TLC's : A Baby Story

[Demeter_shima]

I had an idea.
This seems like the place to share it so here goes:

I am doing what I can to see videos, read stories and talk about as many birth experiences as I can before my "big day". That being said, I often find myself watching "A Baby Story" on TLC. It is a documentary style "reality" show (the post-gameshow variety-original kind) where expentant parents are filmed through thier Pregnancy and birth. Now, every now and then, I get lucky and there is a midwife present at a birth...or once I saw a waterbirth...but mostly there are hospital births with epidurals and pitocin drips.
I know what that looks like enough thank you.
I want to see more natural births, so called "alternative" births and midwife assisted births.
I want to write a letter to TLC and request that they do an "Alternative Birth" block or something...or Natural birth block...for those of us who want to change the station when the woman is on her back being poked at by a doctor. (Fine for some, but not the experience I want to learn about).

SO, if you would also like to join my request or have any interest in this endevour,
send a letter as well! Maybe power in numbers will be our ally.

Thanks to any and all!

http://extweb.discovery.com/viewerrelations
I am filling out one of these until I find an address.
:

[mely]

Hmmmm I wonder if the scheduled medical births fit into their filming schedules better???

[Demeter_shima]

Originally Posted by mely

Hmmmm I wonder if the scheduled medical births fit into their filming schedules better???

LOL good point there.
Hospitals can have that convenient "12 hours and your out!" policy when it comes to labor/birth.
The thing is, the show does do other types of birth...just not as often. I just want a bunch in a row! Even if it's re-runs.
It's all different to me now that I am going to DO IT FOR REAL! :

[BirthInStyle]

I just found a show on the Discovery Health channel called "House of Babies" about a birth center in Miami. I've only watched it a few times, but I've seen a lot of waterbirths so far.

[stelly]

That's a good idea.

There is one Mama from this site who was featured on the show, she had a waterbirth with a midwife and it was very refreshing. I've also seen 2 homebirths on the show (obsessed? watched every episode? moi? ). But the ratio of "the Dr. said I'm just not progressing fast enough, so we're going to do a c-section" births is much higher. I'm sick of them.

I will email and suggest that Demeter.

[stelly]

Originally Posted by BirthInStyle

I just found a show on the Discovery Health channel called "House of Babies" about a birth center in Miami. I've only watched it a few times, but I've seen a lot of waterbirths so far.

We switched back from DirecTV to cable and I lost DH channel. I was so upset. They had a much crunchier programming schedule - maybe it's the Canadian shows they buy?

[wombatclay]

I think one constraint is that many mamas having natural births don't want cameras and strangers in the birth space. The websites for these programs (baby story, special delivery, bringing home baby, etc) all have places for mothers-to-be to register for the show but filming is limited to certain regions/certain dates so several births can be filmed at more or less the same time by the same crew...and parents have to sign some pretty big waivers to allow what is essentially an invasion of privacy.

I think a petition is a great idea, but I sent a letter to TLC two years ago (when I was pregnant with dd1) and I actually got a nice letter back saying basically they would be happy to show more alternative births but the majority of women volunteering for the show are planning standard hospital births.

[ellymay]

I like to watch the house of babies as that is all natural and I am dying to go all the way this time natural no induction no nothing but letting my body do what ist wants to do so I am doing the same thing DVRing all the birthing shows I can find.

[mely]

Hmmm another thought - I noticed the areas they film in are close to LA or NYC - are these areas less open to the concept of natural births?

[joy2grow]

Here is a terrific website that inspired me daily when I was pregnant & preparing for my home birth: http://www.birthdiaries.com/ Those TLC birth shows are 99.9% based on practices that are not in the mama's or baby's best interest I certainly didn't want any of those images or ideas popping up in my mind while I was in labor!

[DreamsInDigital]

As much as I would have loved for my two homebirths to be on TV there is no way they would have gone as they did if there had been a camera crew present.

[Jenlaana]

I watched every single show they put out during my 2nd and 3rd trimester last time.

I didnt like House of Babies though. I think its great that they are showing natural birth, but the midwife lady there kinda scares me She is very hands on.

[momtoNatalee]

Originally Posted by Jenlaana

I watched every single show they put out during my 2nd and 3rd trimester last time.

I didnt like House of Babies though. I think its great that they are showing natural birth, but the midwife lady there kinda scares me She is very hands on.

That is so true! The kind of scares me too, but I do watch that show b/c it is seriously one of the only things ever on TV that intrest me.

[trmpetplaya]

Originally Posted by mely

Hmmm another thought - I noticed the areas they film in are close to LA or NYC - are these areas less open to the concept of natural births?

All the Baby Story shows I saw were filmed in the NE... I know that NY requires insurance to cover homebirth so I would imagine it's a bit more common there than in the states where it's not required to be covered. I don't know about CA rates or anything, but most of the people I knew while we were there were very open to natural birth.

So basically, we need to start volunteering for the show, eh? At least if we're in the areas where they film...

love and peace.

[NJ*Doula]

Originally Posted by mely

Hmmm another thought - I noticed the areas they film in are close to LA or NYC - are these areas less open to the concept of natural births?

All of them are filmed in the NYC area, I believe. I haven't see one that wasn't in a NJ or NYC hospital in a long time (I live in the area, so I recognize all the hospital names). NJ has the highest section rate in the country.

[greenthumb3]

Originally Posted by DreamsInDigital

As much as I would have loved for my two homebirths to be on TV there is no way they would have gone as they did if there had been a camera crew present.

:

[wombatclay]

According to their website, you need to meet the following guidelines:

(a) expecting to become a parent;
(b) living in the New York tri-state area and;
(c) willing to share the most intimate details of your life on national television?

If you answered "yes" to all three, A Baby Story is waiting to hear from you.

Please be sure to include your due date, the name of the hospital where you will be delivering, and your complete contact information so that our producers can reach you.

[angington]

I haven't watched ABS in like a year. I was so fed up with the downward spiral, medicalized births. Then this week I was flipping around while the kids were napping and caught a hospital waterbirth. I checked back the next day and they had another one with the same CNM. I was truly shocked. It must be a new season. They seem to be editing it a little differently this time with a big emphasis on the clock. Not sure why.

[mely]

OK I remember they used to have a lot filmed in the LA area but I guess they just film in NJ and NY. Maybe they need to move from area to area - imagine the great births we'd see if they filmed out of Oregon for a season

[LifeIZBeautiful]

Used to watch it pretty regularly when I was preg. I saw several homebirths on there back in the early 2000's. I wonder what happened??