How Has "Reality TV" (A Baby Story, etc) Affected Your Work?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Every time I hear that one of my clients has been religiously watched "A Baby Story" during her pregnancy, I almost cringe. I, personally, can not stand to watch "A Baby Story". The program is so scripted: family gathering, ask about how mom's doing, go to the hospital, get checked, order the epidural, push a few times, happy music plays as soon as baby's born. Mom is visited and almost always we hear that "[baby's name] is such a good baby. He sleeps through the night (at 2 weeks old) and never cries unless he's hungry or wants to be changed."

This program irritates me because it sends the message that all births follow a script and are very predictable. I've actually had a client (a very young one) who didn't believe me when I told her that her labor could go on for 18 hours. She refused to order an epidural because she could tolerate pain for half an hour. I was wondering what she meant by that when she told me after 6 hours of labor - "This doesn't happen on TV. The baby is always out before a half hour is up." :rolleyes:

We even had a new doula state that she thought she knew it all when it came to childbirth, and that she was very surprised when her baby wasn't out after 2 pushes. She said she attributed it to programs like "A Baby Story" when everything is condensed, especially when it comes time to push.

Has reality TV affected your work? Do you have patients who come in and are surprised when labor is very different from what's shown on TV?

I think that these shows have contributed to the atmosphere of "Let's invite everybody and their neighbors to view the birth!" as well as giving couples really unrealistic expectations for the whole experience. When patients tell me "I didn't take classes, but I watched a Baby Story every day" my first comment is "Do you understand the concept of editing?"!

AMEN! While I support moms who want to have a few people present, I really don't like it when they invite everyone including their plumber to attend the birth. The hospital rooms are a little small, and when you get seven visitors along with support staff, it can get to be insane. You end up with a lot of bodies who aren't doing anyone any good - they are just in the way! They aren't even supporting mom in any way, they are all just staring at her crotch! I hate that!

I understand having a few support (key word) people there for the birth, but what good does it do to have everyone in there? Just to say to the kid, "I was there when you were born." The baby is going to be around for a while, and I hate the concept of birth being a spectator sport. This irks me to no end. If you really want to be helpful to mom, visit her afterwards, or better yet, offer her support after she gets home. All new moms need someone to help out afterward. In my opinion, that's where a lot of the focus of support should go. The baby is still new, and mom would really appreciate anything that friends could do for her - even if it's just getting the mail or changing a diaper so mom can get a few minutes rest.

I'm surprised that they even allow a lot of people in the rooms, from the germ and HIPAA aspects of it all.

It was really funny when I was talking with a law enforcement officer from church a few months ago. He asked what I did as a doula, and he told me, "It was neat watching Baby Story when my wife was pregnant. I loved that show!" I told him my feelings about Baby Story, and he said, "That's like me, I hate watching 'Cops.'" I told him in all honesty that 'Cops' is one of my favorite shows. We got a good laugh out of that. He hates watching "Cops" as much as I hate "A Baby Story.":chuckle

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Specializes in private duty/home health, med/surg.

The Baby Story episodes I've seen show both extremes: either mom is in the hospital with every intervention possible or the mom is a crunchy, tree-hugger insisting on a natural birth at home with absolutely no interventions. Nothing very realistic. It is sad that parents can watch these shows and think that they are preparing themselves for birth!

I'd have to say that I was one of those moms who had a lot of spectators--family members there by the invitation of my husband and myself, therefore in no way a HIPPA violation. I'm very glad the nursing staff & my CNM was so accomodating. It is very special for my children to know that so many people were there to welcome them into the world, and I appreciated having so much support during labor & delivery. And I'd take germ exposure from my family over the germs from the hospital any day!

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Specializes in OB, newborn, gyne.

We are fortunate to have a wonderful childbirth educator who tells her classes, "Childbirth is NOT a spectator sport." And, the oddest experience I have ever had with the "Baby Story" was the mom who insisted it be on while she was pushing. Of course, the lady on TV pushed her baby out first....

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or the mom is a crunchy, tree-hugger insisting on a natural birth at home with absolutely no interventions.

crunchy tree hugger here.. ::stalks off to eat some granola:: :chuckle

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crunchy tree hugger here.. ::stalks off to eat some granola:: :chuckle

There's absolutely nothing wrong with these types of people. Most often than not, I LOVE LOVE working with these families. They are very well prepared. I always have something to do when working with these families. I love supporting childbirth choices, but I must say, I love to keep busy. Moms who don't use medications are a positive challenge for me. I love to do everything I can to support their choice, it's fun to try everything in my "little magic bag" to see what works to help them through labor. I get bored easily when my client asks for an epidural at 5cm. I support their choice, but there's not a whole lot to do for them after they get an epidural. I love to stay active, and after an epidural, I usually just end up sitting around with the others in the room.

One must decide what's right for them. I've seen epidurals help moms who aren't progressing. They can relax, and that baby descends faster through the pelvis.

Baby Story just shows that birth is the same over and over. I've been present at more than 150 births. I can tell you, no two births are alike in any way.

And the granola has a lot of fiber, which is GOOD FOR YOU!!! :chuckle

To each her own, and one should do the research for themselves to find out what will work for them in labor, instead of just watching what's done on a Baby Story... grrr. I loathe that show.

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There's absolutely nothing wrong with these types of people. Most often than not, I LOVE LOVE working with these families. They are very well prepared..

dude....i was dead serious.....i am one of those people....1 cnm hosp birth, 2 direct entry mw assisted home births....

and your right about the granola....lots of fiba' :coollook:

xxoo

Kate

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Specializes in Going to Peds!.

I kept my medical team busy by trying to die. (Severe pre-eclampsia/HELLP syndrome. 30 week preterm emergency c-section. Loads of fun!)

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Did you and your baby come out OK? Please let us know that you BOTH were OK after it was all said and done!! :o

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dude....i was dead serious.....i am one of those people....1 cnm hosp birth, 2 direct entry mw assisted home births....

and your right about the granola....lots of fiba' :coollook:

xxoo

Kate

I know you were serious! I was totally agreeing with you... didn't doubt you for a second... :)

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as a teenage doula-to-be-in-training, i figured i might have an interesting POV on this topic.

it is as follows:

gag.

"a baby story." what a piece of work that show is. not the best at accurately portraying a range of realistic births. :stone

now "maternity ward", which i believe is on TLC as well, but later at night, is a show i can get behind. then again, it tells it from OB docs and nurses points of view, rather than the parents to be.

consider my peace spoken...

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Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.
crunchy tree hugger here.. ::stalks off to eat some granola:: :chuckle

:chuckle That granola looks yummy! May I join you? :chuckle

I actually get pretty annoyed with all of those baby shows. None of them seems very real. On some of those shows, it's one frightening crisis after another. I couldn't watch them when I was pregnant because they scared me. A Baby Story was more bearable in that sense, but is was so much fluff that it was hardly useful to a expectant mother. Occasionally, I turn it on now, because my girls absolutely love to watch babies being born. Lots of ooh's and aahhh's and "look at the little baby!" :chuckle

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Specializes in cardiac, diabetes, OB/GYN.

People actually think it's like that, with doctors around, not too many nurses, not much pain and nothing else going on except their labor....It kind of amuses me actually...

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