Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

Would you go on OBEM?

100 replies

hokeycakey · 26/06/2013 14:14

I am 24 weeks & just had a letter asking if I would be willing to participate in the next series..... On the one hand I thought it might be nice to record it.... On the other hand I don't know if having a camera crew there in labour or my friend/family seeing my perineum appeals wwyd?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

GibberTheMonkey · 26/06/2013 17:59

I wouldn't have a problem if I were to have another (which I'm not)
Except I would be having a home birth so couldn't

MumOfTheMoos · 26/06/2013 18:29

I wouldn't recommend it; I was involved in a reality tv series in the very early days and there can be very little similarity between what actually happens and the scene you see on tv.

Remember tv producers are not your friend and often extremely ambitious people. One guy on our programme, although a bit of a plonker, was portrayed so badly on the programme that he went on to have some sort of breakdown (so I heard).

I was very boring, so they didn't use a lot of me - mainly because I never forgot my mum would be watching

MumOfTheMoos · 26/06/2013 18:43

That said, both DH and I watched OBEM every week before I give birth and feel it gave a representation of childbirth far closer to my experience than the nct classes did (unfortunately).

So I'm very grateful that people did sign up.

cupcake78 · 26/06/2013 18:53

Nope, I'd hate to see what I'm actually like during labour!

chickensaladagain · 26/06/2013 19:08

I know someone who's daughter was on it

Hours of interviews were left on the floor and they portrayed the 'grandma' in a really bad light

Not a chance I would put my life in the hands of a tv production crew

nancerama · 26/06/2013 19:10

A friend was offered the opportunity to appear in the first series. He is a producer in the entertainment business and found out more from a curiosity point of view. He was very unimpressed with the contract and said he wouldn't recommend anyone sign it.

perplexedpirate · 26/06/2013 19:15

Not in a million years. I wouldn't watch it either. I am deeply uncomfortable with the concept of this program.

Aetae · 26/06/2013 19:17

No way. I'm not even that keen on medical professionals being there, there is no way in hell the whole country is watching. It's bad enough thinking about a future employer googling your Facebook feed etc, can you imagine if they could watch a rerun of your labour?!!?!

MoodyDidIt · 26/06/2013 19:17

ooh i would deffo go on it!

they blur everything out anyway when the birth bit happens

do you get paid?

sunnyshine · 26/06/2013 19:18

Yes yes and yes!! Why not!! I think it would be a great thing to do.

sunnyshine · 26/06/2013 19:19

I also heard ( not sure if its true) younger £10,000 if they air your birth?

gymboywalton · 26/06/2013 19:24

under no circumstances no!!!!!

it was such an incredibly private and intimate time! i didn't want anyone there but dh and the one lovely midwife and even she left me alone for the majority of the time.

i wouldbe very dull to watch too-i go ultra silent in labour

Anothermrssmith · 26/06/2013 21:07

I wouldn't outright dismiss it but don't think I would jump at the opportunity either. I'm pretty sure that OBEM is made by the same team that make 24hrs in A&E which I've always thought is a really well made programme. There was an episode of that a few weeks ago about how they make it and how they get consent and I'm sure they said they got the consent, filmed, edited it together then you had to sign another release saying you were happy with the final edit. If that was the case I'd be more open to the idea.

RoomForALittleOne · 26/06/2013 22:32

I was on One Born At Christmas. I wouldn't do it again. PM me if you want more details of what the experience was like. Oh, and no you don't get paid but you get a DVD of the episode you are on and a small gift for the baby (which they put the wrong name on, grrrrrr). Also there isn't a camera crew in the room but a few remote control cameras on the walls that are operated from another room. The cameras are loud and off-putting IMHO.

RoomForALittleOne · 26/06/2013 22:34

I forgot - in theory you can pull out at any time but the contract didn't seem to truly reflect this.

Atavistic · 26/06/2013 22:47

The one thing that would encourage me to partake, is that I think you'd get better care from the medical staff.

I was left to wait an hour for a ventouse delivery because it was shift change time ( 8am). I've had 4 kids in 2 different hospitals, and I've had some great care, and some truly neglectful awfulness.

I think the staff would be more on their toes, and more considerate of you, if they are being filmed. I think this improves your safety, and your babies. IMO.

Ezza1 · 26/06/2013 22:49

So are the cameras rolling all the time all over the delivery suite and wards? Is it possible that they could film all that goes on over a certain period then edit as necessary? Or how else would it work?

MrsMangoBiscuit · 27/06/2013 06:31

Ezza, they don't film in a room where they don't have consent, those cameras are off. (At least they were for me)

MOTU · 27/06/2013 12:43

I got this letter too and it clearly says that we would get no editorial control and they will "discuss any concerns" which means jack!
Also I live round the corner from the hospital an have friends who work there, the money is just a rumour-you get nothing ! Except a baby grow which the shows logo on it! For having your fanjo on telly! No thanks I say! But as my due date is small bang in the middle of filming I will watch with interest to see if I hear myself!

chesticles · 27/06/2013 14:58

A lady on the CLAPA (cleft lip and palate association) facebook page was on OBEM when she delivered her DS who had a cleft lip that was spotted at the 20 week scan. She said the experience was ok, but she mainly wanted to do it to raise awareness of cleft lips. Which I think it did well.

TaurielTest · 27/06/2013 15:23

I would run a mile, for lots of reasons.
Here's one: when labouring, I want a feeling of security and privacy. I want oxytocin, not adrenalin, to be flowing. It seems to me that any sense of being exposed or under scrutiny, like a knowedge that I was being filmed (however discreetly), would get in the way of that. I'm only giving birth a couple of times in my life, it's too rare and special an experience to mess with for the sake of being in a documentary.

OneLittleToddleTerror · 27/06/2013 16:06

Actually I think I'll do it because of what Altavistic says. My care in the hospital was awful. I was left to wait for 2 days in the hospital, without anyone checking on my progress. I had no assigned midwife, only my DH with me. (I was admitted after water breaking and waiting for induction. That never happened because they were too busy. They only got to me after 2 days when I was fully dilated. I didn't even know how long I have been in that state).

stubbornstains · 27/06/2013 16:10

The only reason I would go on OBEM would be if I could be shown putting Dbaby on a (shock horror) UNAIRBRUSHED BREAST WITH NIPPLE AND EVERYTHING immediately post-birth. Honestly, I watch it pretty regularly, and you hardly ever see the baby going on the boob- what a rubbish example to give to the Expectant Mothers of Britain.

(I would also be more tempted if they arranged some flattering lighting and a make up artist )

amazingmumof6 · 27/06/2013 16:10

yep. I'm hilarious, would be good tv

had six so far, but have never been asked. damn

amazingmumof6 · 27/06/2013 16:11

for us it would have to be "One born every 2 years - more or less" though!

Flip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread