Media Portrayal of Childbirth.. And why it’s so wrong.
Media Portrayal of Childbirth.. And why it’s so wrong.
So, I was unfortunate enough to have lost an hour of my lockdown life to watching BBC’s ‘Life and Birth’ on iPlayer today.
In summary, in case you don’t reach the end of this, if you are pregnant, know anyone who’s pregnant, ever plan to be pregnant or may have a conversation, at any time in the future, with anyone who either is or may become pregnant… just don’t watch it.
It was everything I had been expecting. And more. (And that’s not a compliment).
A teeny tiny part of my being had hoped we may finally have a programme that challenged the age old media representation of birth: That it’s dangerous, can’t happen without a doctor and has to happen in brightly lit room, on a bed, on your back, in a hospital. I was sadly left disappointed.
Women are incredible
Of course, I’m going to caveat this with the fact that all the women birthing their babies on the programme did an absolutely incredible job in an often very difficult set of circumstances. They were strong and inspiring and beautiful, just as all women are when they birth their babies. And on the most part, the care given by their midwives and doctors was wonderful (Some particularly great care by the midwife who left the baby’s cord intact when rubbing them down after birth and some kind, compassionate care from Dr Anna Searle). The main issue is the content selection, the ‘system’ in which birth happens, the narration and the editing of course!
And of course, I understand the fact that these stories are chosen BECAUSE they are dramatic and make ‘good TV’. That said, showing an uncomplicated birth where a woman chooses her own position or a conversation which focussed on informed choice would both be pretty SCANDALOUS. A revolutionary portrayal of birth and maternity care on the TV! But forgive me, they’re right, that would be ‘boring’.
The thing is, Mr Production Man/Lady, when it comes down to sharing information about something as life altering as birth, it comes with the responsibility of knowing what you share- and how you share it- will directly impact the lives of those watching (and potentially the lives of their children)… It’s a pretty big responsibility.
Allow me to explain..
Image from BBC’s ‘Life and Birth’ 2020.
What happens when you show a conversation on the TV that goes like this:
Doctor: ‘In 2 days time, if nothing’s happened in terms of going into labour, I’m proposing we look at inducing you. We don’t want a situation where, yes the baby’s consistently growing, but it may overshoot, because its riiight at the top of the upper limit of normal. Does that sound alright to you?’
Mum: Yeah that’s fine
Now, I’m going to give this doctor the benefit of the doubt here and ASSUME there were reasons not mentioned on camera as to why induction was being suggested for a ‘big baby’, despite there being a ‘do not recommendation’ for it in the NICE guidance. And I’m going to ASSUME that he then went on talk this mum through the risks of induction (including the considerably higher chance of malposition and instrumental birth, which is what she goes on to have) as well as the supposed risks of remaining pregnant. But the thing is, as an audience- we don’t see it. (Fine, I agree, this probably wouldn’t make the most riveting TV show). BUT the message that we then receive, as an audience is this..
Doctors call the shots.
It’s our job to agree.
Birth is risky.
Big babies are Risky. Her baby got stuck because is was SO GIGANTIC (nothing to do with the fact that her labour was induced and her baby maybe not having opportunity to rotate yet).
Induction is without risk’.
THIS is the story that’s seen by the audience. (In particular, the pregnant audience).
So it needs caveating. Be that with narration, an alternative plot line where someone declines the offer of intervention, SOMETHING. Else once again, we are reinforcing the same message that women hear time and time again.. that they are not in charge of their own births.
On top of this we see birth after birth (after birth, after birth) on a bed. With the lights on. Tons of conversation. Zero thought for supporting the normal physiology of birth. And you’d be right in saying ‘but that’s how most birth LOOKS’, because it does. So the issue here might be less with the editing and more with the system as a whole. Most birth does look like this. But it doesn’t have to.
As women we hop up onto a bed because it’s all we know. It’s the only picture we’ve ever seen of birth. Because every time birth is shown on the tv, its on a bed. It’s in a hospital. It’s bright and its medical. (Even if we know logically, that all evidence and anatomical knowledge shows that labouring and birthing on your back, in a bed, is a bad idea the vast majority of the time).
So why shouldn’t we be watching this?
Our minds work in a wonderful way. The vast, vast subconscious part of our mind is taking in information constantly. So programmes like this shape the way we picture birth subconsciously (whether we want them to or not)- other people’s birth and our own. The information goes in- through our eyes and our ears and sits there quietly, waiting until it becomes relevant to us. Our subconscious mind influences everything we do- all our involuntary actions (like hopping up and laying on a bed when we see one and consider ourselves to be ‘the patient’) and our voluntary ones too (like choosing where to give birth to our babie.)
And when all that sits in our subconscious mind are thoughts about birth that make us feel afraid, then we aren’t in a very good place to be making informed choices or to be supporting our bodies birth our babies. When we feel afraid we sit in the sympathetic nervous system, our ‘emergency mode’ and produce a hormone called adrenalin. Adrenalin and being in this part of the nervous system, quite literally inhibit labour and make birth more painful.
So by watching programmes like this or portraying birth ONLY in this way, we fuel this fear. And this fear is not our friend when we are pregnant.
Now, this is not to say that you can’t have a truly wonderful birth on a bed or on a labour ward or by induction, when that is what you want or truly need in the moment.
But what you MUST know as a mother going in to give birth (or anyone supporting her) is this..
Every decision in birth is YOURS to make. You should be given balanced, evidence based information to make choices that feel right for you. If you’re not sure if that’s what youre getting, ask questions, ask to see the evidence yourself or ask for a second opinion.
Understand the basic physiology of birth and how to support it. The hormones that are involved in birth, the impact the environment plays on them and also the physical mechanisms of labour (like how your baby is designed to fit through the pelvis)
Find tools to help you feel unafraid, confident and calm about giving birth (INCLUDING if birth takes an unexpected turn).
The birth-ed online course is specifically designed to support you to feel ALL of these things. So next Tuesday, turn off your TVs and tune in to our comprehensive, positively presented, evidence based antenatal and hypnobirthing course instead! I promise you will go to bed feeling 100 times MORE confident, calm and excited about the birth of your baby! (And it’s JUST £40!)