilr:tg,<ltti." tttctt wltcl (l()n'l \\'lllll to l;<'ccnlt'itt
voh'ct1, lrrrt r!l tlte! ntctl is ettc<lttrlgt:tlltltll, Ilrrdl(lv ill
sists "\u(' hiv(' ()tll)'rtlttlfittldltnenla) l)rer(llllisl(c lol lhi:i
in('lho(l, rllcl it s ntlt edttcalitltt :tnrl il's not nlrllivltk )ll -
irrst cet tlr:ttr irt ltt'te itltcl I ll trrrrtjr';ttt: tlx tn llcsil)s
i,,.ri tlv'r'r., Uot t,) I,)\1'()tIr'.ltlolllcr Irrvt' krvc l'rvt'.
tlrls is n,ltrt rve htrikl our btidgc on. \lrllrn 3 m:rn lo\'(ls ll
qn:rttultt totj frorn Lhztt acl \\'e gel a ttcw indi!icltt;rl, l{ltat
coulcl be m()rc Dliflclll(nrsZ"
'I'lrKrtrqlr tltr:lr kl'e btxttl rtttl nirlc nl()tltlls c)f so o[
Dlr(1i(e.;l (rllnlt is;tble t<l rrrtrk krgclltcr tltrorrglt latror'
A lrrrslrurr.l is rirrglrr ro hclp his wi[c'prik ll(c hcr cxct( iscs
at home, to t:oach her in rel:L{alion, all(l n nlakc hcf
conrfonablt: by nrhllkrg her back, for cxample. rle lc'ilrnr;
to be lris wifeis advocale duriltg lal>or' \Vhile tlr rvife is
c', lariqht f o Iel:rx ltel lrotly, rtllowln,i lh(' ut('ms () work :tlld
tlre'i'crvix t() (ltl:rtc, tlre httsllrtttcl is trtttg'ht hl rlcvelop lris
own teclrliquc to occupy ht'r ntintl. 'You ciltl relax )'ouf
hody and tki nothirlS with it," Bradlcy cxplains, "but vott
can'i rela\ v()ur rnind and tlo nothing with it. Y()u can'l
blank out. ir .tc suy c.llrccrltritc ()n solnetlling and the
nicest sonrethittgu'c ktlorv is tllat lovc grrbbledygook tltal
s,e t(r(i thc httslltnd to (egtlrgitxte-q'hateYef he 8x\1:
her in tht- urorlnlight origirtally, we t(:ll him lo <lo it norv
'Ihat rnries fronr plucking a guitar tr) reciting poe(ry lo
tlcscribing r tfip lhcy sllarerl. It ltcl1rs tlte n()tlx'r llot ()
tcnse up wllcn ltcr ulems l(:nsls lll) "
Worklng \illth the Itody,
Onc,-f tlr: maitlr dil[ercncr:s l)et\\tf11 tllc l,illn:lz('
nleth(id oi nilturxl t hikihinh, $'hicll llrls Silincil $'i(lc ilr
c(.t)rin(( cct{'t(.r1,) ()rl lll(' lj.rst ( oasl, .ltld tirc llr.ttlky
rnir lrurl, rvl riclt is Iu( rr(: w('ll kltcrr t t it t ( :,llili 'l t IiJ iltl(l { }lt'
vcst, is this ftrcus of curcctltrilti()ll lu littllrlzc, wotllcl)
rr<'taugltt 10 (listrlct tllcir min(ls llolll lhc lltcrinc rltlivit)
bv focusirrg thcirattcrllion ()ll sonlcthingextcrnrll - a pit
turc'or ;r spot {.lt tltt's'r11. firr itr-strnr:t'. lllxdle)', oD th('
otlrcr lrlnti, tclls his prticttts t() cl)tt( ('nlrllc o11 antl sork
willr tht'ir boditls llr;rdlel irlsisl.r lltil llr(' l.;lrrlilz( 1('all
ni(lrc.s r){ :ilrriIIg tt ll spot.tllc slrr)l'jtl!l ol ll)( ,ll)ilotllcli
lrrrri tltildrs (ell)cr.rrrgc ), ;llt(l tlr("()lltfi\1rl ' brcltthillll
ttl(l F:l )l ing pxt lt't ns art' tlotltitrg Irrt'1t (- lllilll llll iltlLl lll rl t1 r
r
