recommended childbirth films - either on internet or DVDs?

[mrsbaldwin]

I thought I might brave looking at a film of (natural) childbirth as we haven't seen any at the antenatal class I've attended.

Can anyone recommend a good one (not the orgasmic birth please - I'm not expecting to have one of those )

Could be on YouTube or other internet site or a DVD you order from a shop?

Recommendations appreciated.

MrsB

I've been trawling YouTube for home water birth videos. I don't know how much use they are though - they're scaring the bejezus out of me... I just typed home water birth into the search box.

don't watch them. I ended up in tears with worry and fear at the cruel grim mediaevalness of it all (and this is my second pregnancy, and I had a good first birth and have no body issues or whatever).

The thing is, looking at the reality of birth as an objective outsider, is quite horrific, it is so primitive and scary and grim. you understand why a lot of societies have taboos surrounding it. It feels like watching something you're not supposed to, like a death.

However, it is totally different when you are the one giving birth. Yes it's painful and scary, but it is not quite so 'butchers' shop' because you are experiencing so much psychologically and physically. You just feel overwhelmed by it all in what is (in retrospect!) quite an interesting way. So I don't think watching it gives you a realistic view of what birth is like when it's you doing it, although it is showing you the facts, iyswim.. It is more like this for your birth partner, but you are not so aware of the gore and visuals.

If you do want to watch, there are a lot on youtube but beware, some are faked by weirdos.. as captaink said just search under homebirth and you can find a lot. But don't watch too many!

Do you have Discovery Home & Health - they've got Homebirth Diaries on at the moment.

The 'Buisness of Being Born' is a good DVd staring Ricki Lake. it is a great eye opener to homebirths and hospital births.

The business of being born is really good- there's a thread somewhere with a link to the whole film. I'll see if I can find it...

here it is, link at beginning of thread

The book Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper comes with a video that has homebirth, birth center births, etc.

Aha - thanks for all these ideas.

I was struck by what Gemzooks said re actually 'was this such a good idea?'. Perhaps she is right. Yes, I can imagine it's different to watch it rather than do be doing it - good point.

I read a novel about life after a nuclear catastrophe (The Road by Cormac McCarthy) over Xmas. Big mistake with all these hormones flying about - I had nightmares every night for a week.

Hmmm. I need to have a think now.

Thanks again everyone.

I agree with Gemzooks - don't do it!!

We were shown one at our NCT class and I was completely horrified in exactly the same way. And cross with myself for watching it.

I think watching someone else giving birth is always going to be quite unhelpful - when it happens it will be your own personal experience that you are absorbed by...

There are a couple of amazing water birth ones on youtube. They are from a hospital in brussels which has a perspex glass with a mirrored base so you get an amazing view (not as weird as it sounds!). One is a twin birth and the babies parctically swim out. So cool. I'll see if I can find them and put a link up.

OK here's one...(singleton)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ljdn8qRbIw&feature=PlayList&p=A83667C47CED0D83&playnext=1&index=2

and here's the twins - it has some weird synchronised swimming at the beginning - just zip through to get to the birth.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz0c2nOHH2I&feature=channel_page

Can't get much better than mybirth.tv/welcome.cfm

The website belongs to the woman who filmed homebirth diaries

After CaptainCarvol posted on our antenatal thread that she had been looking at birth films on Youtube I decided to have a look - completely freaked me out and I accidentally saw an episiotomy so will not be doing that again!