Movies: Labor of Love...Having Babies in the Movies

Having babies is an obvious part of life.  It has been happening since the First Couple was kicked out of the garden but as far as movies go, they have been telling the story for just over 70 years, first starting with Gone with the Wind ("I don't know nuffin' about birthin' no babies Miss Scarlett!").


I read an article from birth-media.com entitled "What do you REALLY need to know about birth?" written by Vicki Elson, MA, and childbirth educator.  She had watched 62 television and movie birth scenes just to know what was being presented to the public and whether this type of exposure was helpful or harmful to future parents, and how childbirth educators can offer balance with a "dose of reality."

She found dozens of variables from "39 (63%) television birth scenes and 23 (37%) movie birth scenes. There were 24 (39%) comedies, 30 (48%) dramas, and 4 (6%) actual births (i.e. documentaries)."

Her find was interesting.  If you drew up a composite "average" birth scene from these 62 clips, "the mother would be married, white, upper-middle-class, heterosexual woman in her 30’s, happy to be having her first baby. The father would be present but distracted. The birth would take place in a hospital. It would be fast and hard. The mother would be semi-sitting, wearing a hospital-issue “johnny” and screaming. The person in control would be a white male doctor. The nurses would be white women. The baby would be a healthy boy (who looks about three months old). The music would certainly be cloying in the immediate postpartum bonding scene."  Not too encouraging for the ready-to-be parents.


From these clips, there were "...the frantic rushes to the hospital, attacks of laboring women on men, questionable competency of the doctor and/or nurses, car births, and the desperate cry for drugs" to list a few of the scenarios.  And it's not to say that these situations don't happen - the writers have to get their ideas from somewhere.


This list then brings to mind any number of movie birthing scenes. I'm doing this by memory.  There is the absolute ridiculous scene from Micki and Maude, directed by Blake Edwards and starring Dudley Moore as a bigamist.  Of course, both his wives (who don't know about each other) are delivering babies at the same time, in the same hospital.  The only thing I clearly remember is Dudley running around like a crazy man between both rooms and Amy Irving (his second wife) standing on the hospital bed, acting like a male gorilla claiming dominance.  


Robin Williams played a foreign, incompetent doctor in 9 Months.  There were two simultaneous births, a video taping dad, a fight scene, and a mad dash to the hospital complete with the car full of strangers.  The baby/daddy bonding scene at the end is sweet, nonetheless.


Junior - Arnie having a baby?  And told to push during a c-section?


Father of the Bride 2 - "Older" mother Diane Keaton finds out she is pregnant at the same time her daughter is.  Personally I can relate to this one a little bit since my youngest son is only six years older than my first grandchild.  I loved watching Steve Martin catering to these two women in his life and of course, going between both hospital rooms when they go into labour at the same time.


Parenthood - a good movie showing the ups and downs of being a parent.  The triumphs, the mistakes, the hilarity, the frustration, and the need for family.  The birthing scene at the end is short, but sweet, and also encompasses the waiting room anticipation.


I have been blessed to be able to birth six children.  All in hospitals (six different ones).  All while I was sitting up in a bed, wearing a gown (I fit the composite average).  All but the last one drug free.  I trusted each of the nurses that helped me and the doctors that delivered my 3 sons and 3 daughters.  One doctor introduced himself after delivering my speedy 2nd child, one nurse stayed after her shift was over and helped me through my epidural.  I've never strangled anyone, cursed at anyone, jumped up and down on the hospital bed, or told my husband I hated him.  But I did ask my friend who was driving me to the hospital to run a red light (mad dash scene with speedy 2nd child).  And I did question to myself the competency of the older nurse who told me at 7 cms I couldn't have any drugs (and was very thankful to the nurse who took over after her she'd give me an epidural until I was ready to push).


I understand the need in the entertainment industry to keep the audience glued to the screen, to present every day scenarios with a dramatic flair, or an over-the-top wild imagination, but what is Hollywood presenting us here with their childbirths?  How do first time-to-be parents react to some of these things?  Are they encouraged or frightened?  Do these movies present good role models or do most movie goers see it as no more than entertainment?  Should there even be birthing scenes on screen or should it be left a private thing?


Are there any movie birthing scenes you have found memorable for good or bad reasons?


Let's talk movies and don't forget the popcorn!