indircc r ltl'p|rxk: tIncr:. i1()sl in1lx)llxl]i' ,ttrlt]le)' [)(
licvcs lhc I ir)r:12('brc:ltlrir)g lt'chnitiut:s ttl Irc ttnIh)'sirrln
gical. "Orr rl)rcxtltitrg ittii:rli rt:s \r'ili1 Lrlt'ljlla ()llir:l(lilil)
rtr '..lrr\
I
"il s
Re.lurn DL gl.rdley encourages hi\ paile'rts to t)/rr19 thell
vutr
iirEhts along whbn they rome tol poslDarlutn checkups
and crerres disrhylltntiir oflltc tllcnts," lrt nt:tintlhrs "'l hc
1:hv:siology ol l:rerlhing is loo tlatltntcl inqrrLrtrttt kl be
ilsccl ils a (listrarcti(}tr." Ut:rttllcv savs lu: ltlls (cstcd thc La'
nrxz(" nrelllod \\'ilh l)is l)xlir'llls aucl li:rtltttl it lacking. "lt
Irt,pnosis u'orked [rind hc is rt ntcntlrcr of thc Atl](lical]
sii'icw of Hypnotists], il s'l)irt lht) rverc tklittg rt'ally
rvorkcd, if it ru:rdc sltort lahors rtrtd trcitutlltll lJai)ics, lllxt's
arl(){hef nlalltef. I rvottkl ltltvt't1l.trr11ctl ttrl'sclf'' ltc says.
A llft'grrnrrl drrdrrg blrth.
\ri/itli thc cntDlr;tsis a)ll tlrt' lrtrsl):illrl it')tl $ifu tfilnl tllt'
rftxtr.rr tltl<cs u lxcksctt iri thc Llr:ttllcr'rncth<ld. [lrrdlcl'
c[\'i.si(xls hltnsclf rs lr lift:gu:rrcl ilt it P(x)I, "Niltcty ftttrr
trcrcenl [oI tlte s$'imntcrsl lut'e rr rvrtttdt'rlitl tIl]e. !Jul
srrrrelrttlt'8cts rl1ttlllt.( t)r lltrtrlps lu lltad rltcl thertrs a
sLtcltlcn, god rn'lrtl entcrgtlttr'.' llf cx])litilN
''i\li Js,ivcs," llftdle\' tlritirllrirls, cortltl tlrt tlle 9i prt'r'
ccnt of delilc'rk.'s llrat lre ttotltt:tl if thcrtrc tLrilllcl itl iht:
rccogtritirrt Of rhrtornrltljtiesl il- tlrt'r"r'c tr.lind lo prct)ilre
LIrr P.rticrrt mulir:rllf ittt<l I think, spirirrr.rlll' fi)rol)t:lining
il s[]L)trtituc{ltts, tulltrt'<liL;ttt'tl, Lo()l)(fillil't Lrirtlt " Ilut hrl
bclictt s tlrrit tltc tttidrviferr prlrrtii:e(l ill this cotlntD' lus
rrollritrA to rkr sitlt nritlsltts rllkl (:\1:nlllilt,q ttl tl,t sith
rlrrrlor:s 'ln thc iirttnt'srrrl.l ol lt llosFitrtl lirr l'lliLlr llrrrd
It'r'btlicves rrrirlurli'n liht: 'rll r'l'stt'tr it's sltotrkl lrt'l't tc
tiL rrlj, tlri' rl.llln (l(\ l()fs tlf(',lilrllillc( inR J,l(l []tfl nlid
\\,ix's .lr'!'lll|ittB iltsl il: tllllrll lll{ (li,:'liioll ,ls ihc (1()(lilfl;
tkr.'llt|r t: ti0t pttll.rriIgrlX'it llilfi(''ltsils\\'t'li(): tila\ rIC
ltot (!)rtirl(i'(l rri thL: rllttlgt'rs ()i lll(:(ii1,:ilioll .ui(l illJilc
tiort. llmrllqi crelrtitttr; ,tttlitiiy 'l ltt r'rr' lrctotttiti6 ' Lx'
tilr irssi"\lirtils itit(l 11'( lirl(l lllis llr,rrjl:lt: '
Mcct Dr, Bredley lcorrlrnuedl
Ir s apparen{ rnAr wnen lt comcs to nls tellow oDstetll
then, his pccrs
cians, Bradley d<xsn't rrtittce words, But
havc also bcen ilnsry in the past 34 years. Fellow dcxtors
dubbed hinr a fool, and a l,amaze group in Philadelphia
derishcly called hiul "llarnyard Bradley''many ycars ago.
