New C4 prog: One Born Every Minute

[tabouleh]

Anyone planning to watch the new C4 programme "One Born Every Minute?".

It's a documentary set in the Princess Anne Maternity hospital in Southampton and it starts next Tuesday.

There's loads of video interviews etc on their website.

I decided that the son was in the room in order to ensure that grandparenthood was put off as long as possible.

But I had to switch over, I just can't watch people in pain. Don't get it. And my mother is still traumatised by the bunch of medical students that were marched into the room during her first labour. (okay okay, this woman had already had children (evidently!) and gave her permission, I know. I know.)

I thought the midwife was fab, even if only for not locking Steve in the loo herself. either steve was highly edited to look like a sniggering idiot or he really is. what a trade of for four kids. every policeman I've ever met had this brutal/inane aspect to him. deeply depressing!

I too felt sorry for Lisa - she wanted to see her son but couldn't as he needed stabilised. HOpe they're all OK. Does anyone know how long ago this was filmed?

Steve was a tit. A total and utter tit. It seemed odd that the son was there, though I think Steve's wankiness maybe was the reason? Perhaps the mum thought if her son was there he may be of more use to her than Steve?

Didn't make me broody - in fact I was convinved I felt my epesiotomy stitches niggle when I went to the loo afterwards....and my ds is 5!!

My Dad and my step-dad were both policemen and neither of them were as childish and unsupportive as him.

If the first installment of this great new programme has taught any of us expectant mothers one thing, then it is most definitely to ensure that our DP/DH is NOT a complete and utter twat like Steve. I was utterly gobsmacked by the useless idiot. God help anyone who needs a policemen when he's on duty!!

This programme scared the be-Jeezus out of me. Am currently TTC#1 & am seriously considering stopping!

Connie- Theres a thread about this on the Telly addicts page too and one of the ladies on there knows Lisa and said they are all doing well

my 5p's worth-

Though the Copper husband was a complete idiot and I would of been so cross with him! DH even agreed.
Personally I wouldnt have my 18yr old son with me!
Thought the might wife was good by stating the need for urgency but not scaring the mum at all.

Felt for Lisa having her section. I too lay there shaking like a leaf so bought make many memories!
How horrible not being able to see him though.

Im 26weeks with number 2 and spent last night in dreamland labour!! Ache like mad this morning as I must of been actually pushing in my sleep!

Will still be tuning in next week though

OP here. I really enjoyed the program and thought it was really refreshing not to have any commentary but let the story tell itself IYSWIM.

I actually think it's going to help me "process" my birth experience as seeing the emotions on the women's face etc makes me think - yes giving birth is a bloody big deal - so what if it happens "every minute". It is a huge life changing massively emotional event.

I feel so proud of myself for giving birth!

To those of you who are TTC or PG with #1 - please try not to worry - and please try to read something about natural birth. Not so you can set yourself up for a fall but so that you can understand some of the things which make labour more difficult in a medicalised hospital environment. Hopefully you an try to minimise the stress.

I did a hypnobirthing course and I think for a hospital birth had a pretty good time. But I still beat myself up massively over things which didn't go to plan (ended up on my back with G&A and for some reason DH and midwife started to ignore my birthplan - then DS crowned for 2 hours and I had an episiotomy and DS was not skin to skin whilst I was stitched up, DS sleepy jaundiced and DS could never latch at all well).

But do you know what - We did it. We survived, we both made it and that really really is the main thing.

(NB The best part about hypnobirthing is that it tends to make the labour really fast due to the relaxation techinques and breathing - I did all the contractions in the bath at the hospital from 3cm - 10cm in less than 2 hours - with just DH there - midwife thought it would be all night so left us alone).

Do you know what my most heartfelt tip is?

Skin to skin.

I found it so weird when the baby is born and then they weigh him and dress him and I was just lying there spaced out on the gas and air and thinking - is that my baby? Wow ... OK... What I needed was for DH and midwife to just organise for me to cuddle him . (Felt so so sorry for Lisa in the prog).

Sorry for massive post. I just needed to get that all off my hest .

off my chest not hest

This is awebsite with more birth videos that is less scary if anyone wants to see some-
www.mybirth.tv/
And a site showing a lovely outdoor birth
rachyllgyne.tripod.com/thebirthofgreyforestwalt/index.html
There are all sorts of births!
Selina

Steve was a complete , and the fact that it clearly worked for them (yes - there exists a woman who is cheered up amd comforted by two men taking the piss out of her being-in-pain noises, strange, but apparantly true!) doesn't mean that he isn't till a !

He did have his snip reveresed ( no easy feat) and he did stump up for the IVF even though they are skint. Youngest is 11 huge gap my DH would have balked at that little lot.. he's not that bad IMO.. Who's dh doesn't generally come across wrong when there is that wonderfully judgemental friend over for a cuppa?

Steve was no doubt a good man, good hubby and father etc. Patience of a saint and all that.

But he was also the singularly most crass, naff, insensitive and irritating twerp I've seen on my television screen this year. All he needed were comedy socks and a big rubber mallet and the 'irritating wanker' image would have been truly complete.

His wife obviously loves him to bits so as blu says, it appears that some women think that having the piss taken out of their pain during labour is funny and ok.

Personally I'd have torn him a new a-hole, but I'd never have managed to be in the same room as him for five minutes to begin with.

