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Childbirth: All or Nothing (BBC1)

93 replies

babyfedleaning · 24/02/2015 19:07

Just read the blurb for this programme later tonight. Should make interesting viewing...

"One-off documentary following four pregnant women making very different choices about their births, including Jo from Leeds, who plans to deliver her baby alone on board her barge, and private patient Anna, who has booked in for a C-section at London's Portland Hospital. Lisa from Devon has decided to undergo a lotus birth, where the baby's umbilical cord is left attached until the placenta drops off naturally, while Kati from Manchester wants to turn the afterbirth into a smoothie to consume over a number of days. Each woman is going against convention to do it her own way. Will things go as planned?"

Placenta smoothie, anyone? Biscuit

OP posts:
zzzzz · 25/02/2015 15:33

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Milkwagon · 25/02/2015 15:36

I think the most important aspect of this programme was to understand that expectant mothers have a choice of where & how they decide to birth and shouldn't feel beholden to anyone else's decisions. No medical professional can compel another to do something if they don't want to. I boaked at the umbilical cord left on my babies let alone lotus birthing - don't really see the benefit of that. Felt a bit Sad for Anna - obv v.risk averse yet there's so much risk having major abdominal surgery/epidural etc. I saw the cord was clamped instaneously and not much appeared to be in best interests of the baby, there was more concern over having her hair done. Her husband was a controlling dickhead. Everything seemed to be for his own convenience...the flight to Wyoming 10 days pn and that photo shoot wtaf?!

1944girl · 25/02/2015 19:26

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VeryPunny · 25/02/2015 19:37

Most airlines won't accept infants under two weeks old, so hopefully Anna didn't havr to go any where.

cosmicglittergirl · 25/02/2015 19:58

Just watched it now, thought it was all very interesting. The water birth looked really peaceful and made me feel almost a bit sad I'm booked in for an induction next week. I'm not convinced I want to consume my placenta though.

seaoflove · 25/02/2015 22:45

Bloody hypnobirthing. I have issues with that. "Breathe the baby out"? She didn't look like she was breathing the baby out, she was pushing with all her might!

Laquila · 26/02/2015 08:05

"Breathe the baby out" isn't intended to be completely literal

Laquila · 26/02/2015 08:09

Sorry, posted too soon. Hypnobirthing techniques can be extremely helpful to a lot of women - obviously hypnobirthing isn't a miraclulous, pain-free, effort-free way of having a baby, but it can certainly help a lot of women to focus themselves and make the experience as positive and intervention-free as possible. I guess it's really a fairly new term for a set of techniques that have probably been passed down by women all over the world for centuries, really.

Gunpowder · 26/02/2015 08:22

I was willing Anna's consultant to tell her husband she shouldn't be travelling long haul 10 days post-section. She needed a fierce NHS midwife to give him a talking too IMO!

FrozenAteMyDaughter · 26/02/2015 08:54

I heard the consultant mutter something about giving her time to recover but it wasn't very forceful. I guess he who pays the piper calls the tune sadly.

I didn't think her mother was particularly supportive either. Going on about pain and how she hadn't really done it properly. I suppose it's a generation thing but that sort of attitude does feed the whole competitive birthing thing that goes on. Ianshe clearly was extremely anxious about the whole birth side of things and wanted to make it all as safe as she could to ensure nothing went wrong. She really seemed to feel she had to justify her decision whereas she should have been able to say this is my choice and nobody else's business.

seaoflove · 26/02/2015 09:29

Well, I started out reading a hypnobirthing book, and had to abandon it when it said you don't push, you breathe the baby out; there is no such thing as an urge to push and any woman who says they experienced it only did so because they were expecting to and it was psychosomatic. That was the point when I thought, nah, I'm not having this Smile

Surely the DVT risk of flying ten days post section is vastly increased? The husband only spoke about the 18 month old doing 40 odd long haul flights in his lifetime, like it was a good thing...

TheEagle · 26/02/2015 09:31

I didn't understand why they all had to go with him to America. How long was he going to be there?

