Had you ever seen a birth

[LilyTheMink]

before giving birth yourself?

I think I'd only seen an animal do it but definitely no humans.

I really think its unnatural that it is so much behind closed doors and it is such an enormous shock to so many women.

I did nct and really the teacher skimmed over how the birth would feel. Contractions? "Like period pains" . Birth? Three theoretical 'stages' that in the actuality you can't understand from the experience at the time.

Aibu to think that we should be encouraging women to become more involved or even to view live births - somehow, even on video - before they are plunged into it with that first contraction of their own?

Didn’t you look up any on youtube? I did!

Yes obem. And a few videos on YouTube. Knowledge is power.

I also watched my 3rd being born when I wasn't out of it. It was a home birth and we have mirrored wardrobes at the end of our bed. I can't remember it though! I.was exhausted and just wanted baby out and a cup of tea for after..

Another paramedic- I saw at least 20 births before I had my own so was under no illusion. My own was an ELCS in the end so thankfully I didn't shit nuggets onto my baby's face etc....

I delivered one at home several weeks ago and I literally watched the woman tear before my eyes, that was pretty grim. She tore on her old tear 'front to back', was on all fours and I was at the business end, my crew mate made herself busy at the other end of the room....!

Yes, I watched quite a few videos to prepare myself (and my partner), plus I do love one born every minute.

Tried to watch all types of birth but mainly water as that's what I thought wanted for myself, and got!

Never seen any other human births nor any animals in real life.

@SeaHollyDaiz

Nope, I hadn't. just seen positive birth company has posted some amazing pictures on Instagram. Not for the squeemish, but definately for those that are interested and prepared to be awe inspired!

They're incredible aren't they! Such amazing and informative posts

I did a fair bit of lambing in my teens, and was birth partner for two friends — three births between them — before I had my DS at 39.

I had not seen one IRL, but I had watched several videos of births.
Most were online. Two were a documentaries about homebirths that I got at my library.

@Bythehairywartsonmywitchychin

OBEM is nothing like real life, neither is meet the midwife. If most women saw a birth before giving birth they probably would think twice!

It was very much like real life IME, watching it brought memories flooding back

I did at medical school and during post graduate training. It is a miracle every time. The pain is horrendous but dear god a woman never looks as strong and beautiful as when she is given that bloody and wet newborn. I cried with each birth.
I think women are so strong and so brave.
I married late , so sadly for us, never got to hold that wet and precious newborn.
In my late 50s now and I still feel the loss of that - although am so so grateful for my husband, out life and the little lives I am privileged to be part of.

My mum was very honest and straight forward about her labours (she had 6 babies) and I’m glad for that because I felt a bit more clued up going into my own. I had watched plenty of tv shows but given that the way I would experience birth wouldn’t be the same as watching one, I am not convinced it’s necessary. For me being in Labour was almost out of body in some ways. The bits that were important to understand were the physical sensation, the emotions etc. Not the appearance. I think birthing partners need that information.

Yes my older sister when I was 14. She had to have an episiotomy and the blood hit the mirror and a wall. Needless to say when I gave birth 22 years later and the mirror was set up I told the nurse absolutely not I do not want to see anything. She said really are you sure. I said absolutely lol

Ummm. No. YABU.

Not everything needs to be out there in the public realm. Most women want birth to be a private experience. I'd not share birth videos if you paid me. It's between myself and my husband.

Also, I'd have been reluctant to give birth had I witnessed a video and would have had real anxiety about it. I actually didn't find birth that bad - the experience of birth - but to watch the video back, it would probably look really scary!

No and it was before the days of obem and I was only 16 when I had him

I was there when dil give birth to both my gc though

I grew up in a farm so had witnessed kittens, puppies, lambs and foals being born. Humans though, only once in health at school on TV.

Never seen a birth, except on TV, one born every minute and video shown on parenting class.
I was also a obem addict when I was pregnant/ DC were young.
Not sure why Google says it started in 2010 but I can tell you Google is stop press..wrong.
Im 50 and obem was on when my DC aged between 21-14 were born so definitely predates 2010,guess Google isn't always right!

@RavenclawsRoar

We watched a video of a woman giving birth at school. The thing that most sticks in my mind was that when it was finished the teacher rewound it and we watched it in reverse - looked even worse that way and like the mother was sucking it back in!

Our teacher done that as well. Was horrifying.

I'd seen births on TV etc but never in real life.

IMDb isn't wrong. It lists every one of the 112 episodes and the first one was 2010
You must be thinking of another show.

When pg with DS1 20 years ago I watched a lot of an American programme similar to OBEM, I was always amazed by how many mums had an epidural in the US but I suppose the hospitals make money from them so are more likely to push them.

OBEM was definitely not on then, I’d have watched it if it was.

I had 4 births myself. No pain relief, 3 of them at home., so I thought I would be an excellent birth partner.

I later watched my sister give birth and had to be taken out into the hall by a nurse and sit with my head between my knees Horrific to watch 😂