Do They Deliver?

Valceanu said her classes tend to attract Type A personalities drawn to a method that requires organization and control. When she added, "There's at least one attorney in every class," one woman's hand shot up, proving Valceanu's point.

By the end of the class, I wasn't sure that Bradley was for me, but I saw its merit -- a tough-love philosophy of childbirth, with an emphasis on nutrition, exercise and -- above all -- being prepared to cope with pain.

2

Melodrama:

The Alexander Technique

I sat on a chair in the middle of Lynn Brice Rosen's District studio, making myself aware, as per her instruction, of the way the chair supported my buttocks, which in turn supported my ribs, which then supported my head.

The Alexander Technique, of which Rosen is a practitioner, originated in the 1800s as a way for actors, singers and musicians to perform to their fullest potential. By promoting a greater awareness of how posture can affect every bodily function, including voice, the technique claims to alleviate pain caused by poor comportment and bad habits, such as slouching or bending over to lift. Adherents learn "to alter everyday gestures, and thus achieve greater freedom of movement, better balance and coordination," Rosen explained. She says the method also facilitates an easier birth process.

After the chair exercise, Rosen instructed me to get on the floor and perform a number of what she called "polar bear rolls." I tucked my legs, wrapped my arms around my chest, and rolled from side to side on my back. Although I had no idea how this would help during childbirth, it felt good to roll around on the carpeted floor.

Rosen sent me a book whose photographs of an enormously pregnant but somehow poised woman straddling an oversized rubber ball inspired me to invest in one such prop myself. Months later, the birthing ball would remain an unused obstacle in the delivery room. Now, my 16-month-old son enjoys playing with it.

3

Mind Over Matter:

HypnoBirthing