How Realistic is 'One Born Every Minute'?

[VixenAndCub]

Okay, so I'm currently 36 weeks on my first baby, so I have no idea what to expect/what I'm doing.

I watch OBEM when it's on, if there's nothing else on TV, and I naturally take it with a pinch of salt. But at the same time, they seem to be a bit more in line with what my midwife has suggested with positions and pain management - a lot better than some other shows I've caught glimpses of.

So is it worth watching properly to get an idea or advice or should I just ignore it and go in the dark and hope for the best?

Well, it's realistic because it's real stories about real births. It's not staged like Made In Chelsea! But no one can tell you exactly what the birth will be like.

I think reading a good birth book or antenatal course would be better. OBEM is entertainment not education so is very focused on the dramatic and extreme.

It is entertainment not education and it is VERY VERY edited for the shock factor. Midwives are scripted when being interviewed etc. I’m still annoyed that they filmed a gorgeous home birth and then cut it from the show as it was “boring” 😡😡

It was all a lot screamier and longer than I found actual labour/birth.

Agree that it’s a lot “screamier” () than real life. But then for some reason, a lot of the women are laying on their backs or even have their legs in stirrups for no obvious reason. Active labour positions are much better!

@TableforJane I agree in active labour, with my dd every contraction I was up and walking around and gave birth on all fours. The power of gravity plays a big part I believe.

Well they are real women having babies so yes it's "real" . But highly edited to cut out the "boring bits" . If you've got to 36 weeks and have no idea of what is going to happen, you'd be well advised to go to some prenatal classes . Or go to the Baby Centre online antenatal classes which are very helpful. community.babycentre.co.uk/groups/a3892611/babycentres_antenatal_classes

I think it's as realistic as a TV show can be. They show how irritable you can get with your dh when you are in pain and he is being an annoying twat! It shows the hours of waiting around while nothing happens and all the different types of birth. I've seen horrid shoulder dystocia ones (don't watch that one - it won't make you feel better and it's really rare) and beautiful birthing pool deliveries, where the mum has pretty much coughed and the baby has popped out. I think they try to give you as full a picture as you can of all the different ways a baby can be born.

I can't watch it makes me cry half the time 😂

No, they're all actors, even the babies. They train at RADA

I've often wondered how natural it is in terms of the timing that they give birth in. I cant imagine the hospitals would induce them all for a TV show so are they told to get to the hospital as soon as the very first contraction starts? They all seem to arrive fairly early into the labour and get settled in and seem to wait for it to start where as most low risk women would be sent home until labour is in full swing.

I watched a number of episodes, and thought 'that looks shit, but I can do that!' Clearly I missed the episode where the mum was in labour for 40 hours before they even got to the hospital at still only just 4cms 🙄

Well it’s not a feature length documentary on birth, but it is real women, partners, midwives etc. I don’t doubt that the interviews are scripted or at the very least heavily guided, but clearly they can’t script birth or they’d all be millionaires now. They obviously cut out large parts because it’s boring (and really labour is- I spent a lot of time clock watching even through contractions, changing positions, being examined etc) and don’t show anything too distressing to your average viewer, but for the most part it is, essentially, real life. Yeah they like to edit it to sound screamier for more of the time than is real, but equally no one knows how screamy they’re going to be until it’s happening! It’s not easy to get a clear idea of what birth is like before you’ve done it as there are so many variables. I do like watching OBEM though and it’s slightly more engaging than a ruddy great textbook!

@Hollowvictory
No need for sarcasm, I didn't mean LITERALLY realistic - I know they're real people. I meant simply how realistic are the procedures, the treatment of mothers, babies and partners and such.

Realistic on the aspects you're discussing, not so realistic on the noise and how much of labour is just plain boring waiting around - which is why on "what should I pack for labour?" Threads there's often mentions of books, magazines, puzzle books, make sure you've got your phone charger (cos you'll spend much of it time wasting on phone), music supplies etc

I was 28 hours with dd and much of that was just waiting in between contractions (lazy little sod had to be emcs in the end )

I was dreading the pain as I have endo and assumed it'd be even worse, reality was I didn't even notice I was in full labour!

My overriding feeling afterwards was not too painful but bloody boring and knackering!

Never watched it but I know it’s heavily edited. Beem told it would be too shocking and not very C4 otherwise. So edited to take screaming out!

its a long time since i had a baby - but I'd say you've had a few disingenuous replies. My view of the programme is that there is a lot of focus on high risk births - hence there are generally more interventions, on back monitoring etc. Its more common that there is more time on your own than with a midwife and unless there are cmplications a far 'gentler' stream of events to getting your baby.
However i think its really good to know what 'might' happen if youdidnt progress, need an emergency c-section - stitching up etc and the more information you can have the more you are able to understand and not be overwhelmed as I was with my first when i ended up needing an emcs. I had NO clue what would happen or recovery as it just was something i assumed wouldn't happen (!). So its well edited to make it all seem a little more dramatic, it under emphasises the looooooooong looooong time everything can take - and the majority of births are far less dramatic then perhaps on average you would expect if you only watched the programme. HTH

I actually found it really good to watch, just to be prepared for all the eventualities of labour and to see what would potentially happen during my labour. But I'm someone who likes to know these things in detail as it makes me feel prepared! Some people thought I was mad watching it!
No-one can tell you what your labour is like or what will help you feel prepared so I guess just do whatever makes you feel good! Good luck!

Would recommend getting the digital pack from The Positive Birth Company over OBEM. It’s entertainment & edited a lot. Watch some videos on YouTube more real.

I watched it when I was pregnant with DD1 despite everyone telling me not to as it would terrify me as they do focus on lots of high risk high drama stories. When I ran into problems in my labour and the big red button was hit and my labour room flooded with people I didn't panic. I knew from watching obem that everyone that was there had a job to do and as chaotic as it seemed they were all in control of the situation. It was a big help to me as I didn't freak out which would have been my natural reaction. I still needed a forceps delivery but I think if I hadn't stayed so relaxed I could well have ended up in theatre with a section...

When I've watched it, it seems like the women rock up at the first twinge and get settled into a nice private room - is that in exchange for sharing their experience?
I had an induction so a bit different, but spent a loooong time on a horrible noisy shared ward and only got a private room when I was 6cm and in absolute agony!