Unassisted childbirth on Good Morning America - possibly tomorrow!

[laurashanley]

Hi Everyone,
I’m sorry for the late notice on this. For the past month or so, Good Morning America has been working on a segment about unassisted childbirth. The 4 minute segment is tentatively scheduled to air in the second hour of the show tomorrow (Jan. 8) on ABC. I believe in most states the program airs from 7-9am. I did not do an on-camera interview for the segment, but I’m hoping some of the thoughts I shared with the producers will make it through. At least one recent UCer will appear on the program, possibly more. Thank you to those of you who responded to my last post looking for recent or soon-to-be UCer’s! If any of you were interviewed, I’d love to hear from you.

As far as I know, footage from at least one UC will be shown (I sent the producer 4 clips). I believe there will also be interviews with a doctor, a midwife, and author Jennifer Block. It goes without saying that mainstream media does not always present UC in a positive light. But the producer seemed open to UC, so I’m hoping for the best. In any case (as I continue to remind myself), it will introduce many people to UC. Those who are interested can investigate it further and come to their own conclusions.

Keeping my fingers crossed,
Laura

[delicious]

oh, cool! i will set my tivo to record it. i really hope it is done with at least neutral, hopefully positive tone.

[FireflyFan]

YAY Laura!!

The last time there was something interesting on (I think it was Ricki Lake on Ellen), I flaked out and forgot to DVR it.

Really hoping that I'll remember to set the DVR tonight! Right now DH is playing a video game, so I can't get to it.

[Fruitful4Him]

If someone records this, hopefully it will make it on youtube.

[Spark]

Laura, thank you for all the work you continue to do for women and babies.

[laurashanley]

Thanks, Spark! I'm still so passionate about UC, and I'm excited that the media is finally interested! But I was somewhat disappointed that once again I was the go-to person for this segment. I can't tell you how many times I've been told they want someone younger who has just had a baby or is about to. As if my births happened so long ago I couldn't possibly have anything important to say. Sigh. But hopefully this segment will be decent.
Laura

[Spark]

Well that's just silly! You help SO many families understand & celebrate freebirthing. You're such a pioneer in getting the message out that what we've been feeling drawn to do it safe, peaceful and beneficial!

I hope the segment is good, too. I wonder if the lawyers will make them say something dumb at the end of the segment like, "Before planning an unassisted birth, please consult a doctor."

[noordinaryspider]

Kind of OT, but considering how hostile the mainstream is to UC, it is not only appropriate but actually NECESSARY that the "poster child" to get the word out to the media, young moms, and people like me who have always wanted a UC but didn't know it was possible would be someone about Laura's age with no minor children at home.

I've only dealt with far less controversial subjects on the boards here, but I was definitely more free with the personal info before my latest model was conceived, even though Chris was still a minor, because I didn't have as much to lose as I do now.

I don't remember how old your youngest is, Laura, but I do know that I still remember my oldest's (18 year old's) birth and infancy very clearly and that I still have valuable things to say on the boards.

Keep on doing what you do, girl, and don't let the idiots get you down.

I'm obviously not the only TV-free person following this story, so if I find the YouTube video first I'll post the link.

[GentleBirth]

I'll have to try to get the tv on and watch. Thanks for letting us know!

[laurashanley]

Thanks for the encouragement, gals! Basically I've had a hand in almost every UC article, movie, and TV segment that has appeared in the past 5 years. Either I've sent the producers the names and contact info for people willing to be interviewed, and/or I've sent them birth footage (from the Amazing Babies and Amazing Births series on the Discovery Channel, to the recent PBS show). Most of the time I'm either not mentioned, or they print one or two (sometimes inaccurate) quotes. The production company that showed Mindy Goorchenko's video on Discovery actually told me they would give me a credit at the end of the show, and also pay me for sending them the DVD (which I bought from Mindy!). They did neither. And they kept the DVD!

