One Born Every Minute USA - water breaking

[RuByMaMa]

My understanding is the procedure itself is uncomfortable and it leads to a generally more painful labour for the woman - why are they insisting on doing it?!?

[redfoxy]

I watched that and cursed at them throughout the entire one program.

I was with my sister in the USA when she had her first, (and long before I had mine and had inkling about what it's all about), and although it wasn't quite like that, (no epidural) she was on her back in stirrups. After watching the show I mentioned it to my Sis who said that people are amazed she didn't have an epidural or a c section as it's the norm there!!

That maternity hospital seems like they run on unnecessary interventions, $cha-ching$ for the hospital....

Guess I was lucky and had a pretty nice home birth with lots of entenox and awesome midwives. I couldn't physically get on my back, it hurt to do so and I would have punched someone if they made me!! Seems like a million miles away from the care there.

[merryberry]

The thing that struck me as really different (as the actual medicalisation they showed was what I expected from the US stats) was the tag-teaming families in attendance at many of the births. I've only watched 2 of the shows, but each birth there had at least 2 people in the labour room per mother. And much of the action revolved around their interactions. I saw some unhappy/irritated expressions on labouring women's faces at family/staff antics. I don't think I actually know anyone here who has had more than a 1 family member and a doula, max, in attendance. Usually just one other person.

[anonacfr]

I know!! One of my friends over there was telling me that when she had her 3rd her MIL asked if she could be in the room. Stupidly she agreed and then her MIL spent the whole complaining about how long it was taking.... I would have punched her!
Basically they tell you you're allowed to have as many people as you want so some feel obliged to have more people than they would want.

Did you see the one in the show where the husband had ADD (or at least it looked that way)? Wife was trying to sleep and he kept nagging her to let him call his family and friends to say she was in labour (something she didn't want) and then spent ages talking about macaroni cheese...
She was trying to talk about the future and her worries about being a mother and all he could talk about was food! At one point she looked at him desperately and said 'you're going to be a great dad'... She looked like she was willing it to be true!

[merryberry]

Oh i saw that one yes. Very, your husband your first child, wasn't he! Tiresome.

[carocaro]

Is it me, or do all the women just lie their pain free until there until they baby just pops out, no screaming, huffing, puffing etc. All calm, I don't get it?

[merryberry]

ove 50% of women givng birth in U|SA hospitals have epidurals.

[merryberry]

oh it's gone up there ceaccp.oxfordjournals.org/content/4/4/114.full

[katkitya]

What about that poor woman tonight? Shouldn't she have had an elective section if she has osteoporis?