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Childbirth

How is birth portrayed in school birth videos?

14 replies

StarlightMcKenzee · 21/04/2015 21:34

Just wondered if anyone has seen them and whether the woman is on her back or in a more natural position?

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Picamix · 21/04/2015 21:36

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StarlightMcKenzee · 21/04/2015 21:48

Thanks. I have some concerns about my daughter and her friends watching such a video in Year 2 (as it is done at her school), presented by the teachers she looks to and respects, and so setting her expectations that on your back is some kind of correct way to do childbirth.

I know I can opt out of the video for her, but that's not the point really. It is setting expectations for a whole generation.

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museumum · 21/04/2015 21:53

Year 2. Wow. I don't imagine it can show much?
Nor that she'll remember the details of it. I can barely remember the first one I saw and I was about 14!!

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florencedombey · 21/04/2015 21:58

I still remember the one I saw at school 25 years ago. It was so gory it gave me a massive fear of giving birth, to the extent that I am still childless in my late 30s .

Oh, the woman was on her back, by the way.

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StarlightMcKenzee · 21/04/2015 22:00

A video is shown year 2 and year 6 (not sure if it is the same one).

I remember seeing on in year 6, when parents were invited. I was spectacularly unbothered at the time but my memory is still very clear. The woman was on her back.

My daughter actually has already seen a number of births as I found her and her brother watching daytime tv with American births that involved a lot of screaming and a lot of cutting and c/sections when I was heavily pregnant with their sibling, so I felt I had to show them both a few calm water-births, but this was before she had started school.

I'd still be concerned though about her watching a video delivered by her teachers (who at her age she thinks of as Gods) setting expectations.

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StarlightMcKenzee · 21/04/2015 22:02

See Florence, that is really what I want to avoid. And I'm so sorry it affected you like that. Do look up calm births. The internet is full of them now.

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nikki1978 · 21/04/2015 22:04

I think the woman was on her back. The main view was from below so the kids got the full view of the baby crowning. I know its natural blah blah but i was quite shocked that they show it to 9/10 year olds.

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QueQuesto · 22/04/2015 17:17

I remember seeing one at school where the mum was on her back and smiling as she pushed the baby out. She must have had an epidural because I certainly wasn't fucking smiling at the moment of crowning.

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VashtaNerada · 22/04/2015 17:19

Being on your back can also be 'natural' btw...

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Springtimemama · 22/04/2015 17:21

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Springtimemama · 22/04/2015 17:22

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StarlightMcKenzee · 22/04/2015 20:04

Lying on your back isn't ergonomically efficient for most women and babies. Very few births in the UK are 'natural' anyway, but that isn't the point. The point is that young girls and boys shouldn't be encouraged, by the way it is presented to believe a misogynistic-influenced birthing position is the one they should expect for themselves.

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ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 22/04/2015 20:07

The problem is its not just school's. Pretty much any baby ever born on TV/movies (fictional) is pushed out in 3 screams with the mother on the back. It is very rare to see any other position (I can't think of any)

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StarlightMcKenzee · 22/04/2015 20:29

Yes, I realise. But my daughter thinks her teacher are Gods and at such a young age, whatever they present to her as factual, she'll believe, probably for the rest of her life.

TBH I'm less worried about her specifically (because she's seen loads of births in all kinds of positions, including c/sections), but of the expectations of a generation.