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Birth Day

Season 1
While birthdays happen once a year, a birth day happens once in a lifetime. Following the true, personal stories of expectant mothers and fathers, the dramatic events leading up to the birth of their child unfold into life's greatest miracle.
2004134 episodes
TV-PG
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Episodes

  1. S1 E1 - Short Cervix
    July 2, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    For some women, a condition known as "short cervix" means they can never carry a baby full term, but a procedure known as a "cervical cerclage" can make a difference for many expecting mothers.
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  2. S1 E2 - Advanced Maternal Age
    July 3, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    It may surprise many women, but doctors consider any pregnancy after age 35 to be at higher risk for some complications, but these two women -- one a cancer survivor -- in the medical category known as "advanced maternal age" deliver healthy babies.
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  3. S1 E3 - Sickle Cell
    July 6, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Sickle cell anemia is a life-long chronic and painful medical condition affecting a large percentage of the African-American community in the United States. Doctors at Emory University in Atlanta discuss its effect on pregnant women.
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  4. S1 E4 - Natural Childbirth
    August 1, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    More women are opting for "medically unassisted" childbirth done inside the confines of a medical facility. Certified nurse midwives play an important role in this kind of birth, combining old, natural methods with modern technology.
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  5. S1 E5 - Unhealthy Mothers
    August 30, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    If mothers-to-be are healthy during pregnancy they are more likely to have healthy babies. Doctors reveal the proof that when women stay healthy while they're pregnant, they can give the best gift possible to their anticipated newborn baby.
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  6. S1 E6 - Induction
    September 12, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Birthing is an individual experience at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital. Mothers-to-be choose from a birthing center staffed with nurses and midwives and a more technological approach with the full medical intervention of induction and pain-relief drugs.
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  7. S1 E7 - Lung White Out
    October 18, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    A genetic condition called lung white out affects a very small percentage of babies. Explore the problems and outcomes associated with this condition.
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  8. S1 E8 - 20 Years of Birthing
    October 19, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Visit one hospital to explore how the birthing process has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. A diary of recollections written by mothers who have come through this bustling labor and delivery unit reflects changing times and techniques.
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  9. S1 E9 - Fathers
    October 23, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Fathers go through a range of emotions during labor and delivery. From the squeamish dad to the totally supportive partner, he's there with the mom from beginning to end.
    This video is currently unavailable
  10. S1 E10 - NICU
    October 23, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Explore two of the most-advanced neonatal intensive care units in the US and follow the stories of three babies who make temporary stops in these units before setting off to join their families at home.
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  11. S1 E11 - Pain Medications
    October 25, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Learn how women make decisions on treatment to control pain during labor and delivery. From breathing techniques and visualization to a body-numbing epidural, follow four women who use four different ways to control birth pain.
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  12. S1 E12 - Twins
    November 29, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Find out why incidents of multiple births, especially among older woman, continue to rise in the US. Learn the complications associated with delivering twins, and meet two expectant moms, both delivering twins.
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  13. S1 E13 - Midwives and Doulas
    November 29, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    In hospitals across the US, doulas and midwives enjoy an increase in demand for their services from mothers during labor and delivery.
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  14. S1 E14 - Slowing Down Pre-Labor
    May 27, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Learn about pre-term labor and see a patient expecting twins who need as much time as possible to develop properly inside the mother. Learn how doctors use various drugs to slow down the labor and speed up the baby's development.
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  15. S1 E15 - Twins Again
    May 31, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    A mother has her second set of twins, back to back. Although rare in the US, this woman's family has at least one ancestor with the same occurrence. Find out how genetics plays into the chances of having twins.
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  16. S1 E16 - VBAC
    June 11, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Once a woman gives birth by C-section, her chances of ever delivering a baby vaginally decrease. But just how much of a decrease, and why? Learn about the issues involved in determining whether a woman can give birth vaginally after having a C-section.
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  17. S1 E17 - Birth Center II
    June 12, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Get a behind-the-scenes look at a birthing center with a family who chose to deliver in this unique environment. Learn how birthing moved from home to hospital as medical advances ensured safer births, and see what may have been lost in that transition.
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  18. S1 E18 - Dad's Role in Birth
    June 19, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Doctors and other medical staff are urging fathers to take a more active role in the whole birth experience. Learn about research that shows that fathers can have a calming impact on the mother and baby.
