I don't like scary movies. I won't watch them. Frankly, my imagination comes up with enough horrifying scenarios to keep me "entertained" all on its own, without being goaded by Hollywood.
I am finding the same is true with birth videos. They are, of course, their own sort of scary movie.
We had our second childbirth class at the hospital last night, with our second video with recordings of births. And for the second time, I closed my eyes during the, um, close-ups. Yes, I did. And I'm not ashamed of it, either.
Listen. I'm not uninformed. I know exactly what's going to be happening to me and the baby during labor. I know it will hurt, though of course I can't know how much yet. And I really feel that a visual is not going to help me with this. I mean, I'm going to be experiencing it pretty soon. I really don't want to see it at this moment. Especially in a video that actually used this line during a shot of a baby's head crowning (that is, at the point when the head is coming out of the mom): "Many women experience a stretching or burning sensation at this point."
YOU THINK?
I'm all for educated childbirth, but I'm still going to keep closing my eyes during movie time. So there.
Hee hee hee comparing childbirth to a scary movie.....maybe that's why we didn't have kids. I don't like scary movies either.
ReplyDeleteword verification -- 'fillon'
opposite of fillet - bone in fish
I was staunchly against watching any kind of birth video. I mean, WHY?! What's the point? I was pretty confident the baby was going to come out even if I DIDN'T have a graphic visual of the process running through my head, so I didn't see the need.
ReplyDeleteI also recommend making sure the HUGE ASS OVERHEAD MIRROR in the delivery room is safely stowed away. Unless you want to see the play-by-play, of course.
Horror movies? Birthing videos? No way on both counts!
ReplyDeleteThey say knowledge is power. In this case, not so much. :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
LOL - I'm right there with you. No scary movies and no birthing movies! Some things just don't need to be imagined.
ReplyDeleteBeing present in the delivery room during my nephew's birth was the most effective form of birth control one could ever need.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, I'm pretty sure it should be illegal for anyone who's not already a parent to witness a delivery.
I tend to think the captcha thing is annoying, but considering that mine was "ouched," I find it very appropos.
I totally recommend watching homebirthing videos - most are beautiful and calm and a big encouragement. Of course, if you don't want to, don't lol. Whatever works for you, works ;c)
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister!
ReplyDeletedude - there are some things you can't un-see, no matter how hard you try.
ReplyDeletemy mother had me in the delivery room, below the curtain, when I was 7. on the one hand, most effective method of contraception ever. on the other hand, the concept of childbirth gives me hives to this day :P
We noticed this odd tendency, whenever someone found out we were expecting*, for them to share their horror stories. "You're pregnant? Well my sister's college roommate's second cousin had a baby last year and she nearly died. Let me start with the hemorrhoids though, so you understand that the pregnancy was awful, too."
ReplyDeleteThanks, jackass. Unless this story ends with, "And here's what you can do to avoid this problem," then you just keep that little nugget right the hell to yourself. She's freaking out as it is.
Oh, and like jiveturkey said, the kid is going to come out whether we hear this stuff or not, so how about "Congratulations, I can't wait to meet the little guy!" And then shut up.
Damn, nearly 10 years later and it still pisses me off.
* Feel free to change "we" to "she" throughout this anecdote if it makes you happier.
Word verification: ressin - what you're doing if you're in a hammock
I agree, I also avoid all the "baby story" shows, I have no desire to witness labor. Also, heads up, in my birthing class they passed around the epidural needle and I had a panic attach and had to leave the room. There are just some things I don't need to see.
ReplyDeleteIs it still considered educational when it's an out and out lie?
ReplyDelete"stretching or burning sensation"?
Really, that's it?
You can close your eyes while you're pushing, too. The doc is the only one who needs to "see." My favorite line from our first OB/GYN: "Babies have a way of coming out normal."
ReplyDeleteSaw a live birth video in my high school sex ed. Haven't had the urge to birth any kids yet. Most effective birth control ever!!!
ReplyDeleteSex Ed rules.
After we saw that movie we got in the car on the way home and hubby said, "Good Lord I am so glad that it is not me doing that!"
ReplyDeleteI cried all the way home...Kim
I hate horror movies, and when I was pregnant, I couldn't even READ about 'complications of pregnancy' - gave me the willies! I, too, was educated in the 'how'. Didn't want to see it demonstrated. Although, I have to admit, the slide show of the C-section during the Lamaze classes did help put my mind at ease; it didn't look so awful and when I ended up having one, I wasn't scared (much). Good luck!
ReplyDelete