Oh Baby! Woman Set To Broadcast At-Home Birth
September 30, 2011 7 Comments
Usually, giving birth is something we want as little people to see as humanly possible. At most, I’m thinking a doctor, a nurse and my husband.
And it’s not just because there may be some (or many) embarrassing moments while trying to poop pop out a kid, there’s also the fact that it’s an extremely sacred and intimate moment. It seems a bit creepy to let others share it with you (and voyeuristic on the audience’s part).
But we live in a world with the Internet. People tell us when they’re sick and what kind of blizzard they chose to order from Dairy Queen on Facebook, so it didn’t really surprise me when I read that an Ottawa woman would stream her live at-home birth on TV.
Nancy Salgueiro is a childbirth educator and her live birth decision stems from a desire to debunk certain myths that surround pregnancy. Young women may see an outdated video in sex ed (or maybe that was just me), but oftentimes they only see the “jarring images of delivery that are prevalent in movies and on TV.”
Her other purpose is to let women know that it’s okay to give birth at home. “Watching the live home birth will allow others to see how wonderful and gentle birth can be,” she writes on her website.
However, it could have the opposite effect, depending how the birth progresses. And then there’s the whole issue about what the kid is going to think in 20 or 30 years when he realizes how many people witnessed his journey into the world. All that’s going through my mind right now is The Truman Show.
Personally, I think I would stick with a close-knit group when the time comes. But despite my squeamishness, I’m curious. I mean, how often do we get to see an actual live birth?
It’s beautiful. It’s the miracle of life. If her choice to “overshare” can educate thousands of women about pregnancy, all the power to her.
Contact the author here: tinybart@morningquickie.com
Is this a publicity stunt or an educational opportunity?
Wow. How do you watch it? I want to but, I’m scared.
Oh. Live stream. Geeze. Popcorn anyone? I think it’s cool.
I think it’s amazing!! I for one think more women would like to have a home birth but are worried or not quite sure how it works.. This is great!!
Yeah, a few women have already done it.
No, recorded then posted. There is a legitimate video on youtube.
I’ve seen a couple but it’s the “live” bit that makes me nervous. I know this makes me a pessimistic wimp, and that births are not inherently dangerous, but what if something goes horribly wrong? (And I don’t mean embarrassing).
But I’ll just put my negative vibes in a box and wish the family the best! It is very brave of them.