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  19. S1 E19 - Second C-Sections
    September 10, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Complications arise when a C-section, already considered major surgery, must be performed on a Chinese woman with no medical records. Doctors must take extra precautions to insure a healthy outcome for both mother and child.
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  20. S1 E20 - Advanced Maternal Age
    September 20, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Forty-something Patricia and husband Jose are expecting their first baby since losing their two children in a car accident. Patricia's gestational diabetes may be causing macrosomia, a condition that causes the fetus to grow unusually large.
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  21. S1 E21 - Uterine Surgery and a Birth
    September 12, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Six weeks pregnant, Morshica's abdomen grew to the size of a full term pregnancy in a matter of days. Doctors perform surgery to remove a huge fibroid growing on the outside of her uterus. She makes it to term. See the complicated surgical delivery.
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  22. S1 E22 - Chorioamnionitis
    September 26, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    A mom has a high fever and painful contractions. She has a serious infection of the placenta and amniotic fluid known as chorioamnionitis. She needs an emergency c-section to save her baby. A Spanish-speaking mother is helped through premature labor.
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  23. S1 E23 - Stress During Pregnancy
    October 6, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    An expecting mom deals with stress after her husband is in a serious car accident. Stress has been linked to low birth weight and birth defects. Another mom worries about her ability to carry her baby to term. Both moms deliver healthy babies.
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  24. S1 E24 - Pulmonary Hypertension
    November 3, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Pulmonary hypertension has doctors monitoring Denise's labor very closely. The pain stresses her heart, but an epidural is incompatible with her heart medication. Delivery progresses smoothly, but her newborn must go to the NICU with mild pneumonia.
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  25. S1 E25 - Uterine Prolapse/Meconium
    November 10, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Third babies prove to be the trickiest deliveries for these two moms. When Karla's water breaks, her fluid is stained greenish-brown with meconium. Due to a uterine prolapse during a previous delivery, Mende must deliver number three via c-section.
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  26. S1 E26 - 250 Years of Birthing
    November 17, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Visit Pennsylvania Hospital, the first in the nation, for a historical review of labor and delivery. Compare a first-time mom's modern-day delivery with those in centuries past, including the evolution of the epidural and the father's role in delivery.
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  27. S1 E27 - Moms in Pre-term Labor
    December 15, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Two women in pre-term labor are flown in for specialized care at University of New Mexico Hospital. Carrying twins, Ivonne is given magnesium sulfate to stop labor. Kathy's water has broken, so she must deliver her two-pound daughter via c-section.
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  28. S1 E28 - Pulmonary Atresia
    September 16, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    Newborn baby Ryder has a rare heart lesion and must have an operation. The operation fails to restore blood flow to the lungs, so the newborn must be rushed into follow-up surgery. The tiny baby boy proves to be a fighter and his health is improving.
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  29. S1 E29 - Preclampsia/Fibriod Tumors
    September 14, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    Two first-time mothers from different backgrounds and geographical locations are diagnosed with preeclampsia, a condition of elevated blood pressure associated with pregnancy. Although they share this condition, they have two very different experiences.
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  30. S1 E30 - Older Mothers' Miracle Births
    September 14, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    Two first-time mothers with past pregnancy problems struggle with complications associated with being over the age of 40. In the end, healthy babies are born to each mother and they are relieved and grateful for their little miracles.
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  31. S1 E31 - Epidurals
    June 25, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    More and more women want the shortest possible labor with the least amount of pain. The most popular pain relief is the epidural. Discover how epidurals work, how they are administered and how they impact a woman's labor experience.
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  32. S1 E32 - C-Sections
    June 26, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Over the last decade, the rate of C-section births has risen dramatically. Examine two C-section births and learn about how C-sections are performed as well as the risks involved.
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  33. S1 E33 - Hydrocephalus
    December 28, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    Meggan and Rob find out their first baby will be born with hydrocephalus, commonly known as water on the brain. After the baby is born, a shunt is inserted into her brain and three weeks later, she is well enough to be released from the hospital.
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  34. S1 E34 - Unexpected Outcomes
    January 4, 2004
    22min
    TV-PG
    Dottie Hill and husband Rick hope to add one more child to their family. Dottie gives birth to a baby boy although doctors have some concerns upon examining baby Stuart. The family must summon all their faith when they learn the baby has Down Syndrome.
