Children's Programming

It has been a while since my last post. The exam is done and after a fantastic opportunity to meet with Lamaze's Certification Council, I have returned to blogging.

I have begun reading Jennifer Block's Pushed once again. I started this book a few months ago, but chose to read some other things to prepare for certification. I recommend that anyone wishing to have a safe and healthy birth read it before even getting pregnant. It includes great, evidence-based information that everyone should know before making their birthing decisions. With this reading comes an increased awareness of birth in the word around me.

In the past two days, I have watched two separate children's cartoons in which a mom is having a second baby. A year ago, I never would have thought twice about the way the birthing process is portrayed, but since beginning my journey through Lamaze, things have changed.

We are always seeing birth portrayed in the media and too often it is presented with very little variation. Women see other women laboring in a hospital bed connected to IVs, monitors and with epidurals. While this is the reality for many women, it is not what all women want. I believe there should be a variety of birthing experiences presented in the media and it may aid women in advocating for the types of births they wish to achieve.

While viewing these cartoons with my son, it occurred to me that we are perpetuating the cycle with our children. In both cases, the parents went to the hospital to have a baby. In one case, the mom was having contractions that were somewhat unrealistic. I'm not suggesting we need to be too graphic or detailed, but smiles and "ohs" are also not what children may see while their moms are in labor. We may be setting our children up to be frightened when what they see is so different from what they imagined. In the second program, the new big sister went to visit her new baby brother in the "baby hospital." They passed two nurseries filled with babies before getting to the third nursery where the new baby slept with six others.

I understand that cartoons are not aimed at an adult audience, but perhaps by varying birthing locations (i.e. hospital, home birth, birthing center) and portraying more "ideal" situations, such as visiting baby who is cuddled up with Mom we can help to guide a generation of children to know that there are a variety of birthing options and choices that can be made. By presenting the safe and healthy arrival of a new family member in a variety of ways we may help our children have different expectations for a birthing experience and perhaps be good advocates for themselves when the time comes.

I know that there are a few concerns with this. First off, I could eliminate the television viewing and solve the problem. I'm expecting a lot from a children's cartoon. The reality is, my kids watch TV and I want what they are viewing to expose them to many different things presented in many different ways. This is true not just of birthing experiences, but of all information presented in children's programming. What do you think?