"T'l\ank you," llratlley says hc told thenl in his inintitablc
style, "that's an honorary tcrrn as fill as I'nr concerned. I
likc rhNt."
ICs iust that defi?nt, gutsy, brasli stylc, his enlllu.\iasnl
bcrdering on cvangclisnr, th.rt is panially reslxrnsible fcrr
the antagonisrlr ltc
hirs errc<lttntercd over the years.
( "uoml)asric Roh, ' his own wift'calls llinl. ) Hc frt'quenlly
makcs disp:rlrging rennrks ;tlnut doclor.s' fntgilc nncl
enolmous cgos, bhnrlng thcir ugos ft>r'thcir inability to
accept thc Bradley nrethotl. "Any tlanrn f<xrl can ciltch a
baby properly pitclrcd. llu( that'.s sonrcthinli thit hurts th€
ego," Rr:r<lk:y cxplains llredley's own ego hasn t sufferctl
trenrt'n<.lousll,r>r,er tirc ycars, and hc's lhc firsl ro xdrnJl il.
lful ir's on l]' someone rvith th:t nruch fr ith in lrirrrself and
thilt r)rucJ) conviction rvho could havc uaged tllc l.)attlcs
he lras antl won.
Although he can tnlk rbout it rvith humor trow, lhc
rvrath of other dot-tors ovrr thc yerrs h;ts lcft him with ;t
torr<h clf paranoia ltrldlel' r:orlparcs hinrself to Cmntli'
f)ick Itcad, thc British obstctficinn tttr q'hosc tletho(l lris
orl.n is bir-strl. llr:c:usl oi op1 rosition to nr ttir;tl cltiklbirrh,
I)icl( itcr(l fountj it difficrrlt to prx(ticc 0lrdjcifl(' in lj'l
phrrtl. l.rtL:r. in Sotrth AJric:t. ire n'rts rccust-tl 01 illr.ett!5
ing c,n lcco,rnt of the pubiicii), srrrrourtdirtL{ }tjs trrctlrcxl.
ilratller' lrinrscll h:rs hatl t0 wi1ill Pirtir'nls 0ot to rlist:uss
rtatLrr;rl chilclbirtli prinriplcs tlurittg tltc l)osirit:il orr-'ntr
P&€N$ MNCB 19F?
li()n ie(:ture l)r{:ause ns a result of this kirld ofdiscussjon in
tli. Irxst, (hc hoslitill rthicl cornnrincc h{''Jccusrr-l hirn ol
arhr:nising,
irld€e(|, s(rne drxtors lrave lo-st patienr to llra(lley
''\?ar:s aso, when i fl{sl silried her{:, a{l had somethirl!
rhilt g;1ve mfl (irt l)iEl{('st bc)alsl in pallenls* dlrl cornl)lned
racoveri, rr-\onr," iirirdlt:,v laughs " |hcy ltaLl 5ix bc(ls iil il
L.lq cin:k:. In llvl cf thetr (lrr.'rc\l be u{)ren, all dnrgSed,
vopi1i1g, sick end b)ear1,c:yed. ail(l lrt walks a Rfadlaf
m()thcr wllh hcr f.rabv in he r arnrs, sitl ,Jn th€ e(lge of llt€'
i.<:ri, h,:li.is tlrc l:rl,.y to lv:r llfe.L\t, 3rr(l picks up the phone.
