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Coming soon from the makers of Big Brother: Live childbirth on TV. Is nothing private any more?
Last updated at 16:31pm on 02.10.06
Born to be on TV: Producers hope a baby will arrive live on air
Channel Five is to show a woman giving birth live on air for the first time.
Birth Night Live, from the company behind Big Brother, will follow up to 18 expectant mothers in labour.
It is hoped that at least one will manage to produce a baby within the two-hour TV special next Sunday evening to "celebrate the miracle of childbirth", the producers said.
If not, the show, which starts at 8pm, could be extended for up to another two hours.
Midwives and parents' charities criticised TV company Endemol for turning the intimacy of childbirth into a spectacle for ratings.
A camera crew in the delivery room could cause unnecessary stress and lead to disastrous complications, they said.
The expectant mothers have already agreed to be filmed giving birth naturally, without any pain relief. The show will also feature a live elective caesarean section. This, of course, will involve pain relief.
The Royal College of Midwives is considering lodging a formal complaint about the programme before it is broadcast. But Ofcom, the broadcasting watchdog, would not be able to deal with this until the programme has been transmitted.
The show will be filmed at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham. The hospital confirmed it had been paid but refused to disclose the amount.
A senior member of staff at Queen's said: "Some of us have very big reservations about this. If they really want to show the wonder of birth, why don't they film it and then transmit it once they know everything has gone well and mother and baby are fine?
"Childbirth isn't always that simple and things can go wrong. Imagine if there was some disastrous complication, live on TV, where perhaps the mother or the baby was in serious danger.
"A TV crew in the room won't help, and the truth is that staff do react in a different way if a camera's there.
"I can't believe the hospital has actually agreed to do this."
Dr Margaret Ramsay, who will perform the caesarean, said the show had an educational role.
'We will film as much as possible'
"The woman concerned is my patient, and is having the operation for a very good clinical reason," she said. If any complications arose she would simply utter a key phrase to the film crew who would know to leave the room, she said.
"We'll take great care to maintain the patient's dignity and I hope it will take away some of the myths surrounding birth."
Birth Night Live, to be hosted by sports presenter Gabby Logan, will also explore the latest techniques for saving babies while they are still in the womb.
Janet Fyle, the Royal College of Midwives' educational adviser, insisted that birth was "not a spectator sport".
"Women are at their most vulnerable when they give birth. It's a very intimate and intense time for the family and having strangers there could really increase the stress levels.
"They may have given their consent... but what if they change their mind halfway through? We cannot support this."
The National Childbirth Trust has also raised concerns. "There is absolutely no need to film this live, other than pushing up the TV ratings of course," said chairman Belinda Phipps.
Channel Five and Endemol insisted that all precautions had been taken.
Executive producer Elaine Hackett said: "We will film as much as possible and we will certainly show the mother and her baby coming out of her.
"Our teams are very experienced and they know if there was the slightest problem, they would stop filming immediately."
A Five spokesman said none of the mothers would be induced so there was no guarantee a baby would be born naturally on the show.
"We have always said that this is an attempt to show a live natural birth," she said.
"It's quite a busy maternity ward anyway so we expect something to happen but, of course, we can't guarantee you will see something from start to finish."
Reader views (23)
Are there no depths that those in charge of the media won't sink to in order to dull the minds of the sheeple? Sadly... probably not.
- Steve., Kent UK
I agree with the above two women, this is just taking things a step too far. What are they going to show next? Those women are crazy to let a film crew and millions of people intrude into a sacred, private moment of joy.
- Sarah, Sligo, Ireland
Humanity's most sacred moment falls prey to exploitation, money and the continuing attack on decency, morals and class. Actually I am really disgusted with the women who would allow their child to be exploited int his manner. Are there any real women left?
- J. Forbes, Montreal, Canada
Just in the worst possible taste.
- Nancy Johnson, Emigrant, Montana, USA
If the mother is okay with it then what's the big deal? If you don't like it then don't watch. If no one watches then they won't do it again.
- John, Boston, MA, USA
Since death is supposedly the ultimate taboo, how about a live embalming?
- Chuck Anderson, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
This is always on Discovery Health channel - but recorded.
Is it any different live?
- Brian, Washington, DC
Show it, nothing makes for better birth control than seeing the actual process, plus it IS an incredible miracle!
- Helen, Evanston, IL
You have been watching Birth! Coming after the commercial break, stay tuned for Death! Live from HospiceTV!
- Geekwitha, PHL Region, USA
Nothing new in the US. That reality show "A Baby Story" on The Learning Channel already shows this.
- R, NY, NY
I gave up watching Television for Lent, two years ago. When Lent was over, I had no desire to resume warching TV. Life has been so much more enjoyable. Everyone should try it - you'll be pleasantly suprised.
- Nora O'Connor, Youngstown, Ohio, USA
This isn't an issue for privacy, as the mothers have granted permission. Anyone who is surprised by something like this hasn't seen much TV recently. As Gina in Washington said, "what's the big deal?".
- Jack, Louisville, KY
As a nurse, I feel that a TV crew has NO business being present when a mother gives birth to her child. This is something that can lead to a huge legal battle and cause undue stress on the mother. It's already stressful enough if there are complications, but to have that many extra people in the room only makes it worse.
- Josh, San Antonio, Tx
Vomit. Just vomit.
- P D. Agua, Northeast USA
Wow. I'd love to find out how much the hospital is getting paid for this, and who benefits from those payments.
I can already see the future: pay extra when you have surgery and DON'T want it on TV.
Disgusting and sickening.
- Hans Meiser, Philadelphia, USA
Utterly disturbing. This is the latest low that mass media has stooped to for shock value and ratings, and I'm disgusted by the company putting this on.
- D Winkelman, Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
What's next? Air the miracle of conception live on TV?
- Pete, Phoenix, AZ, USA
They have already shown vasectomy sugery on tv.
- J Sawyer, Layton, UT, US
Add that to the list of "Must Miss" TV.
- Dave, SD, USA
What are they thinking? The birth of a child is a miracle, not a TV show rating. What’s next…showing a vasectomy?
- Jackie Gietzen, Atlanta USA
What's the big deal - people have been filming/taping their own children's births since there were cameras. And I can't count the number of films showing actual births I saw during childbirth classes having my own kids. Besides, nobody is forcing these women to be filmed and if it offends you - turn the program off!
- Gina, Washington, DC, USA
Here in the US, there are several shows on "The Learning Channel" and the Discovery Channel that show women giving birth. Granted they are pre-recorded, and they blur out certain parts of the anatomy. They have two shows on daily that show a family's story. I rather enjoy the shows as they give you an idea of what other folks go through, and it's not always the scary, high-risk births you see on other documentary style programs.
- Lee Ann, The Woodlands, Tx, USA
Blimey, this is not a good thing! Is there no respect anymore for privacy and common decency?
- Travis Roste, Hutchinson, MN USA