This year, some of the reporters have expressed interest in me, so that's a beginning. One of the producers from Good Morning America asked me when they first started working on this if I would be willing to fly to NY to be on the show. I said yes. But they never brought it up again. Of course I'm happy that the media is finally interested in UC, but I'm chomping at the bit to share my thoughts on the subject! I told David the other night that I don't mind SHARING the spotlight with younger UCer's, but I'd at least like to be IN the spotlight!
Laura

[barefootpoetry]

How cool! I really hope it goes over well. If anyone snags the clip and puts it online, please share! I'm not up that early in the morning.

[SimplyRochelle]

Originally Posted by barefootpoetry

How cool! I really hope it goes over well. If anyone snags the clip and puts it online, please share! I'm not up that early in the morning.

Pretty much exactly what I was going to say. If I woke up that early, dh would definitely think I was sick or something haha.

[Prensa]

I just found this on the ABC website:

DIY Deliveries: More Women Go It Alone

Originally Posted by article

More women are opting for do-it-yourself deliveries rather than dealing with the regulations, constrictions and rules they'd face if they gave birth in a hospital.

Home births comprise about 1 percent of all U.S. births, and while no hard data exists to indicate how many of them take place without a midwife or doctor present, experts said the number of unassisted births is rising.

More than 100 discussion groups about the subject have sprung up on Yahoo's Web site.

Watch "Good Morning America" Tuesday to see the full story

[laurashanley]

Wow! Thanks for posting this! Ummm, notice I'm not mentioned. And apparently Jennifer Block wrote a book about unassisted pregnancies! But there is a link to my site at the end, so that's nice. Not a bad article.
Laura

[Prensa]

Originally Posted by article in post above

The baby could be born in a breach position, or with the umbilical cord wrapped around its neck. The mother could suffer from significant tearing or from a maternal hemorrhage and bleed to death in as little as five minutes.

"What women need to appreciate is that the few hours of labor are the most dangerous time during the entire lifetime of the soon-to-be-born child," said Dr. Frank Chervenak, at New York Presbyterian Hospital. "Because of this, I would argue ... all soon-to-be born children have a right to access immediate Caesarean delivery, and women who are denying this right are irresponsible."

babies have a right to c-section! the gall...:


(I wonder where he stands on the circ issue, just cause, y'know...)

[Bella Catalina]

Originally Posted by Prensa

babies have a right to c-section! the gall...:


(I wonder where he stands on the circ issue, just cause, y'know...)

Is that guy serious? I won't get on my soapbox about what I think should happen to him

[passionatepreggers]

Originally Posted by Fruitful4Him

If someone records this, hopefully it will make it on youtube.

:
No cable here... would LOVE to see this.
And damnit! Laura needs some recognition!

[APMomOfKimmyN-Maya]

Thanks for posting! I have my DVR set.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

Originally Posted by laurashanley

Thanks for the encouragement, gals! Basically I've had a hand in almost every UC article, movie, and TV segment that has appeared in the past 5 years. Either I've sent the producers the names and contact info for people willing to be interviewed, and/or I've sent them birth footage (from the Amazing Babies and Amazing Births series on the Discovery Channel, to the recent PBS show). Most of the time I'm either not mentioned, or they print one or two (sometimes inaccurate) quotes. The production company that showed Mindy Goorchenko's video on Discovery actually told me they would give me a credit at the end of the show, and also pay me for sending them the DVD (which I bought from Mindy!). They did neither. And they kept the DVD!

This year, some of the reporters have expressed interest in me, so that's a beginning. One of the producers from Good Morning America asked me when they first started working on this if I would be willing to fly to NY to be on the show. I said yes. But they never brought it up again. Of course I'm happy that the media is finally interested in UC, but I'm chomping at the bit to share my thoughts on the subject! I told David the other night that I don't mind SHARING the spotlight with younger UCer's, but I'd at least like to be IN the spotlight!
Laura

That is just WRONG.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

Anyone find this on YouTube yet? I had my TV on in the background, but my satellite reset itself (stupid thing-my ILs brought it w/ them when they moved in and it's useless) and changed the channel on its own w/out my realizing it so I missed it.