{-lLrcsri vr'iliiftl ihOsc five l'orncil conic n'}rcn thrl're preg'
iirilt iiext tiir{i? 50 ii l!:e rirxtr.)is hate rlly 8ui3. thcirvc i{ol
1l j{OL{] feasr:rn.
li;rnlll,tcttt r',:ll ctrl{dblrtlr fu r tir licspltal-
ilradley's Jdt:as have rtot encieatr:ri hlnr lo hospi(als 0j'
thcr. FIc hes lbLight to havc husbrrrcls rllowed in latxrr
and delivery roorns, anri hc cven itrl a huyc(]it ol a h($pi rJ
til on lhc Easi (i):L\t t€ars a8() lx{ausc it refuscd lo
pcrmit $ls. 'l'he hcrspiul, he s:t1's, wcnt batrl<nrpt, but
whcn it Leopetred it lrad changed its policy. Ft
Rradley is fond of saying *rat a hospiral is thc propcr
place to bear a chlld and lhe rnost dangerous, stupid,
exlrnsive place to board onc. l'le advocates that a healthy
o
breast.fet'ding mother and child retuln horne as soon
after the blrth as thcy are ready--often a Bradlcy paticnt's
7
stay is only two hou($ postpartum, "Vhy do we mix bac'
teria, bugs, and slck people with obstctrics? If I had my
way rhey'd be separate," Bradley says. "Ve'd have a ma.
tcnriry hospital separate front the buggy one. Hospiuls
are an accumulatlon ofresismnt bacteria that you can't get
lrt
anlwhere clsc," Ho.spinls are not thrilled wlth him, Brad.
lcy rrraintains, because they don't nrake much mone'y ct
fn:m his parienrs. ln fact, Dr. Bradley's patients staysuch a ttn
short time zt Swcdish Mrdlcal Center in Englewood, a ,s
suburb of f)enver, where he practices, that they use a v,
special billing form.
A staunclr supporter of mother.father.infant bonding
3
cven befcrre research dcmonstrated lts lmportance, Brad' zE
ley's olher maior beef with the hospitals is lhe nurseries,
whlch he has dubbecl "kld c'oncentratior catups." Pcdla.
tficians. he asserts. should rtrakc rourtds as obstetricians
do and see thcir chargcs In separate tooms. "Vhy do they
hlve to lre in the sanrc big box, seprratcd fronr their
rnothers?" he asks. Sr: crucial docs llradley feel lnrmediate
borrdi[s is that he instrucB nurses to walt Fvo hours ?fter
birrh bifore givirrg the baby the Lyedrops required by
lrw. 'thc drops can irritate a baby's eyes and Bradley
docsn't want that to interfere wlth patent child bomling,
For rhe sake of parents :rnd children, Bradley n,ill con
Linue ro flght for liis bellefs. ''\14reo you slan sotllethinS
rreq-,ancl it amazes rne thal aftcr 3.1 )'ears tltis ls still
r'tt q. --thr:re's oni,v orre rvay to $uruiye," tsradley sa)'s,
"lnd that's tu outijve yor-rr auugonlso. lf you arc righl,
.jUhr js lllighr, ' i\nd. althotlgh {iiettcls suggesl that hc t;,ke
a \':lc:rLiLr(r, IJrirll0\, iosists lle's rtevcr ha<l so rnuclr furr in
:il lris llfe. "lv{y w()rl( is r)ry vx(-,{tion,' he gLins, "lt's a
!ryggqlo 51!!t
Lerh Yerrw r! 'lrygi,:!tSl___
'Pirentr"
Jl .hs(rrite cdito, ol M.rqi? rt.
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