Pregnancy, Parenthood & Playtime

I normally don’t get on about how much I hate these medical shows on TV, but last night really set me off. I was watching Private Practice, which comes on at 10pm on the ABC network, and the show was chock full of drama, which is probably in relation to the fact that they were losing a lot of viewers. I used to be a huge fan, but tehir bland and sometimes offensive story lines were really starting to play on me.  Last night sent me off the deep end though.

The first thing that really bothered me was the character they had on their show who was attempting what they called “natural childbirth”  this woman was basically a huge slap in the face to anyone who has had or wants to have a natural childbirth. She became the butt of the joke for the whole show.  The character was grinding on door frames, squatting around the office yelling and moaning like a animal in heat, causing a distraction to other patients, all the while discussing how she has been in labor for over 3 days, yada yada yada. To me, someone who has tried to have a natural childbirth, she was nothing more than a slap in the face, and trying to make a joke out of anyone who has had a natural birth. What bothered me even more was the way they treated this woman’s “birth plan” again like it was all just a big joke.
They continued to offer her drugs, and more drugs, oh, and drugs again.

Then here comes the shining Addison, main character, OB, neonatal surgeon, the whole nine yards. The “natural childbirth” woman asks for help, and she says “Well unless you want a c-section, there is nothing I can do for you”  Wha wha what?!?!?!??!?   While this pretty much is dead on for some of the OB’s out there, for them to actually put this on TV floored me!

But it doesn’t stop there. This show was just over board on things that would never happen, and things that bothered me.
Mothers trying to force their teen daughters to have abortions.
Mother drags her daughter into the room RIGHT as the “natural birth mother” gives birth to try and scare her.
Mother slaps daughter when she says she doesn’t want an abortion.

All in all, the whole show bothered me last night, but just like ABC wanted, they got the viewers and the ratings.

Moral of the story :

• Making fun of women who want to birth naturally is offensive.
• The script, actions, and lines of the natural childbirth mother were unrealistic and offensive.
• Forcing ANYONE despite their age to have an abortion, or to have a child against their will should be illegal and considered abuse.

I hope you write this down ABC!