One Born Every Minute - being filmed

[SerialReJoiner]

Has anyone done this? I'm mental enough to be considering it.

DH is unsure about the whole notion, but I do like the idea of having a record of everything. Maybe.

[serialbunburyist]

Oh god, you could not pay me enough money to agree with that! The birth was the last thing I'd have wanted a record of for my DD, never mind it being broadcast to the nation. Good on you if you do want to though! Presumably you'd only do it if your DH was totally on board with it though?

[SerialReJoiner]

Oh, of course. :) I am just in the finding-a-bit-more-about-it phase.

[PerspicaciaTick]

I don't know - I think the women usually come across very well and I've often noticed that they seem to have had some sort of say about what bits of their bodies they want shown.
I'm very glad that some women are brave enough to do it though, as it helped me talk to DH about what might happen and how we might feel in different situations.
But you are never going to look your best and a lot of the DPs come across as numpties. So it would have to be a joint decision.

[ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets]

I was asked to do it when they filmed near me.
I would have quite liked it but DP said absolutely no way on this earth.

Well actually it was a much swearier version of that

I think if you're both up for it then why not?

[youngestisapsycho]

I have given birth twice, but I cannot watch anyone else doing it. It makes me feel quite ill!

[WhisperingLoudly]

I love OBEM - I wouldn't have done it because if circumstances but I think lo 99% of the mothers come across great whilst 99% of the dads - even the ones that are clearly loving and caring - come across very badly.

[ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets]

To add, if you decide to do it, don't tell anyone beforehand.

People are very judgy. I told my mum we'd been asked and she got the roof and said she'd never speak to me again.

Not sure why. It's my fanny, not hers.

[FloodMud]

DHs cousin was on a few years back. She said that the crew were lovely, really careful about respecting what was happening, midwives were very reassuring about "you can kick them out you know" and now it is a nice record of their ds' birth.

I think in general, its the partners who tend to look a bit daft, and the mums who come out well.

Is it still at the same hospital?

[ijustwannadance]

You are very brave to consider. Not a chance I would do it.

[frikadela01]

I'd do it. Let's face it you're almost guaranteed to get top notch care if it's being filmed for national TV. Not that my care was bad but I would have like to have been induced in a private room rather than on the ward which woman on obem who are induced do always appear to be in privaye rooms.

[SerialReJoiner]

Ah, well, I am intending on a home birth so it would be a different kettle of fish entirely, wouldn't it? I haven't watched enough of it to see what their home birth episodes are like. I should check youtube.

[frikadela01]

I've never seen a home birth one. Possibly something new they're trying out.

[TwentyCups]

I agree you would get top notch care if you did. I think it's a good show that's not tasteless as well.
Be prepared for threads on here and other places discussing your birth on great detail though. A lot of people are very against home births - you would have to be strong to stand the critisism you might get online as it's almost inevitable there will be done. Something to consider.

[frikadela01]

I'm curious now how they'd go about filming a home birth. In the normal series it looks like they have a number of rooms with the cameras set up but no apparent camera crew (could be wrong but if there is they certainly don't look intrusive). Presumably with a home birth they'd either set the cameras up in your house or have a crew following the mid wife.

[SerialReJoiner]

I'm sure if we did it (and it aired) there would be plenty of discussion generated - I'd probably change my nn actually!!

[SerialReJoiner]

Yes, another question to ask, frikadela...

[Oogle]

I'd do it. I wish there was some video/photo evidence of my labour. It was a hugely positive experience for me, despite being monitored constantly and it not being the birth I had imagined.

They'd have had to cut the bit where I said "I'm so sorry, I know I'm giving you the look my mum does when she's pissed off with me, but I'm rather FUCKING UNCOMFORTABLE"

[GinAndOnIt]

My sister got asked a few years ago but said no because she's a solicitor, and was worried how future clients might view her if they recognised her from it.

If I got asked I would defintely do it

[Hidingtonothing]

I would have done it purely because the care participants get is head and shoulders above my experience of 'normal' maternity care. I love OBEM and think featuring home births is a great idea.

[TurquoiseDress]

I could think of nothing worse!

With my LO's birth I would probably be vilified by the daily mail for daring to have an elective CS for maternal request

I think the producers can make you look any way they wish- there is always an angle, the earth mother/hippy, the neurotic/controlling women etc

And I agree that the partners tend to come off much worse!

[WineCheeseSleep]

I wouldn't be brave enough but it's a great show - we watched loads both times I was pregnant and I genuinely think it helped DH when he had to deliver DD before the ambulance could arrive!

[Boogers]

The midwife mentioned the producers of OBEM were casing the hospital DD was born at and immediately I said no. It ended up being filmed at a different hospital, but it was still no before the question was even asked. I looked a fright in the photos immediately after DD's birth, I can only imagine what a tv camera crew would have made of me! Just no

[idontlikealdi]

I think I would have done it if asked. I learnt a lot from watching OBEM and had a complication in a twin pregnancy that affects 10% of ID twin pregnancies - it would have been good to raise awareness.

[Cliffdiver]

*It's my fanny not hers
*

[Smartleatherbag]

Bloody hell, no. It's a horrible programme, makes giving birth look horrendous.
Worth remembering what editing process does too. They'll have a narrative they will squeeze your story into. It is not in any meaningful way, 'real'.