For some, the idea of a Facebook update or text messages in the early stages of labor seems odd. I found it a nice distraction when I didn't need to concentrate much on contractions, but ended up stuck in the hospital. This digital age can help friends and family really feel involved and able to support the soon-to-be new mom even when distance keeps people apart.
But Gina Crosley-Corcoran -- The Feminist Breeder -- is taking it a step further, and is Live Blogging her upcoming home birth on her website. And it's a VBAC.
Whoever tunes in will be kept up-to-date on Gina's vaginal home birth after a cesarean. She has two children -- the first was delivered by c-section. The second was a VBAC in the hospital, and this time she will be delivering at home.
Using a service called "CoverLive," Gina will have a dedicated documentarian, a woman she's hired specifically to post text updates, photos, and even videos in a live format that looks similar to a chat room no matter what happens. While the main focus is Gina's own experience, the idea that it can help people have a look into their own home birth is a unique opportunity to quell misconceptions or myths about what a real home birth looks like. Gina points out that home birthers aren't just for the "patchouli-wearing, mystical Earth Goddess, long-skirt wearing" crowd. Gina's a punk rocker, high-heel wearing lawyer type. And hates patchouli.
Some people aren't huge fans of her plans, so Gina has made sure that her documentarian knows that she does not want to know what kind of responses she's getting on her blog. No responses or feedback will reach her ears or affect her birth.
If you are excited about this, like me, you can subscribe to receive a text when Gina goes into labor, so you can hop over to the blog and watch it live. I plan to, and hope to cry happy tears for my friend, who is getting a chance at a healing and peaceful birth that I want but won't ever have. And I hope many women, pregnant or not, will tune in to Gina's birth and watch it for what it is -- a shot at seeing what a real, live, unedited, non-medically driven birth looks like. Something we're severely lacking in this country as most births on TV and in films are edited to scare and shock.
For those who find an "I'm dilated to a 7 and the contractions are starting to get really close together" update on Facebook to be a little TMI, this is probably information overload. But just like nursing in public -- if you don't like it, you don't have to watch.
Will you tune in to her birth?
Image via bionicteaching/Flickr
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Comments 40
No, I won't watch but do wish her the best of luck with it. Not something I would ever do but do give credit to those who do. I know if I saw the birth, I'd bawl my eyes out. :,)
I think that is great, I might actually tune in if I am able.
Eh I will likely miss it, if I happen to be around when it goes live I would tune in.
The only reason I dont agree with this is the whole "performance" factor. When women are being watched, even during birth, some may have the tendency to perform, and putting on a birth performance isn't really letting things happen naturally, and could have consequences.
I of course wish her all the best of luck, and hope she can get the cameras off her mind, and just focus on the task at hand.
Wow such a postivie post about home birthing via the net, yet the lady at the hospital udating her friends via the net gets racked over the coals.
I think it's a pretty cool idea to help educate people who are interested in what a real homebirth is like... I probably won't tune in though, depending on my schedule and if I have classes or not. But neat idea!
I don't have a cell phone (I know I am in the dark ages), but I am relying on FB to let me know when she is in labor. I will tear up as well, watching, I find every home birth (or that of the likes) heals me from my own birth.
I was skeptical at first, thinking that she planned to be blogging HERSELF during the birth. But hearing that she will have a support crew who will be posting updates, that is a brilliant idea! And it sounds like she's set herself up well so there isn't much of a "performance" vibe. When I was laboring, two of my sisters were quietly and unobtrusively in the room, one with a still camera and one with a video camera. I was completely unaware of their presence. If the documentation crew are silent and respectful of Gina's space, I think it will not only be a positive experience for her, but a wonderful example for countless women.
I'm just a teeny, tiny bit cynical about Gina's motivation. Here's what I suspect Gina's reasons are for live blogging "her" birth.
1. She's a narcissist.
2. She thinks childbirth is a piece of performance art, and like all performance requires an audience.
3. She thinks she is the star; the baby isn't even mentioned as supporting cast.
4. She's jealous of the attention showered on the British woman who tweeted her birth and hopes to get some for herself.
And most importantly:
5. She's a narcissist.
But birth is NOT a piece of performance art. It is not an opportunity for the Gina to star in her own production. The baby NOT a bit player in "her" birth. The utterly self referential nature of this project as well as the complete unconcern for or even mention of the baby is extremely disturbing.
No thanks. I was there live and in person for all 3 of mine. I don't feel the need to watch anything come out of another woman's vagina.
I think this is such an awesome idea. I really wish I could remember more of the little details of when I had my son (what I was thinking, various things I said or did, etc..) but most of those details have been forgotten since he was born. I think both she and her child will have fun reviewing this some day.
And I really like her idea of showing a true home birth. I stayed at home through most of my labor (I was at 8 cm when I arrived at the birth center) and it was such a calm, laid back, personal experience. Totally stress-free and not at all like "in the movies". I'm definitely planning a home birth for the next baby, and I'll have to check this out to see what her experience is like.