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  35. S1 E35 - Ten-Year Hiatus
    February 8, 2004
    22min
    TV-PG
    It's been ten years since the birth of Cynthia and Miguel Ruiz's first child together. Their blended family also includes one child each by previous partners, and with Cynthia at 37 weeks, soon they will add a baby girl to the group.
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  36. S1 E36 - Kidney Ailments
    June 27, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    A woman delivers a healthy baby after a full-term pregnancy despite having a kidney ailment. Explore how a mother's health can affect labor and delivery and the importance of good prenatal care.
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  37. S1 E37 - Breech Twins
    June 28, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Despite the complications of breech twins, a mom is determined to deliver her babies vaginally and not via C-section. Her positive attitude helps her and her doctors fulfill her wishes.
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  38. S1 E38 - Diabetes
    June 29, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Diabetics can and do have healthy babies. Meet two women about to give birth who have two different types of diabetes. Find out about each type of diabetes, how they affect moms and the chances of them affecting the health of the baby.
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  39. S1 E39 - Weight and Pregnancy
    July 4, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    In the weight-obsessed culture of America, many women don't consider its impact on labor and delivery. Two moms, one obese and the other underweight, consider what, if any, affect their weight will have on labor and the delivery of a healthy baby.
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  40. S1 E40 - Prior Miscarriages
    July 5, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    A woman who not only had multiple prior miscarriages is also dealing with the death of her baby's father in a tragic car accident. Her doctors work to successfully deliver a healthy baby by a woman with a poor medical history of carrying full term.
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  41. S1 E41 - Morning Sickness
    July 9, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Like many issues surrounding birth, there's a lot of misunderstanding and myth about morning sickness. For some women, the condition is defined best by its name, affecting them only in the morning. Meet a woman whose condition lasted her whole pregnancy.
    This video is currently unavailable
  42. S1 E42 - Overdue Babies
    July 10, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    The risks of premature delivery are well-known, but what are the risks of overdue babies? Not only can a long pregnancy be a physical challenge for a woman, but it can also have negative health effects on the baby.
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  43. S1 E43 - Hemophiliac
    July 11, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Hemophilia, a hereditary condition preventing a person's blood from clotting quickly enough, can have serious repercussions for pregnant women. One woman with the condition undergoes a C-section and delivers a healthy baby with few complications.
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  44. S1 E44 - Genetic Heart Ailment
    July 12, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Doctors never know whether certain types of genetic heart ailments will pass from mother to baby until after the delivery. A woman delivers her second child not knowing if, like her first baby, she will pass her heart condition along to the newborn.
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  45. S1 E45 - GBS Infections
    July 13, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    A high percentage of healthy people carry the Strep B virus without ever developing an illness. In pregnancy, this virus can have serious consequences for both mother and baby, and prenatal testing and monitoring is necessary for a healthy birth.
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  46. S1 E46 - Night in Labor and Delivery
    September 13, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    A look at the labor and delivery floor of the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. While it may seem chaotic and out of control to an outside viewer, the unique medical needs of women giving birth is simply part of the job for the medical pros on staff.
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  47. S1 E47 - Pre-Term Labor
    August 8, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Pre-term labor is a common condition that many women experience in the final stages of pregnancy. Find out what it is, how different women cope with it, and what it means for the birth of a baby.
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  48. S1 E48 - Miracle Baby
    August 9, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Meet a woman who, despite many attempts, could not carry and deliver a healthy full-term baby, until a medical procedure was performed to strengthen her cervix. Find out what lengths some women will go to carry and deliver their own baby.
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  49. S1 E49 - Placenta Previa
    August 10, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    At the Denver airport while enroute to her home in Tennessee, a pregnant woman starts bleeding uncontrollably. Her condition, known as placenta abruption, causes uncontrolled bleeding and can have serious consequences for the health of the mom and baby.
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  50. S1 E50 - Forceps
    August 2, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Explore the role of nurse midwives and how they interact with staff doctors if a problem occurs during delivery. Discover what can go wrong and how even the most serious complications can be handled by a doctor on standby.
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  51. S1 E51 - Maternal Strep Infection
    August 2, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Many women encounter viral or bacterial infections while they are pregnant. How to treat them and what it may mean for the health of the baby are two of the topics discussed.
