TV Birth
Birth on TV tends to show women on a bed with bright lights, interruptions and being told what to do. Or a woman’s waters have broken and the baby arrives soon after.
While labour and birth can sometimes be a bit dramatic when a baby is born quickly and it can be tough going in places – with contractions, endurance, unpredictability and intensity - there is often time and it is rarely dangerous.
Women’s needs vary throughout labour and no labours are the same. As a mum of three, a doula and a seasoned antenatal teacher I know what can make a difference: being listened to; being asked what you need; being treated with kindness, compassion and professionalism; a gentle birth environment so you are encouraged to move and respond to the needs of your body and your baby with active birth equipment and birth pools; softer lighting and quiet; medical staff who are part of your team, not your superior; good, clear communication so you feel safe and so you know more about your options; respect of your choices and your needs. And we don’t see much of this on TV.
What we see on TV can frame what we think labour and birth will be like - so it can be normal to expect to be on a bed, to be told what to do and for it to be dramatic - TV births often involve TV doctors quickly swooping in to save the day. Even some of the real birth shows - like One Born Every Minute - can show birth as more dramatic and can reinforce the midwife/doctor as the person with the power, who needs to be listened to.
Instagram is now changing this a little with great birth photography showing the range of what labour and birth can look like.
Having been an antenatal teacher for over 20 years, the issues remain largely the same for labouring women and I still regularly hear “Will I be allowed to….” when expectant parents are discussing labour. And throughout my career I have continued to be frustrated by the lack of informed choice, the narrowing of options and the policy-centred care that can exist within maternity services. I work with a lot of second-time parents who are way more feisty because they know more about what they are dealing with and want more of a say in their care and in their options because they may have felt unheard first time around. And this isn’t just to focus on labour, parents come to me to discuss inductions as well as planned caesareans.
Realistic preparation and labour support, which includes discussion, options and knowledge, go a long way to personalising labour & birth, with a more flexible step-by-step approach.
Good birth preparation is knowing more about what labour and birth can look like, what can help, what might not. It’s also about having the confidence to be assertive, to say what you need and to be at the centre of your care for all births.
I use a range of images in my birth preparation work to illustrate what labour can look like and I always prompt discussion about options and to challenge any expectations to help parents to consider the reality and their needs.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if I can help you prepare for the birth of your baby.
With consultations, digital guides and courses, my practice is here for you every step of the way. You can also become a member for exclusive content, discussion and a place to ask questions.
As a doula I work with parents from across Newcastle and Tyneside.