I also didn't care for her mother's attitude. I went through plenty of pain with my EMCS thanks very much! A lot of my MILs friends thought the EMCS was the "easier option" too Angry

Jackieharris · 26/02/2015 09:47

seaoflove I've had 2 vaginal births and have never had 'the urge to push'.

I only caught the second half of the programme.

They did seem to look for the most extreme examples of doing things differently.

I kept the cord attached for a good half hour after dc2. I've not heard of any advantage of carting it around with you though.

I've known a few women who've kept their placentas and been happy about it. It's been a part of you for 9 months- what a waste to chuck it out with medical waste. If you don't want to consume it then planting got under a tree is a nice alternative.

Free births aren't illegal. It's illegal for someone who isn't a midwife to act as one.

I had a free birth when my home birth midwives didn't arrive on time. Apart from not getting gas & air it was nice! All went easily. As for stitches, if you are at home you have much less chance of having a tear that needs stitches.

seaoflove · 26/02/2015 09:53

Well I've had one vaginal birth and had an urge to push that felt like a juggernaut Grin

Laquila · 26/02/2015 10:11

That's weird, seaoflove - we weren't told anything so extreme in my Hypnobirthing classes. Do you remember which book it was? I guess you so need to go into Hypnobirthing with a very open mind, as some of it goes against what a lot of people think are the "facts" of childbirthing. it definitely isn't for everyone :)

I had my placenta encapsulated and would have had the smoothie but had meconium in my waters, so that was out. I have a picture of my placenta somewhere - I was very proud of it!

Gunpowder · 26/02/2015 11:53

I was too shaky to look at my placenta last time and got whisked away v. quickly. Going to ask to look at this time but don't think I'd want to keep it!

Gunpowder · 26/02/2015 11:53

*at it

gallicgirl · 26/02/2015 13:16

Just watching it now.

Couldn't bear to see the c-section either and I was seriously considering asking for one until recently. Glad I'm not having one now!

I did see my placenta last time. Wonder if you have to cook it first?

gallicgirl · 26/02/2015 13:19

Oh. Apparently not!

Not much placenta compared to volume of fruit. No wonder it tastes like a normal smoothie.

Agree about Anna's husband. Not sure why they have to accompany him on his business trips.

Laquila · 26/02/2015 13:26

Gallic I was v squeamish until I had my EMCS, then I couldn't get enough of watching them on YouTube! A friend abroad had the option to watch hers on a screen whilst it happened - I'd like to think I'd take them up on that but would probably struggle...

Pinkfuzzmonkey · 26/02/2015 14:18

For those who felt inspired by my water birth:

Did you know that there are things you can do to prepare for birth to maximise the chances that things will go well. Feeling safe, feeling supported in your choices and learning to relax deeply have all been shown to help (self-hypnosis).

Have you heard about the The Birth You In Love crowdfunding Project for to create bitesize films that will be put on youtube for free. The films will show in one place things that can be done to help prepare for an intervention free birth if that's what you would like:

igg.me/at/Birthyouinlove/x/9203291

If you could share it widely that would be amazing:-)

And here is the link facebook page for 'Birth You In Love' too:

www.facebook.com/birthyouinlove

Please 'like' it. xx

cosmicglittergirl · 26/02/2015 14:47

Is that you Pinkfuzz? Congratulations on your new arrival.
I found your water birth really moving and cried at that bit when the baby bobbed up to the surface because I'm feeling very apprehensive about what's about to happen to me (induction for a medical condition and complications with first birth). I would love a birth like that. Will look at your pages and hope for next time.

hideandseekpig · 26/02/2015 15:00

I didn't particularly want to see the placenta but unfortunately the midwife dropped it on the floor in front of me after she had fished it out of the toilet Hmm don't think I'd have eaten it after that happened thanks...but each to their own of course!

EachandEveryone · 26/02/2015 18:37

I'm desparate to know what the babies were named! The water birth was amazing to watch.

dajmibuzi · 27/02/2015 10:34

The waterbirth was fabulous. I've had 2 now and I'd love another one if I have another baby. I loved all the families and had a lot of respect for them all.