Portrayal of Shared Decision-Making in Lifetime Documentary Series ‘One Born Every Minute’

Abstract

Introduction Pregnant women frequently use media, such as the internet and television programs to obtain information about the childbirth process [1,2]. Seventy-nine % of pregnant women read blogs, watch YouTube and join forums-serving as sources of information about labour and birth. Sixty-eight % of pregnant women watch reality television programs that portray pregnancy and birth experiences of Western women [3,4]. Contemporary women use these media sources to prepare themselves for birth, creating images of the unknown [1,3]-as in current society it is rare for a woman to be present at a birth before she gives birth herself. Child birth reality television and the internet provide an opportunity to witness the reality of birth and to learn from other one's experiences [5]. The overall finding, however, is that the portrayal of childbirth in these programs does not align with reality and over represents medicalised childbirth [1,6,7]. Moreover, birthing women are often portrayed as being very vulnerable, showing socially desirable and submissive behaviour (e.g. being quiet, listening, being obedient) and are generally portrayed as being patronised (e.g. "you're a good girl") while fulfilling a passive and sometimes subordinate role when it comes to participation and self-management of care [6,8]. Attention for aspects such as women's autonomous choice, informed decision and informed consent are often lacking in childbirth reality programs [6-9]. In times with increased attention to shared decision-making for both childbearing women and midwives [10,11], it seems vital to know and to understand how shared decision-making aspects are being portrayed in childbirth reality programs, considering that women highly depend on these programs as their source of information and preparation for childbirth. Evidence shows that in televised birth, the portrayal of informed choice during labour and birth is absent [12] and the intrapartum decision-making processes are usually portrayed as being clinician-determined [13]. Despite the portrayal of interpersonal midwifery practice in childbirth reality television [9,12,14], a knowledge gap exists as to how the recognised individual steps of shared decision-making in intrapartum midwifery services are being portrayed: Introducing a decision (choice talk), discussing options (option talk), discussing preferences and weighing options before making a final decision Abstract Background: Pregnant women use childbirth reality programs to prepare themselves for childbirth. It is unknown how shared decision-making in intrapartum midwifery care is represented in televised birth. We aimed to explore the portrayal of shared decision-making during labour and birth in lifetime documentary series One born every minute.