Is it a good idea to watch birth programmes?

[whydoifeellikethis]

Hi,

I've noticed that there's a new programme on Tuesday evening set in a maternity ward. I'm only 7 weeks with 1st baby so it all feels way off (I'm currently focused on nausea) but I'm tempted to watch it.

Will I feel better informed afterwards or just freaked out? I'm a bit scared by the whole being pregnant and getting bigger thing let alone giving birth.

What to do.....

yes, it was Dawn Porter that freaked me out

so i watched, and cried loads!!!! I did giggle a bit at the poor teenage son, why??? I mean why was he there!!!!

Thed thing that still freaks me is

It HURTS
It HURTS!!!!!
it lasts for hours
its scary
a very large item comes from a small (but lerger now) hole

anyway, state the bleeding obvious...

my pg mate texted me saying : I feel sick

nuff said!!!!

I watched it too and found it in equal parts mesmerising and petrifying. That said, once I'd got over the latter, DP and I agreed that it had been really useful for us to see a more 'real' side to giving birth (rather than what is usually portrayed on the television) and are both looking forward to the next episode.
This is our first baby so we're soaking anything of this ilk up like a sponge...

And yes, I'm glad that my DP isn't as bloody useless/idiotic as the ones on the programme. Or at least I don't think he is...

There's a good thread on this programme running on the Childbirth board, but just wanted to say on here that if my DP is anywhere near as absolutely useless at that dumbarse twat Steve (hubby of one of the two ladies shown on the tv show) then he'll be told in no uncertain terms to eff off. It wasn't the pain the woman was in that surprised me, kind of expected that, but it was how absolutely unbelievably stupid her bloody husband was.

I'm hoping they show a birth next time with more pain meds - just to compare with this one on the gas & air. Also hope they show what the outcome was on the poor little mite who was born with the stomach problem, now that did make me cry.

onebyoneNOTfourbyfour - yes, I agree. I would have liked to have seen more of that side of things...
And the baby with the stomach problem - between that and watching his mum shake with fear as she went into surgery for here section... I was quite beside myself. Still, glad I watched though. Just goes to show that there is no such thing as a "perfect" birth!

DH & I watched it....mainly to try to educate him slightly....dont get me wrong this is my 1st baby too & I have not go a clue but thought I'd try to desensitize him slightly.....he sat staring at the dog, busying himself stroking her, actually put his head behind the pillow, washed up & made countless amounts of cuppas!
That said, I have to agree with all above....I think all the birthing partners were bloody useless, the "laughing policeman" husband was a total dick...her 18 year old son, why oh why oh why - a form of contraception perhaps? & the guy with the younger mum - he didnt say a bloody word & when the baby was born he just nodded at it
Judging by DH reaction last night I dont think he'll be much use but I hope to god he's better than that lot put together!!

Made me even more impatient to get pregnant, I suppose it helps having done it before though. One of the better programmes I have seen on the subject.......Not likely to scare the crap out of you!!!

No don't watch it if you're pregnant. Why frighten yourself? You can't know what your experience will be like until it happens. It's never pleasant but it is soon over. Hold that thought in your head.

ChristieF - I agree with you - it's the inevitability of birth that will get you through it... but I do think (especially for first-time mums) that seeing a documentary like this one can give you a more 'real' example of what your experience might be like. As you say, no two births are the same, but I found this doc to be far more informative than any number of books on the subject.

Very well said onebyoneNOTfourbyfour I have sky + and may go back to it but after 10 minutes of watching that t**t I had to turn over before I punched the screen he made me sooooooooooooooooo mad.

I am 30 weeks pregnant with DC3 and I watched the program and I WILL DEFINATELY NOT be watching any more.

IMO, watching these programs will result in you bringing fear into your own labour (because as other posters say they always show the exciting / dramatic bits....

And the more fear you bring to your labour the more painful it will be.... (fear has been shown to be a major cause of labour pain).

DO NOT WATCH! The worst preparation I had before DD's birth was a DVD shown by my NCT teacher of a women not coping well with a birth, completely terrified me, very unhelpful.

Watching my DS's birth would not have been too interesting.... or make good TV - me telling midwife I could cope and all was fine... between contractions and sucking on a little gas and air, then stepping into the pool and telling midwife that didn't really need the gas and air after all, and then 10 mins of me pushing him out very slowly in calm fashion to avoid tearing.