Finally a TV birth worth watching!

Since we only get TV online (no cable or satellite here), I get much of my entertainment from Hulu.com. That's how I started watching The Office--it's not like I didn't like it before, but maybe I had a schedule conflict or something. Online, I can watch anytime. But I digress.

I have been following the show for a few months now, and I was excited to see Pam giving birth to her and Jim's baby. Still, I figured it wouldn't cover much new ground. The expectant parents would arrive at the hospital, and the wife would be wheeled to the delivery room in a wheelchair, where she would obediently hike up her legs in stirrups. Then she would crush her confused husband's hand as she screamed through a few contractions before delivering what appeared to be a 2-month-old baby. Afterwards, the baby would be whisked away to the nursery, where the awaiting family would look in adoringly through a window. I figured that I would watch like usual and grumble about the false image TV gives to childbirth.

Surprisingly I found that the show represented many natural parenting techniques, honestly and with good humor. One thing that was different was that they didn't show anything from the delivery room at all. Kelly mentioned epidurals in one of the "documentary" type shots, but that was anecdotal, and nothing was said about how Pam gave birth. You could hear her from outside, and from the way she was moaning, I assume that she went mostly natural. Still, it was a nice touch, I think, to leave that out and let viewers imagine what was happening.

I was also pleased to see that the baby roomed in and that the Halperts chose to breastfeed, even when it wasn't always easy. This introduced another very real issue: know-it-all nurses. Their nurse just wouldn't give up with the "Why don't you let me take her to the nursery and give her a bottle so you can rest?" talk, and even made smart aleck remarks about how bottles don't hurt babies. Maybe not, but why challenge the parents' authority to make decisions for their own child, especially when that decision is clearly the better choice from a medical standpoint? It's beyond me, but I know firsthand that it happens. Pam and Jim stood their ground so well, too. They didn't pretend that breastfeeding is all peaches and cream, but they did show how rewarding it can be. When Pam finally succeeded, I will admit, I teared up a little. I'd like to see how the show explores the issue once she goes back to work.

I don't mean this as a judgment on moms who made different choices, but it's sure nice to see a TV show giving exposure to natural parenting, hopefully helping these practices become more mainstream. I say "Bravo!" to The Office for producing one of the more honest, relatable, and touching birth episodes I've ever watched.