Also, I'm sure the midwife was very well trained and highly prefessional, she got the job done admirably which is what counts. But I thought her manner was odd and at times downright weird. I didn't like her much.

Steve seemed fine to me and the way DH was when I was having DS. If DH had spent any time speaking softly to me or attempting to massage me or reassuring me (all the things that other people seem to find supportive), I would have thought he had lost his mind and been pissed off. Would much rather banter and teasing as is our usual method.

DS who is 6 has asked to be at the birth of his baby brother, I am still debating with myself about it.

I liked the midwife, when I am up to that bit, don't fuck around just tell me if I need to do something.

The worst part of the programme for me was watching them take Lisa's baby away, that was sad.

Lovely post, tabouleh, and I'd second what you are saying.

I was terrified before having DS 3 years ago, but the reality of it is that you very quickly forget all that stuff - I wished we'd videoed it because I couldn't believe it had really happened and that I had grown a human being and given birth.

Last night's programme brought some of it back, in particular the noises she was making but, you know, we were designed to do this amazing, hardcore thing and how to do it is engraved in our muscles. What could be more incredible?

Loved the programme last night - couldn't tear myself away.

Thought both the mothers were absolutely beautiful. I'm always so moved by how amazing and brave women are in labour. The c-section mum - felt so sorry for her with her shivering and her not being able to hold her baby. Hope she's enjoying baby now!

The other mum - well, with my 'big fan of Michel Odent' hat on, I was watching that and wondering whether having both a dorky husband and a terrified teenage son (who was admittedly incredibly sweet as well) was inhibiting her hormonal cascade and stopping her being able to push her baby out effectively.

fetusejectionreflex

Also wanted to know why they didn't try to get her off her arse to push, rather than cutting an episiotomy as a first line of action. If she's got to have two men in the room while she's giving birth, at least put the buggers to some use hefting her up into a squatting position!

Good programme. I'm 26 wks preg and watched the programme and blubbed afterwards, especially for baby born by C-section. It was lovely to see the babies and the emotions that the women felt when they saw their babies.

However, the amount of pain Tracy was in (idiotic husband Steve aside) was terrifing and I'm not sure how I'm going to cope. I'm hoping for a water birth at home but gas and air don't look like they're going to cut it. I know that everyone is different but the pain seems to be a constant in all the birth programmes I've seen and I'm scared.

As for the midwife....very annoying and weird and although she was looking out for the baby, I wouldn't want her to speak to me like how she spoke to Tracy.

That said, as terrified as I am, I'll be tuning in next week.

Have a look at hypnobirthing mumabee if nothing else it can help make you feel less scared and way more in control and aware of what is going on. Also stop watching birthing videos if they are freaking you out. Seek out the easier gentler ones.

This link has some much calmer ones.

I think what I found odd about Steve was that most of the time he was just sitting there!

Whilst I was walking around in pain I at least my husband was standing so I could lean on him when necessary!

Watched some of it today (bad cold = tv time!) & was touched by how kind the staff are, even though so overworked. Wanted to punch the dd & ds who kept tormenting & taking the mick out of one poor woman. She was a real pushover, though - I would've thumped the pair of them & thrown them out!

Tracey's midwife was excellent IMO. The baby was in distress obviously, how slow and terrifying was that thump thump thump heartbeat?? It should sound like a galloping horse. I was shitting myself for them when I heard that.

I don't know why Tracey couldn't push at the end, she looked like she had completely phased out at the end, bless her. Exhausted.

Glad all turned out well in the end and that the baby came out without instruments.

mumabee you may not have liked the manner of the midwife but it was exactly what was needed at the time, it was a potentially dangerous situation. If Tracey hadn't pushed thw baby out immediately she'd have ended up with worse episiotomy and forceps/ventouse. My experience was better than that and I had no gas and air (gave birth in Germany where there is none) so take heart, I would say most women have better births than Tracey and are able to push effectively at the end. Did you see the change in her as soon as he was out?? Incredible, like a light switching on and she was 'back in the room'.

oh, was that Tracey? The one with the mentally 5yr old dh? I haven't watched enough to be on 1st name basis.

and the midwife that kept going on about how the baby "has had enough"? I know what my reaction would have been if a midwife had said that to me at that point! Probably something like "bother the baby, I've bloody had enough! Get it out!"

I found myself pushing with Tracy! Weird how it all comes back, eh?

I loved this programme - I sobbed the whole way through as it brought it all back (in a good way). Somebody posted earlier that they wished they had a film of them giving birth and I sort of agree - I constantly ask my DH what happened at the end because I was off my head on the lovely drugs they gave me to take away the pain

The best bit was showing how Tracy went from chatty and having a laugh between contractions to going totally into the zone and into her own world of pain and concentration.....

Thank you for the link Morloth - very informative and given me lots to think about. I've got quite a good yoga dvd, which has a breathing and preparation for labour section. Might actually stopping using it as a coaster and start watching it

FanjolinaJolie I don't dispute that the baby was potentially in trouble, the slowing heartbeat was worrying. I still disagree with the way the midwife spoke to Tracy, who was absolutely knackered and also wanted her baby out. I don't expect to be handled with kid gloves but being spoken to like that would definitely get my back up-who knows, that might provide the fire I'd need to get the baby out Her face when the baby was put on her chest made it look worthwhile.