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  52. S1 E52 - Fast/Slow Birth
    August 31, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Endure the joys and pains of labor and delivery with one woman who elects to take advantage of all the help medicine has to offer for a quick and painless birth and with another woman who chooses to let nature take its own course.
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  53. S1 E53 - VBAC II
    August 1, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Women often prefer vaginal delivery over c-section because they believe a vaginal birth to be a better option for mother and child. Challenge this commonly-held belief with medical evidence that calls women's birthing beliefs into question.
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  54. S1 E54 - Cervical Cancer
    September 5, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Accompany an expectant mother through an emotional pregnancy made all the more tumultuous by the discovery of pre-cancerous cells in her cervix after conception. Personal will and attentive doctoring combine as she attempts to deliver a healthy baby.
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  55. S1 E55 - Previous Conditions
    September 6, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Nine months carrying a baby is taxing for even the healthiest of women. Meet a woman who has decided to give birth after a serious car accident has caused permanent damage to her spine.
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  56. S1 E56 - Amniotic Fluid
    September 7, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    The very substance that protects and nourishes a growing fetus can harm the baby in abnormally high quantities. Learn the medical risks posed when a mother-to-be carries too much amniotic fluid.
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  57. S1 E57 - Multiple Pregnancies
    September 10, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Even as it has become a societal norm for women to have fewer babies than in previous generations, there are still exceptions. Examine the positive and negative medical ramifications of multiple births.
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  58. S1 E58 - Taylor and Day
    September 11, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Serious complications from diabetes led to a stillborn birth for this woman's first pregnancy. Now, with good prenatal care, she is able to deliver a healthy baby despite her diabetic condition.
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  59. S1 E59 - Young Mothers I
    September 20, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    As more older women decide to have children it becomes easy to forget that not too long ago young mothers were the norm. Meet two teenage women who give birth and challenge preconceptions about teen moms.
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  60. S1 E60 - Induction II
    September 21, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Many pregnant women have their labor induced for a variety of reasons. Meet a doctor who is conducting a study to explore how inducing labor can cut health risks to both mother and baby.
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  61. S1 E61 - Ulcerative Colitis
    October 12, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Follow the progress of a woman who, after losing several pregnancies to colitis, realizes her dream of having a baby. A new operation and a c-section delivery now allow women wanting children to overcome the effects of this chronic bowel condition.
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  62. S1 E62 - Emergency Birth
    October 15, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    From transportation to neonatal care, hospitals provide myriad services to ensure the delivery of healthy babies. But a healthy outcome is never a guarantee. Follow one mother through the ups and downs of labor and delivery.
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  63. S1 E63 - Tubal Ligation/Advanced Age
    October 15, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    The mother has ultimate control over her child's birth, as proven when one mom opts for a planned c-section to avoid the emergency c-section she experienced with her first birth. Discover why she has chosen tubal ligation to prevent future pregnancies.
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  64. S1 E64 - Meconium
    October 16, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Two extremely sick babies arrive at the neonatal intensive care unit with different conditions, but both receive everything medicine and technology have to offer to ensure their healthy recovery .
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  65. S1 E65 - Rh Factor
    October 16, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    A high Rh factor, indicating high acid levels in the bloodstream and amniotic fluid, can create pregnancy complications. Meet two moms with this condition, one able to deliver healthy twins and the other in need of emergency care to save her baby.
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  66. S1 E66 - Uncomplicated Births
    October 18, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Learn how healthy living and consistent prenatal care can help mothers-to-be avoid complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
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  67. S1 E67 - Slow, Controlled Birth
    October 19, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to predicting how long childbirth can take. Follow one mother as she experiences a slow, uncomplicated birth, and learn that doctors characterize her labor as a textbook case of childbirth.
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  68. S1 E68 - Placenta
    October 22, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Learn why the placenta is the organ that makes the miracle of birth possible. Watch as doctors and nurses explain what the placenta is, how it develops and its important role in providing everything from oxygen to blood to a developing baby.
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  69. S1 E69 - Birthing Center
    October 22, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Visit a private birthing center in Philadelphia. Meet a patient and her support team and learn why some women chose to give birth outside a hospital setting.
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  70. S1 E70 - Pain Management I
    May 28, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Learn about the different kinds of pain management available to pregnant women including the difference between a standard epidural and a walking epidural. Meet a Nurse who usually delivers pain medications, as she receives them.
