Nick Nolte - Homebirth Advocate!

[Shelsi]

Did anyone see him on Leno last night? He talked a long time about how his partner had just had a baby and how she had her at home. It was so cool because he went into detail about how she was sitting up using gravity and such so her sacrum could open which just can't happen in a hospital flat on your back. You could tell he was totally into it and well read. It was neat.

[~Megan~]

I think that may do more to harm the cause than good! That dude is totally nuts!

[nashvillemidwife]

That's what I was thinking. Alas...

[Mommy StormRaven]

Originally Posted by ~Megan~

I think that may do more to harm the cause than good! That dude is totally nuts!

Sorry - gotta comment here. Jsut because the man is an alcoholic and may have soem mental health issues doe not mean that he isnt' well read and informed on some issues.

I'm a mental health patient, and I've had issues - many many peopel think I'm a basket case and have judged me negatively for it. Doesnt' mean I'm incapable of making an informed choice about how and where I want to birth.

[laurashanley]

Darn. I was watching Leno last night but turned it off just before he came on. I'm thrilled to hear he was talking about homebirth! The man just went up a notch in my eyes! Lots of people have substance abuse problems. Perhaps witnessing this wonderful birth will help him to heal.
Laura

[Shelsi]

I dunno, the guy seemed totally sane last night. Especially compared to Carrot Top who came on next lol. Plus it was very obvious he knew his stuff regarding birth. It was neat. He was also talking about what a miracle his little baby is and how powerful and energizing the room is during a birth. He just sounded like a really excited dad to me.

The only weird thing is he said he got into the birth tub totally naked lol. Not an image I wanted in my head haha.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

My husband was naked in the tub for my homebirth.

[Shelsi]

Originally Posted by SublimeBirthGirl

My husband was naked in the tub for my homebirth.

For your UC or your mw attended birth? I think it is totally normal or acceptable or whatever to be in the tub naked but I do think it's a little odd for the partner to strip down naked in front of the midwives. Nick Nolte said there were 3 midwives in attendance of the birth.

[~Megan~]

Originally Posted by Mommy StormRaven

Sorry - gotta comment here. Jsut because the man is an alcoholic and may have soem mental health issues doe not mean that he isnt' well read and informed on some issues.

true but public perception is that he is crazy (have you seen some of his recent interviews?) and it does the HB movement no good to have that sort of advocate. people already assume we are nuts and/or irresponsible for HBing, having Nick Nolte promote it perpetuates that myth


nak

[janasmama]

ah well...

because homebirth is an option that everyone should have, we can't get picky and criticize those who do it when we decide they don't have the right image.

[roadfamily6now]

Originally Posted by laurashanley

Darn. I was watching Leno last night but turned it off just before he came on. I'm thrilled to hear he was talking about homebirth! The man just went up a notch in my eyes! Lots of people have substance abuse problems. Perhaps witnessing this wonderful birth will help him to heal.
Laura

i agree

[HippieWannaBe]

I just watched the clip on NBC.com, you can select a chapter of the show, instead of watching all of it. He was so stoked! That was really neat to see. I remember the high my husband was on in the days and weeks after our son was born, it was so sweet!

[Port Orchard CBE]

I was *so* upset I missed this. I heard "Carrot Top and Nick Nolte were up next and I and bolted for bed for the night LOL!

The next morning when I got up, I found an email left by my husband detailing how lucid and in depth Mr Nolte seemed when he discussed the awesome experience he and his partner had with their homebirth.

I had the same knee jerk reaction that maybe this isn't the best person to be a homebirth spokesperson but really that is just judgmental on my part and not such a good thing for me to decide. He and his partner gave this baby a wonderful and peaceful beginning start to life and he was just as excited as any homebirth dad.

Way to go, Nick Nolte!

Kendra in WA (who still thinks "Three Fugitives" was one of the funniest movies ever done!)

[Port Orchard CBE]

Here's a link to the Nick Nolte

on w/Jay Leno. It's an online tape of the whole show. I don't know how to get only Mr Nolte.

http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_...episodes.shtml

[redebeth]

Okay, I read this thread and I was thinking this was GARY BUSEY. I always get him and Nick Nolte confused. Not until I watched it did I realize who he was. I am so happy it's him and NOT Gary Busey because man that guy IS out of it. So i looked it up on NBC.com like Hippiwannabe suggested and it was great! Jay Leno didn't even ask him any stupid questions like "isn't that dangerous" or anything.

I will say, however that my husband watched it too and asked "Is he drunk?" about halfway though. I really couldn't tell.

[wbg]

Originally Posted by janasmama

ah well...

because homebirth is an option that everyone should have, we can't get picky and criticize those who do it when we decide they don't have the right image.

I agree.

I think we put too much emphasis on celebrities and what they do. They are perfect strangers after all. We have no idea who they really are, just what the press lead us to believe. And if all our lives were put under such intense scrutiny, we probably all would not make such great home birth role models! We have all messed up or done something ridiculous at some or other point. We all journeyed to home birth a different route.

"Okay, I read this thread and I was thinking this was GARY BUSEY. I always get him and Nick Nolte confused."

Me too!!

[AngelBee]

Cool

[nashvillemidwife]

"some of the midwives were very knowledgeable, one was kind of spacey"... um, no, not a rousing endorsement.

[Port Orchard CBE]

Nashvillemidwife, he went on to say some very kind things. Did you not think so? To me, I thought maybe his definition of spacey was more that she was very in tune with the birth process and able to allow mother to work in the way she was most comfortable. He said that she didn't keep watching her clock, she gave lots of time for the miracle of birth rather than "gotta get this done, gotta get to the golf course" LOL! I think that whole statement was more a slam on OBs

I can see your point though.. Spacey was not the best word to use but I guess he was speaking from his heart more than an educated birth advocate might speak from his/her heart *and* head knowing how important it all really is.

Kendra in WA

[teachinmaof3]

Nolte's mental status aside, I thought it was a nice interview. And at the very least perhaps it will get at least one person to realize there are options in childbirth.

I thought it was cute how tickled Leno was at the mention of the tub being in the bedroom and filled up with water from a hose. lol