3 min movie from Spain - for birth activists

[Tanibani]

http://www.elpais.es/comunes/2004/ha...rector_09.html

My Spanish is so-so. I don't have time to translate exact words right now. This is a 3 minute PSA???? (public service annoucement) from Spain.

In a nutshell: the laboring man tries to tell the nurse his name, "Hi my name is ___." The nurse ignores him and tells him everything she is doing is for "your own good." He tell the OB he wants to stand, the OB replies, "guy, are you nuts, I can't see anything that way." Then he coaches him how to push.

It shows a man having a typical hospital birth. He is treated rudely : and his requests (surprise) are disregarded. Some people find it hysterical because it's a man in labor. I find it depressing - because it's accurate (not 100% but close.)

But I LOVE the end statement... which basically (more or less) reads Birth/Labor (?) belongs to us! Return it to us!

The final statement is stunning to me... because it shows that managed birth is the norm around the world and God Bless that documentary film maker for making it.

Gosh I wish it was shown on TV here.

[SamuraiEarthMama]

wow, that guy's a good actor. he really seemed to be in labor!

an interesting film... can anyone do a translation? i'd love to hear what that nurse was saying...

k

[mamacrab]

Wow, that is a very sad but wonderful film. Who is paying to have it on TV? What organization? I agree, the man was a great actor. I think it might have been just as effective with a woman though. I say that because I really identified with the man, felt so sad and angry for him...but wouldn't I identify even more with a woman? And the ad seems to be aimed to women (birth belongs to *US*, take it back).

I'd love to know what the mainstream reaction this film is.

[Tanibani]

OK, here is the rough translation:

Man: I think I am in labor.
Nurse: What do you mean? Are you or aren't you?
Man: I don't know, I think I am.

[He's lying down. She is inserting a needle.]

Man: Ouch! What is that?
(Nurse doesn't answer him.)

Nurse: Could you please close your legs? Very good, like that.

Man: My name is Luis.
Nurse: Very good dear.

[Nurse talking to spouse.]
Nurse: We are going to give him this so he can shit. (Enema).
[Rest unintelligible.]

[You can hear water pop/breaking. Man starts to cry.]
Nurse: I broke your bag of waters. It's for your own good buddy."

[Doctor is talking to others in birthing room.]
Doctor: As he approaches dilation and contractions increase... we will let the head descent the length of the birth canal .

Doctor to Man: Good, good, come. We are almost done. Push, push, push. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Push, push, push. Continue, continue, push. No! No, No, Like that. No. Push, push.

Man: I think it's better if I am on my feet.
Doctor: [Annoyed] How are you going to give birth on your feet? I won't be able to see. Come on. Keep pushing, keep pushing. Go, go, go, go. Continue, continue, come, come, very good. Come.

Doctor: Scissors.
Man: What's that?
[Doctor doesn't answer and cuts man.]
Doctor: [Baby is born.] It's all done. It's a boy. Everything is good.

Man: Where is it? Where is it? Why doesn't he cry????
Nurse: Baby is doing beautifully. Now we are going to take the baby to observation. Then we'll bring him to you.

END. Birth/Labor (?) belongs to us! Return it to us!

Mamacrab, I really don't know if it's on TV. It's a short documentary film. It looks like a PSA, but I doubt it's being shown on TV. It's on a Spanish documentary website representing some sort of activist/humanitarian/human rights agenda. It looks like all the films are 3 minutes long and are meant to be viewed consecutively.
http://www.haymotivo.com/

[lorijds]

That is awesome!

I just forwarded it to my friends, as well as my dh, who is a Spanish teacher. Maybe he can use it in class...plus it will get high school students thinking about birth, *before* they need to think about birth options.

Thanks for sharing!

Lori

[SamuraiEarthMama]

i think they used a guy because we've already got the women convinced that there's something WRONG in the delivery rooms... now if we could convince the husbands, and males, especially in the male-dominated cultures, then MAYBE it would be time for a change!

thanks so much for the translation, tanibani! you rock!

katje

[mraven721]

WOW ! How do you even find something like that ? It was great! I can't wait to show it to my husband.

[Tanibani]

Mraven - someone posted the link (they were internet surfing!) on a homebirth/midwife support list I belong to. Very cool! I can't believe it though.... I also posted it on Baby Center : Childbirth Choices board... and my post wasn't there! : Figures. : : :