EC: The Business of Being Born vs. One born Every minute

 The Business of Being Born vs. One born Every minute

It is not surprising to see that Lifetime show , “One Born Every Minute” has a very different tone compared to the movie “Business of being Born”. It seems that Lifetime wanted to make a show that does everything: have births that are very scary, overly dramatic and very complicated. But at the same time, keep the mood light and airy by placing in a few very amusing moments. Whereas a “Business of Being Born” is a documentary, it a more factual representation about birthing in the home and hospitals. One of the major reasons for this huge difference in tone might just come from the fact these are really two entirely different entities. “One Born Every Minute” is television show, it needs to keep it's audience interested before a commercial break, so they have to put in a melodramatic performance. But in all honesty, it all this pointless parts really take away what the show is supposed suppose to focus on; the mother and the child. I found the documentary did a much better job in showing the very deep, emotional connection women have with their children. And while yes, the Lifetime show does have a few of these “bonding” moments, they always have to find a way to disturp it (ie, two grandmothers fighting the newborn baby when the mother had yet to see it(really? Wow, what jerks.)).

While watching “One Born Every Minute” it was really not that hard for me to connect the dots and see what the documentary meant when they said hospitals act like an industry. I remember a specific incident with one of the doctor informing a mother she would need to receive a c-section when only eight hours into labor because she was not making “enough progress”. Last time I checked (and I just did:http://www.signs-of-pregnancy-week-by-week.com/labor-and-delivery.html ) an average labor was is about anywhere from 12-20 hours. I guess the baby was just going to slow for that doctor. There were also many instances were the women were taking piction, laying flat on the backs and in an anguish amount of pain. I remember in the movie, women who were giving home births able to walk around and to help adjust themselves to their contractions. But on the show, nope. If you were in pain, you got to visited by the anesthesiologist to make make you shut up in order to help your pain go away.

I also couldn't help but notice that most of the fathers seem not really interested in the mother during the show (expect if it is for a funny moment or when she is giving birth). It seemed like they were too focused on themselves at times when they sorta forgot they weren't the ones having the baby. In the “Business of Being Born” the fathers there seem to much more invested in their wives and wanted to create and emotional connection with her and the baby.

Childbirth is a very daunting task and I am apologize if anyone likes this show, but “One Born Every Minute” seems to be making a joke out of it. Doctors are in control of the entire process of childbirth and there is no time is ever invested in exploring the doctor/patient relationship. “The Business of Being Born”, while in my opinion not a prefect movie, at least gave their audience the decency to show that yes women have the power over their own and can decide how they want to give birth to their child. They portray it as a beautiful and emotional and genuine experience not only the mother, but the entirely family. And while I can see at times the mothers on “One Born Every Minute” do have a few genuine moments, a lot of it just seems like for show. I can say I much preferred “The Business of Being Born” portrayal of a home birth much more then the sterilize hospital setting of “One Born Every Minute”.