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  71. S1 E71 - Hypnosis and Birth
    May 30, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Watch a second time Mom, who is also a nurse, try to avoid all use of pain medication during labor and delivery. She chose an unconventional but familiar method: hypnosis. Meet the doula/nurse who is her hypnotherapist and learn how it works.
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  72. S1 E72 - Heart Disease
    June 3, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    As a young mother awaits the delivery of twins a routine exam reveals that one of the twins has died in utero. Experience the mixed emotions of these parents. Watch as doctors work to deliver the healthy twin and not compromise the mother's health.
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  73. S1 E73 - Community Hospital
    June 4, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Find out what goes on in 'community' hospitals. Explore the differences between small community hospitals and larger busier hospitals and learn what every mother should know when deciding on a community hospital.
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  74. S1 E74 - Basic Questions of Child Birth
    June 5, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    On either side of the country two women are in labor but both have many of the same questions. Journey with them and learn the answers to questions including: When will labor begin? How long will it last? How painful will it be? Who will help them?
    This video is currently unavailable
  75. S1 E75 - Quadruplets
    August 23, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Learn what doctors do to ensure healthy babies in multiple births. Explore the fundamental issues that affect these births. Journey to a hospital where doctors have one of the highest rates of healthy outcomes for multiple births.
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  76. S1 E76 - Moms Over 40
    June 7, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Learn why the chances of getting pregnant decrease as the health risks to both mom and baby increase once a woman is 35 years old. Follow a 46-year-old mother through labor and delivery and learn some startling facts about women of Advanced Maternal Age.
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  77. S1 E77 - Anesthesia
    June 10, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Explore the two most common pain medications used by over 90 percent of US mothers during labor, spinals and epidurals. Understand the difference between the two, their lengths of effectiveness and any potential side effects.
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  78. S1 E78 - First Time Moms/Multiple Times
    June 13, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    See what first time moms learn from their more experienced counterparts. Discover how medical aspects of labor and delivery such as the length of labor and the use of pain medications can all be affected by a woman's birthing experience.
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  79. S1 E79 - Beta Strep
    June 14, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Beta Strep is a common bacterial infection except when it comes into contact with your baby. Learn at what stage to be tested, what to do if you have it and what the hospital and medical staff should be doing to prevent it from spreading.
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  80. S1 E80 - Fetal Heart Rate/Brada Cardia
    June 17, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    See how a baby's heart rate often fluctuates during labor. Meet two mothers in labor and delivery whose babies' heart rates are well out of the normal range. Learn why this condition, called BradyCardia, is a signal that the babies are in distress.
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  81. S1 E81 - PIH Placenta
    June 18, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Learn the symptoms that indicate a woman may have preeclampsia, a condition that causes elevated blood pressure brought on by pregnancy. See how this condition affects both mother and baby.
    This video is currently unavailable
  82. S1 E82 - Induction III
    June 21, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    The past 10 years have brought dramatic improvements in obstetrics. Learn how such improvements have given doctors the ability to manage the onset of labor and delivery, resulting in an increase in more successful outcomes.
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  83. S1 E83 - Home Birth vs. Hospital Births
    September 11, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    While home births are becoming increasingly popular, hospital births offer laboring women amenities that are not available at home. Consider the factors, including safety, medical support, and pain medication, available when choosing where to give birth.
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  84. S1 E84 - Induction Due to Hypertension
    September 13, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Hypertension is a very serious disease that can cause kidney failure, liver rupture and stroke. When hypertension advances to the serious stage called preeclampsia doctors must induce labor and deliver the baby.
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  85. S1 E85 - Latest Advances in Induction
    September 17, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    The number one surgical procedure performed in the U.S. is the cesarean section. In hospitals across the country, the c-section is used in nearly 20% of births. Take an in-depth look at this common, yet still considered major, form of abdominal surgery.
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  86. S1 E86 - Herpes
    September 18, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Uncover the risks to both mother and child associated with genital herpes. An inflammatory skin disease that, when active, causes lesions on the mother's body, can infect an unborn baby with lesions, blindness, brain damage, and even lead to death.
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  87. S1 E87 - Ectopic Pregnancy
    September 19, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Learn the symptoms and treatments for ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when a fertilized egg remains in the Fallopian tube rather than traveling to the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies cause severe pain and bleeding and must be terminated.
