Freebirth documentary to air on Discovery Health - Page 3

[Mrs_Hos]

Originally Posted by liss_420

i also thought all the births were quite beautiful, and i was cheering for those moms and babies as they birthed

Oh yea I was SO CHEERING too! I LOVED that they did include some moms saying that birth doesn't have to be painful. I also loved the moms being able to be VOCAL (because they were so comfortable with their partners) in saying DON'T TOUCH ME or "Pull! Don't Pull" etc... How often do you think women are able to vocalize these things to their doctors?

I also am a bit annoyed that the shows surrounding this one were based on very medical birth--almost like saying 'well, this *natural* birth stuff is nice, but here, let me show you all of the problems with pg and birth--it isn't so natural now is it?" The births on those shows dealt with prematurity, diabetes, toxemia, congenital disorders, etc...the diabetic one is described as "Size Matters--diabetic patient disobeys" on my Direct TV Guide... Coincidence? I don't think so!

I'm also THRILLED to see so many moms nursing. :

[reducereuserecycle]

She just finished administering her own epidural 


[natty529]

ooh... i am so excited, i jus happened to drop by MDC right now and i saw this thread... i turned it to discovery health and they are re running it in ONE MINUTE!!! yay!!!

[Mrs_Hos]

Oh--and Laura (Shanley)--A Standing "O" for you!

I am always thrilled to know there are women all over America helping others birth how they wish and providing education for them. Thank you!!

[MammaKoz]

Does anyone know when/if this is going to be shown in Canada? I looked on my Discovery Health listings and Freebirth isn't there at all, but it is specifically Discovery Health Canada, which for some reason is different.

TIA!

[layla983]

I didn't like how Heather was treated from what I saw of it. Sure, he kept saying he didn't know what she'd allow, but that's all he said several times. Call me crazy, but I have zero idea what they'd do in that situation, so being asked what I'd allow & being told I'm a-typical or hearing several times that "I don't know what you'll allow" won't really help the situation. I don't think he was mean or rude from that bit, but he sure wasn't even close to understanding or to dealing with the situation very well in my eyes. I think he'd been better off, & I'm guessing it's what she wanted, if he'd stated what they'd like to do & go from there. She wanted to know her options I think. DH made a good point when we were watching that the went in with the mindset that this woman will just refuse everything, she'd already refused the IV & obviously refused hospital care for her pregnancy & delivery, & he was just stuck on the fact that chances are she wouldn't allow anything, which obviously wasn't the case since she went on her own free will to the hospital. I was amazed they didn't attempt to admit the baby though, when I saw the baby getting checked out I was paranoid.

Of course, I think doctors in general have that communication problem. When I was pregnant with my son, doctors didn't like questions. Doctors didn't like when I asked things about procedures, reasons, risk, & really didn't like it when I insisted on real answers instead of being told that it's just how things are done. After a while, because I didn't want to be induced, I was written off as a problem patient & that effected how everyone else treated me in the office, even in the hospital I'm convinced they were "warned" about me & my "questioning medical advice" & I was treated very different than other patients who made less waves in their eyes.

[akwifeandmomma]

Originally Posted by Mrs_Hos

Oh--and Laura (Shanley)--A Standing "O" for you!

I am always thrilled to know there are women all over America helping others birth how they wish and providing education for them. Thank you!!

YES! :

I thought it was a great start. The births spoke for themselves -- so beautiful and wonderful!

Cleo, so serene and gorgeous... I was only a teeny bit disappointed that Heather wasn't confident enough to wait out her placenta or perhaps call a midwife/doula friend...? Too bad she had to head in to the hospital, but thankful she wasn't treated worse.

[moonfirefaery]

Originally Posted by akwifeandmomma

YES! :

I thought it was a great start. The births spoke for themselves -- so beautiful and wonderful!

Cleo, so serene and gorgeous... I was only a teeny bit disappointed that Heather wasn't confident enough to wait out her placenta or perhaps call a midwife/doula friend...? Too bad she had to head in to the hospital, but thankful she wasn't treated worse.

It has nothing to do with confidence.

I don't have any midwife or doula friends at my beck and call.

I waited 6 hours. After so many hours, it is unlikely the placenta will pass on its own. Yes, it is possible, and sometimes placentas do come out on their own after a few days. Sometimes does not mean every time. Sometimes, the placenta rots inside the womb and causes serious infection. I took Shepherd's Purse and Motherwort, and my uterus had clamped shut on the placenta. I felt it was in my best interest to have the placenta gently removed in the hospital. The doctor, unfortunately, was not so gentle. But I made the right choice.

