If you know me, you know I'm a natural birth advocate. No, I'm not a sadist that thinks women should endure massive amounts of pain to have a baby; I believe that women are stronger than we've been told (epidurals have only been around for just over a 100 years...compared to the thousands of years women have managed birth the natural way, that's a drop in the bucket...and I'm pretty sure pain alone doesn't kill people so don't try to throw the mortality rate at me), and it's been proven that it's safer and healthier for mom and baby to have as little intervention in the birth process as possible. (I'm not going to get into a debate about whether or not home birth v. hospital birth is safer. They both have their benefits, and we certainly took advantage of having medical equipment nearby in case of a catastrophe. But interventions like epidurals and induction can cause all sorts of problems). We as women were biologically designed to give birth. Our bodies know what to do. And it's our community of other mothers who are supposed to help us prepare mentally in order to cope with the pain, because really, it's all mind games and believing in yourself and trusting the process that helps you deal with the pain of contractions. Take the fear out and the pain becomes manageable. Because really, natural birth is amazing, and empowering, and the most beautiful experience in the world, and most of the women I know who gave birth naturally, and who had really prepared to do it, say the exact same thing, and can't wait to do it again. Wait, what's that I'm saying, we can't wait to give birth naturally again, to go through that pain and endurance test all over again?? Yep. Because it really is that awesome. I would rather give birth again any day than be pregnant, honestly. Pregnancy was not kind to my body. But birth...birth was an experience all of its own.
Anyway, sorry for the tangent there, just trying to give a bit of background. Since having Anne, I've seen a couple of tv shows now that portray birth, and it irks me to no end. First, for some reason they almost always only show a woman pushing, they never show her coping with the contractions. Secondly, they're always on their backs in a bed, which is possibly the number one worst position to give birth in, though I will give some credit and say at least they're usually semi-sitting. Gravity is your best friend!! I stood up or kneeled for the majority of my labor, and the only time I really felt like the contractions might send me over the edge was when I had to lay down to have my cervix checked. Those few contractions I had to go through on that bed were the worst. Stand up, ladies!! It helps. That baby is trying to move down, not sideways.
There's an episode of Scrubs where Carla has just given birth and she needs to breastfeed her baby. First, I will say I was pleased that she was breastfeeding. But then she had to go and make the comment
"Oh, my nipples/breasts are so sore, I wish I could use formula." Really?? What kind of message is that supposed to send? Why couldn't she have said "Oh my breasts are so sore, I need to correct my latch but I'm so glad I can give my baby the best nutrition possible" ? Or something else positive. Breastfeeding is already viewed with enough negativity and lack of education in this country without a tv show reinforcing it. And don't even get me started on Jordan who, if I remember correctly, scheduled an induction and epidural. Scheduling an induction, unless you're having issues like preeclampsia or other actual medical complications, is like taking a cake out of the oven 20 minutes before it's supposed to be done. Babies come when they're supposed to! Trust your body!
Last night we watched the episode of Bones where Angela gives birth. I was proud that they had her go through a natural birth, possibly the only one I've seen on tv, but again irritated that she was laying on her back in a bed. Angela is very forward-thinking, there is no way she would have been laying on her back because she would have done enough research to know that gravity helps. Why couldn't they have shown her walking around to cope with her contractions? Or Hodgins giving her counter-pressure on her back? Or having a doula at her side helping her, which, considering the character, would have been completely reasonable? Also, I was annoyed that the doctor attending her decided when it was time for Angela to push. Which, if you've given birth, you know is total bs. A doctor doesn't decide that. Your body does; it's involuntary. I will say I was happy with her response to Bones after it was over, though, when she told her how amazing it was. I think if they had made Angela tell Bones it was awful and she'd ask for an epidural the next time I would have thrown something at the tv. So kudos to the writers for that at least, but I wish they could have done a bit more research about what natural birth might look like for Angela.
When will they show a different kind of birth on tv? A birth where the woman is in control, not a doctor, trusting her body and the process, dealing with the pain in a positive way, and possibly trying other positions than just laying on her back? When are they going to make birth on tv look the way birth can appear in real life? TV doesn't hesitate to show you every graphic detail of someone being murdered, but they can't show better details of a woman bringing new life into the world?? Get with the program, entertainment industry! Now the show that dares to show a water birth, I might consider that show a miracle...