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  88. S1 E88 - Alternative Births
    September 23, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    The options for women in labor are increasing each year. Travel through labor and delivery with two women making very different choices: one mom delivers at home with the help of a midwife; another mother relies on hypnotherapy at the hospital.
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  89. S1 E89 - Birth Center/Hospital
    September 24, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Find out why many women are choosing to deliver their babies at birthing centers instead of hospitals. While an excellent choice for healthy moms, birthing centers aren't equipped to handle emergency situations that require hospital care.
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  90. S1 E90 - First-time Mom with Asthma
    September 8, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Experts discuss the implications of maternal asthma for a first-time Mom and its impact on both her and her baby. Problems arise for the small mother delivering a large baby.
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  91. S1 E91 - Placental Abruption
    September 9, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Part of Jamie's placenta has torn away from her uterine wall, known as placental abruption. Doctors deal with complications and explore options for a safe delivery.
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  92. S1 E92 - Twins III
    January 5, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    Nervous about delivering twins, Janee Payne wants a c-section delivery like she had with the birth of her first child. Her doctor is hoping she'll change her mind but, when her labor stalls, even the doctor agrees a c-section is the best way to go.
    Free trial of discovery+
  93. S1 E93 - Exercise and Pregnancy
    September 10, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Colleen worked hard to stay healthy and fit throughout her pregnancy. She wanted to have a natural delivery. However complications arise which may require other methods of delivery. Watch the happy outcome.
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  94. S1 E94 - Drug Use During Pregnancy
    September 11, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    A first-time mom who has used crack during her first trimester is worried about the health of her baby during the 39th week of pregnancy. Doctors perform tests to determine the baby's condition as the mother enters labor.
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  95. S1 E95 - Birth Hopes
    September 15, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    See two cases where the mothers planned a natural birth process and the delivery team find themselves trying to respect the women's intentions while responding to the unpredictable process of giving birth.
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  96. S1 E96 - Tetralogy of Fallot
    September 16, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Two weeks after delivering a large baby boy, Teresa requires a surgical correction because of the excessive strain of delivery. Now, pregnant with her second child, Teresa must deliver by caesarian section and the baby appears to have a heart defect.
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  97. S1 E97 - Precreta
    September 17, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Ruth's placenta is acting like a tumor, attacking her bladder. Vaginal delivery is impossible but a C-section presents great risk of hemorrhage. She undergoes a six-hour, multi-procedure surgery, which eventually ends in a successful caesarian.
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  98. S1 E98 - Gestational Diabetes
    September 18, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Two mothers have diabetes. One is clearly gestational, a development of her pregnancy. The other's case is less clear. See what extra care these two must take and how different their experiences are.
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  99. S1 E99 - Vacuum Delivery
    September 19, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    A first-time mom experiences difficulties when the baby gets stuck halfway out during delivery. A special device is used to complete the delivery.
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  100. S1 E100 - First-time Moms
    September 22, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Two first-time moms arrive on the Labor and Delivery floor within the same hour of the same day. Compare and contrast their individual experiences as "first-timers" as one delivers vaginally and the other heads to the OR for a C-section.
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  101. S1 E101 - Non-intervention
    September 23, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    It's easy to forget that anyone ever delivered a child without modern interventions. See a mom attempt a delivery the 'old-fashioned' way and what steps are taken when things don't go as planned.
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  102. S1 E102 - Breech Births I
    September 24, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    See two moms whose babies presented in the breech, or bottom down position. Both babies are too big to turn. Learn about the different positions and the preparations for delivery by c-section. Learn what common abnormalities can occur in breech births.
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  103. S1 E103 - Pain Management II
    September 29, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Two mothers delivering at the same hospital are taking very different approaches to pain management. Amy Delgado goes from morphine to an epidural and delivers vaginally. Initially refusing any meds, pain drives Monique Coker to ask for an epidural.
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  104. S1 E104 - Family Ties
    September 25, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    A grandmother-to-be provides support, encouragement, and massage to her daughter. The daughter takes advantage of modern medicine with an epidural. The epidural works too well. Once it's turned off, the mother is able to push out a healthy baby boy.
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  105. S1 E105 - Midwives in the Hospital
    October 13, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Midwives narrate this show and share their understanding of "high touch in a high tech world." And with their help, a mother delivers a healthy baby boy.