[sunflowers]

I am done having babies and I had 2 very, very managed pregancies and both resulted in births that were not ideal. Both mine were premature births and were birthed the way that was best for my babies (really).

But, I thought the births in the program were beautiful and I was truly amazed. I have never experienced a vaginal birth, let alone an unassisted birth, but I can see why women would choose that and I really did think it was awesome!

Congrats to the women who participated in the show (I was wondering if one or two might be members here!) and congrats to all of you who are choosing this birth. I wish it could have been me.

[moonfirefaery]

She wanted to know her options I think. DH made a good point when we were watching that the went in with the mindset that this woman will just refuse everything, she'd already refused the IV & obviously refused hospital care for her pregnancy & delivery, & he was just stuck on the fact that chances are she wouldn't allow anything, which obviously wasn't the case since she went on her own free will to the hospital. I was amazed they didn't attempt to admit the baby though, when I saw the baby getting checked out I was paranoid.

Exactly. You hit the nail on the head with the bolded parts.

I had planned not to take the baby...but when the moment came, I felt it would seem less suspicious and more in the spirit of good will if I brought the baby so that they could see he was fine. He was healthy, and they had no reason to admit him. It could have been a lot worse than it was. But to be honest, I trusted that our hospital wouldn't make a huge stink, and I think I was right to trust them to that at least.

[akwifeandmomma]

Originally Posted by moonfirefaery

It has nothing to do with confidence.

I don't have any midwife or doula friends at my beck and call.

I waited 6 hours. After so many hours, it is unlikely the placenta will pass on its own. Yes, it is possible, and sometimes placentas do come out on their own after a few days. Sometimes does not mean every time. Sometimes, the placenta rots inside the womb and causes serious infection. I took Shepherd's Purse and Motherwort, and my uterus had clamped shut on the placenta. I felt it was in my best interest to have the placenta gently removed in the hospital. The doctor, unfortunately, was not so gentle. But I made the right choice.

I figured that they likely edited much and didn't accurately depict everything that took place, your reasons for heading in. I could have worded that better -- my point was disappointment for you, having to go in to the hospital after such a lovely birth, not disappointment in you, if that makes sense.

[moonfirefaery]

Fyrestorm - We delivered at a military hospital, and they don't typically call CPS or force admission except in extreme circumstances.

Mrs Hos - I waited six hours for mine, and then I was ready to just get it out. I was unable to just push it out. Infection isn't likely to occur after 4-6 hours, but if I'd left it in overnight or longer, I could very well have got an infection. It does happen, and it's not pretty. I was practically incapacitated last weekend due to a serious kidney infection. I really enjoyed the ability to be vocal this time, and have my wishes heeded, instead of having nurses telling me to shut up.

maddymama - I'd have been able to explain to the doctor what my limtis were for medical intervention far more clearly if he had just told me what he wanted to do then asked me if I was comfortable with it. I can't tell him what I'm ok with until I know what he wants to do. I didn't stick my head in the sand, btw. Most of the commentary (and there was a lot) about risks and handling complications wound up on the cutting room floor.

As Laura said, yes, the doctor was not gentle at all when he examined me or when he removed the placenta. A caring midwife would have gently eased her hands into me, then applied the necessary pressure to my stomach and teased out the placenta. This man rammed his hands into me hard and fast for the examination and for the actual placental removal. It was very painful, and I wish so much that the camera batteries had lasted long enough for us to catch that. My stepmother is an LPN and has seen that procedure at least 3 times. Never did she see it performed so brutally.

ColwynsMommy - Because of my UC experience, I will probably have a MW on call next time, specifically so that I can have gentle care if something like that happens again. I didn't chose to have that option, btw, because I don't have hundreds of dollars lying around to pay a midwife for an emergency call.

liss_420 - Hug your husband for me. I wish my husband had stuck up for me a little.

paintedbison - Maybe the doctor thought by being rough and rude, he'd teach me a lesson...but as you said, he just made me that much more certain that homebirth is the right choice.

[PinkinPA]

I was shocked at the treatment she received there! Here was a woman who had just given birth and the doctor showed no compassion whatsoever.

