Tina Cassidy is a journalist and author of Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born (Birth: A History, in the UK). Her latest book, Jackie After O, was published in 2012.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Dr. Phil
Did anyone see that episode on home birth? Did it air? I rarely have the TV on.
According to the list of episodes on the Dr. Phil website, the show isn't airing this week. I did a quick search on the site for "birth" and "homebirth" but there were no relevant results.
Perhaps they got enough feedback that they are reevaluating things a bit?
I saw it. it was on 'the Doctors', a show Dr Phil created. They had an expectant couple who could not decided between a hospital and a home birth, so naturally 'the Doctors' were there to help them. How sweet.
They had a few nice birth stories from homebirths and then the scary stuff kicked in. They graphically explained (with a baby and pelvis along with a computer model) a shoulder dystocia. They were even kind enough to explain how the saw through the pubic bone to get the baby out! Apparently this OB sees shoulder dystocias 10-15% of the time. WHAT??????? Yes, you heard me correctly. Then they talk about the cord, hemorrhaging, etc. Never did they have a midwife able to explain what she does in these cases nor how she is trained to deal with these variations. They ended with a heart wrenching story of a mom who had a birth center birth (also frowned upon) and her baby was born with a congenital abnormality and almost died. They called 911, the whole bit. However, this mom has shadow care with an OB and 5 ultrasounds and they ALL missed the issue with the baby!!! In my opinion (humble, yet accurate) the doctor should be called on the carpet for that, not the midwife and birth center!!!
All in all, I was yelling at the TV for about 20 minutes. it was one sided and just what I would have expected. Unfortunately.
Dr Sears Jr kept trying to be positive and mentioned that he has 4 siblings who were born at home...and the cut him off and basically sad those babies 'were lucky'.
I saw that "the doctors" crap. Soooo stupid. I used to like Dr. Phil, and I just feel so wronged by all of this. I never thought he would jump on the bandwagon just to get a bit of attention!
6 comments:
According to the list of episodes on the Dr. Phil website, the show isn't airing this week. I did a quick search on the site for "birth" and "homebirth" but there were no relevant results.
Perhaps they got enough feedback that they are reevaluating things a bit?
I know the show The Doctors did an episode on homebirth. It was horrendous.
I saw it. it was on 'the Doctors', a show Dr Phil created.
They had an expectant couple who could not decided between a hospital and a home birth, so naturally 'the Doctors' were there to help them.
How sweet.
They had a few nice birth stories from homebirths and then the scary stuff kicked in. They graphically explained (with a baby and pelvis along with a computer model) a shoulder dystocia. They were even kind enough to explain how the saw through the pubic bone to get the baby out!
Apparently this OB sees shoulder dystocias 10-15% of the time.
WHAT???????
Yes, you heard me correctly.
Then they talk about the cord, hemorrhaging, etc. Never did they have a midwife able to explain what she does in these cases nor how she is trained to deal with these variations.
They ended with a heart wrenching story of a mom who had a birth center birth (also frowned upon) and her baby was born with a congenital abnormality and almost died. They called 911, the whole bit. However, this mom has shadow care with an OB and 5 ultrasounds and they ALL missed the issue with the baby!!! In my opinion (humble, yet accurate) the doctor should be called on the carpet for that, not the midwife and birth center!!!
All in all, I was yelling at the TV for about 20 minutes. it was one sided and just what I would have expected. Unfortunately.
Dr Sears Jr kept trying to be positive and mentioned that he has 4 siblings who were born at home...and the cut him off and basically sad those babies 'were lucky'.
Interesting! I had a homebirth with shoulder dystocia. Thank heavens I wasn't at a hospital!
you can read about it here:
http://birthbabiesbreastsohmy.blogspot.com/2008/07/home-birth-and-what-ifs.html
I saw that "the doctors" crap. Soooo stupid. I used to like Dr. Phil, and I just feel so wronged by all of this. I never thought he would jump on the bandwagon just to get a bit of attention!
Super post
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