should i watch OBEM on iplayer or will it freak me out??

[FreckleyGirlAbroad]

Am 32 weeks and have my head in the sand about the birth bit of my pregnancy. I used to love watching one born every minute before being pregnant and would cry at every episode, but dh thinks it might be a good idea now to help us get ready but I'm not so sure. What do you think?????

Definitely watch it but remember that it's cut to make it interesting viewing so not always 100% accurate in terms of what to expect.

I personally would say it could be good to watch with a view that they show a lot of different situations that can happen during labour and birth, which may help you decide if theres anything you dont want or do want.

As an example i had in my birth plan that if it came to it i would prefer vontouse over forceps and unfortunately it did come to it & the consultant did try vontouse but ended up with forceps. I had a bit of an idea of what to expect.

Do remember that most births are not 'interesting' enough to make it onto programs like OBEM.

I watch it before both my births. I found it very interesting and informative.
All the different scenarios gave me a better idea of the possibilities.
It is obviously not totally true to life but it really helped me feel prepared.

Oddly enough, I tried this the other day.

I've watched loads before I became pregnant. But re watching now I'm pregnant really frightened me. Hopefully it was just because I'm in my uber emotional 1st trimester.

If you do watch, do let me know how it effects you! x

I am now 25 weeks and have started watching a show called deliver me on really. It had made me really think about not only the birth but also the days after and what I do and don't want to happen.
But I haven't gotten round to OBEM yet. For some reason because its filmed in England it makes it feel more real and scary lol x

Even if you aren't having a homebirth, would recommend watching Home Birth Diaries if you ca find it online somewhere.

or babes in the wood

OBEM is shot on a labour ward where almost all the women are high risk and requiring more intervention than a typical birth.

It makes for much more exciting tv, but don't view it as how normal, complication free births are - as that could effect your expectations and outcome of your own.

I couldn't watch it before pregnancy and I still can't watch it at 28+6. I am far too squeamish and have spend my entire life fearing childbirth- I don't think I will be able to watch any videos at my antenatal classes either.

I am reading up on labour- what happens to my body at various stages, and possible risks and interventions which may be needed throughout. I am well aware it's going to hurt, and where and when to expect pain,. I am working hard not to fear the process and understand it better.I am reading lots of positive birth stories (Spiritual Midwifery) and no longer listening to anyones horror stories about labour, in the hope of mentally preparing myself as far as possible.

Maybe I am being naïve and cowardly, but I believe I do not need to see childbirth in order to experience it. As said above, it is only the "interesting" stories that we hear about and I certainly do not intend to scare myself when I am working so hard to fight the rear I already have.

*fear I already have.

Doh!

I watched the first three episodes of series two of OBEM and that gave me enough of an idea. Episode three was my favourite, but I know my experience will be different and mine. So I didn't want to watch too much!

It might be good for your dp to get a glimpse, but don't get obsessed :)

My dp had a son almost 18 years ago, so I just want this time to be a different experience from then. Just for us so to speak.

But knowing he has been through labour once before assures me enough that he is not blindly supporting me in a rose tinted way :)

I think he is looking forward to it a little much as he wants a hospital bag too (lol), which I plan om giving him and stuffing full of food and drinks. I will let him go to sleep if needed, but the only rule is he cannot leave my side! Unless I make him of course.

I won't be watching any more of OBEM. with my antenatal classes, we will be as ready as we will ever be :) I think! We have a few months to go, but heading there quite quickly.

I've had 5 babies but I've never watched an episode of OBEM! Pregnancy/birth programmes make my skin crawl especially based in a hospital like OBEM is.

I dont have SKY so Im limited to what i can watch. But when i had my older dc, programmes like this didn't exist. We still managed to give birth!

I watched OBEM when i was pregnant with my dd (more for entertainment) and i found childbirth to be nothing like what i had watched..i think they definately play up to the cameras ;)

I love watching one born lol even before pregnancy I was obsessed with it, it doesn't freak me out as I know its obviously going to hurt, I just like to see how everything works x

Thanks for the advice. I think I'm going with the theory that the more prepared I am for the worst, the better. Although deep down I know that nothing at all can prepare you for your first, no matter what you read or watch!!!!

Also, where I live they don't offer gas and air during labor, so I can ignore that but for a start!!!!!