I agree 100% This doc was hostile. Not one time did he present her with treatment options. What he should have said is " this is what we do for a retained placenta" or "this is how long you have till we consider it retained" He did nothing like that! He more or less treated her with hostility because she chose what she felt was best for her. He proved to me that doctors (most of them) are only looking for their own gain.

[ColwynsMommy]

Originally Posted by moonfirefaery

ColwynsMommy - Because of my UC experience, I will probably have a MW on call next time, specifically so that I can have gentle care if something like that happens again. I didn't chose to have that option, btw, because I don't have hundreds of dollars lying around to pay a midwife for an emergency call.

It really isn't fair that we're in this sort of situation. So few people can just blow hundreds or thousands of dollars without worrying about it, but everyone deserves to have a choice in their birth. We came very close to needing to UC when we had several huge emergencies that used up all the money we'd earmarked for the birth. Luckily, my father-in-law loaned us money. It was a horrible position to be in.. not knowing whether I'd have to UC (where I didn't feel safe), or go to the hospital (where I felt slightly more safe, but really uncomfortable).

Hopefully you'll be able to work something out so you have peace of mind without it costing a fortune.

[My*Scorpio]

I liked that the three labors were 2-3 hours long - contrast that with the two shows before and after where the mothers are routinely in labor for 20+ hours.

Also, that is the only show where the mother is show holding and breastfeeding the baby!!! All three mothers were shown breastfeeding. When Deliver Me was on, my 2 YO kept saying, "What are they doing to the baby?! Give the baby to the mommy!"

Freebirthing is the antithesis to Deliver Me. Freebirthing - the mother takes control of her health, birth, body, etc. Deliver Me - the mother gives all control to the OB/GYN. I got a kick of out it being shown back-to-back to emphasize the contrast.

[My*Scorpio]

moonfirefaery/Heather, did you ever get a visit from CPS? It was mentioned that the hospital was going to file a report or something.

[maddymama]

Originally Posted by moonfirefaery

maddymama - I'd have been able to explain to the doctor what my limtis were for medical intervention far more clearly if he had just told me what he wanted to do then asked me if I was comfortable with it. I can't tell him what I'm ok with until I know what he wants to do. I didn't stick my head in the sand, btw. Most of the commentary (and there was a lot) about risks and handling complications wound up on the cutting room floor.

Hi Heather,
I guess I worded my first comment wrong. I'm sure you did educate yourself on the risks and complications. I was referring to an aired comment about people discussing bad things and you didn't want to hear any of it (wording wrong, but that's the general gist of it).
Also, I'm so sorry the dr. was rough. I was just commenting on what I saw on the show.
~maddymama

[moonfirefaery]

Originally Posted by My*Scorpio

I liked that the three labors were 2-3 hours long - contrast that with the two shows before and after where the mothers are routinely in labor for 20+ hours.

You got the impression my labor was only 2-3 hours? um, noo!!! I was in labor for ten hours. The last few hours were the worst and were what they chose to show. It was still a shorter, easier labor than my medicated birth though.

[moonfirefaery]

Originally Posted by My*Scorpio

moonfirefaery/Heather, did you ever get a visit from CPS? It was mentioned that the hospital was going to file a report or something.

No, I got a call from a nurse at family advocacy saying to call her back. I never did, nor did I ever hear from her again.

Originally Posted by maddymama

I was referring to an aired comment about people discussing bad things and you didn't want to hear any of it (wording wrong, but that's the general gist of it).

I didn't want to hear horror stories from family, friends, and strangers and to constantly think about things going wrong, because I didn't want to be overly stressed and worried without necessity while trying to prepare for my birth. I prepared for the risks without letting them encompass my whole range of thinking. Expect the best, plan for the worst.

[turtlewomyn]

Not a UC'er but I came here because I figured you all would be discussing it!

I thought it was really good, and felt that Heather appeared to be really taking charge of her own care. I watched the Special Delivery show before (at least part of it) and then watched the Freebirthing special with DH, and then DH made me turn off Deliver Me. He has a daily limit on those birth shows, I think he tolerates the natural ones better because they aren't so scary.

I thought it was pretty well done, I had to laugh at the disclaimers they posted after every commercial break, telling people to seek out the medical advice of their physicians, but I suppose they need to cover themselves.

I also thought it was interesting to see that the women in the UK had more support for homebirths, but seemed to have more persecution for UC than in the US.