Actress Katherine Heigl in the movie “Knocked Up” (2007)

Hollywood loves to include scenes of childbirth in its movies, depicting the process according to its own standards. However, childbirth in American movies is usually not very similar to what actually happens in maternity wards. Think of the panicked women whose water suddenly broke at the most inconvenient moment, think of the husbands who did not know how to behave and finally fainted from their emotions and the unexpected sight – right in the delivery room… The list of such scenes is endless.

And then, from underneath the delicately placed sheet, they take out a lovely baby with an enchantingly cute face, looking up at the ceiling or at the cameraman. Based on British doctor Adam Kay’s book, This is Going to Hurt, which details exactly what happens in the delivery room, and with the help of three other specialists, we debunk six myths about childbirth created and perpetuated by the Hollywood dream factory.

Myth #1: Childbirth in Movies vs. Real Life

How childbirth is portrayed in Hollywood movies can be very different from how it happens in real life. In most births, the baby’s head comes out of the vagina first. The same thing happens in movies. However, on the screen, the baby’s face is usually turned up so that we can see it. In reality, this is not the case. More than 90% of babies are positioned in the mother’s womb before birth with their head down (known as vertex presentation), buttocks up, chin pressed against the chest, and legs and arms bent and pressed against the body. In this case, the baby’s face is turned to the mother’s back and the camera cannot see it at the moment of birth.

Myth #2: Babies’ Appearance at Birth

When we are born, we do not look perfect. “This is the most natural position for a baby to be born – face down or at least on its side,” says Barcelona obstetrician Damian Dexeus. “The reason for this orientation is simple – the child takes up less space and feels freer in the womb,” he explains. “In the movies, babies are often born face up, with their eyes open and even smiling! Of course, this is very unusual,” the doctor adds. Also, babies are not born as clean as they are shown in the movies. “I don’t know if it’s the aesthetics of the movies or an anachronism,” comments Dr. Dexeus.

Myth #3: The Vernix Caseosa

Vernix caseosa – the first layer of skin on a newborn – is unlikely to be seen in the movies. Why is this an anachronism? The doctor explains that in the past it was customary in hospitals to wash the baby immediately after birth and remove the vernix caseosa, the first layer (a substance of grayish-white color and curd-like consistency that covers the skin of a newborn), after which the baby was handed over to the mother – already completely cleaned. This does not happen in countries with developed health care, the obstetrician explains, because studies have shown that it is beneficial to the baby’s health for the vernix to remain on the skin for a few hours after birth.

Myth #4: Amniotic Sac and Water Breaking

The amniotic sac, which is formed around the embryo, is filled with amniotic fluid, which is often called “waters”. In films we often see scenes of the “sudden” release of this water, after which the pregnant woman almost immediately goes into labor. Example from the TV show “Sex and the City”: Charlotte’s water breaks while she is arguing at the entrance of a restaurant. She then runs to catch a taxi. “Sex and the City: Charlotte’s water breaks. But in real life, this does not necessarily mean that she is about to give birth. “There’s nothing unusual about that – after the water starts to recede, you really need to rush to the doctor for an examination to confirm that the amniotic sac has really ruptured, because a woman understands that she’s losing fluid, but she doesn’t see what it is,” says Dr. Dexeus. This is necessary because it is not always easy to determine whether it is amniotic fluid or urine, especially if there are only a few drops or slight moisture. However, the rupture of the amniotic sac does not usually mean that labor is about to begin or has already begun, as is often depicted in the movies. In fact, it is only a part of the processes taking place in the future mother’s body. “It is often the case that after several contractions, a woman understands that she is about to give birth. This is part of the natural process of childbirth,” says Ann Yates of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), who has been delivering babies in different parts of the world for more than 40 years. “In fact, if the amniotic sac has ruptured long before labor, long before the baby is ready to be born, it may indicate a complication,” she adds. Another common scene in movies is a birthing woman sitting on a high birthing table.

Myth #5: Birthing Positions

This is a comfortable position to give birth, but not the most common in the world. Examples abound, from Katherine Heigl’s character in Knocked Up to Jennifer Aniston’s character in Friends. While this is a comfortable position for childbirth, it is not the most common position in the world. “In the United Kingdom and the United States, it is customary for a woman to sit halfway up the delivery table with her legs raised,” says Dr. Dexeus. “But in countries like Spain, for example, the most common position for giving birth is lying down with knee support, but without lifting the legs.” This is the most common position in Brazil, and it is exactly how gynecologists examine women. There are a few other positions in which women give birth, but they are rarely seen in movies or on television: standing, squatting, sitting on a bench, or lying on her side. In addition, the position also depends on the stage of labor the woman is in – she may change her position during labor to make the birth easier.

Myth #6: Postpartum Period and Real Challenges

The postpartum period usually refers to the first six weeks after the birth of a child. “The postpartum period is the most important thing that is forgotten in the movies,” says Dr. Dexeus. Much of what happens after birth is rarely shown in Hollywood movies. Of course, you will not see the separation of the placenta or the suturing of the tears that occur during childbirth. But not only that. Actress Brooke Shields speaks at an event to raise awareness about postpartum depression. “Postpartum depression is portrayed very superficially in the movies,” says a gynecologist about the condition that affects at least one in ten women who have given birth (according to WHO statistics). Movies generally do not mention how difficult it can be to start breastfeeding, how the birth of a child can affect bladder and bowel health, and the dozens of other changes in the body that can be very challenging for a woman. “These films do not show how difficult physical recovery can be after a C-section,” adds Dr. Dexeus. “All these movie images that make us think that childbirth is easy are actually very dangerous because it’s not always that easy,” says the doctor.

Myth #7: Screaming in Pain during Childbirth

“In the past, laboring mothers were not given anesthesia,” explains Cuban doctor Josephina Lopez. “Yes, it is true that labor pains are painful, and when they last a long time, a woman can be exhausted. But that pain does not necessarily make a woman scream. Of course, everyone has their own pain threshold,” says Lopez. “When an epidural is used, this usually does not happen. Experts say that in real life, women scream much less during childbirth than they do in the movies. Yates believes that movies often portray women as weak during childbirth. “Women are strong. That is a common trait,” the midwife insists. “And they often get through childbirth – which is undoubtedly painful – without a single scream. Yes, sometimes they groan, but you almost never hear the agonizing screams you see in the movies,” Yates adds.

Myth #8: Anxious Husbands in the Delivery Room

The image of the clumsy and anxious husband in the delivery room is another cinematic stereotype. For example, Hugh Grant’s character in the romantic comedy “Nine Months” does exactly what a man should not do while his wife is giving birth. “We are shown terribly frightened men, pale as death, when labor begins. Some even faint,” says Dr. Dexeus. “The way men and women who are about to become parents of a newborn are portrayed in the movies is quite ridiculous. It can in no way be called the norm.”

Conclusion

As Yates says, in Hollywood movies, men are often portrayed as an annoying obstacle or someone who does not understand how to behave during childbirth. “In fact, many of those who accompany the mother-to-be are in perfect harmony with her,” the midwife points out.