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  106. S1 E106 - Triplet Boys
    October 20, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    A mother carrying triplets enters labor early. Doctors perform a c-section. One of the three has a bowel obstruction and needs surgery to repair his intestinal tract. With a good prognosis, he must stay in the hospital after the two other babies go home.
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  107. S1 E107 - Oligohydramnios
    October 27, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    A mother's amniotic fluid is abnormally low and she is diagnosed with oligiohydramnios. Labor is induced six weeks early. To reduce stress on the baby, the doctor cuts an episiotomy. The baby is sent to the NICU, but his prognosis is good.
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  108. S1 E108 - Fetal Tachycardia
    November 24, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Explore the University of New Mexico's high-tech labor and delivery unit. Two babies diagnosed with supraventricular tachuycardia, an irregular, rapid heartbeat, receive different care during tense labors, but are able to go home with their parents.
    Free trial of discovery+
  109. S1 E109 - Natural Birth
    December 1, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Jackie Mares and her husband bring their 4-year-old son and Jackie's mother along to the hospital for the birth of their second child. Refusing pain medication, Jackie tries various relaxation strategies and delivers in a non-traditional position.
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  110. S1 E110 - Labor and Delivery Triage
    December 8, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Despite hospital efforts to streamline deliveries with standard evaluation and treatment, each one is unique. Follow two women hoping to be admitted as one is turned away, only to return later, and one delivers quickly, but with complications.
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  111. S1 E111 - Natural Birth Challenges
    December 22, 2002
    22min
    TV-PG
    Determined to deliver without medication, Colleen Prater and Tamica Benton face the same dilemma: their babies are in a posterior position, making pushing difficult. Both women must turn to medication, but deliver healthy babies.
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  112. S1 E112 - Discordant Twins
    January 5, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    After years trying to conceive, Kelly and Mike Johnson are finally pregnant with twins. Tests indicate the babies are not the same size, but seem otherwise healthy. Doctors induce Kelly at 36 weeks as a precaution.
    Free trial of discovery+
  113. S1 E113 - The Bradley Method
    August 1, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    Shari and Martin Hahn plan to have a completely natural home birth with their two-year old daughter Delaney and Shari's mother present. The Hahns practice the Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth (husband-assisted coaching).
    Free trial of discovery+
  114. S1 E114 - Low Amniotic Fluid
    September 15, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    A routine prenatal exam and planned induction evolve into a challenging race for time as we see mother and hospital staff grapple with the dangerous dip of the baby's heart rate and mother's blood pressure, low amniotic fluid and umbilical cord issues.
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  115. S1 E115 - Premature Labor
    September 21, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    Leah finds herself confined to hospital bedrest when her water breaks eight weeks before her due date. After the emotional rollercoaster ride of three previous miscarriages, Leah is determined to do whatever it takes to have a safe delivery.
    Free trial of discovery+
  116. S1 E116 - Father's Multiple Sclerosis
    September 21, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    After four years of trying to get pregnant including failed fertility treatments, Shana and Stuart Abelson gave up. Weeks later, they find themselves pregnant but have an added challenge to face as a new parent -- Stuart has multiple sclerosis.
    Free trial of discovery+
  117. S1 E117 - Preterm Triplets
    October 26, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    36-year-old Beatrice and her husband Mike spent seven years trying to get pregnant. When she finally succeeds, it's by means of in-vitro fertilization. The couple gets more than they bargained for when they find out they're expecting triplets.
    Free trial of discovery+
  118. S1 E118 - Fetal Macrosomia
    October 26, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    Lisa and Kristie are both expecting abnormally large babies. Because of the difficult delivery associated with this condition, known as Fetal Macrosomia, Kristie is induced one week early with an epidural. Lisa tries a natural childbirth. What works best?
    Free trial of discovery+
  119. S1 E119 - Mystery Cyst
    November 2, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    After three uncomplicated vaginal births, Francis is pregnant again but this time it isn't quite as simple. Francis has an ovarian cyst that may be cancerous. A vaginal birth could rupture the cyst so she must have her baby by c-section.
    Free trial of discovery+
  120. S1 E120 - Hospital Bradley Method
    November 2, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    Lisa and Gene have elected to deliver their first baby without an epidural, using the birthing techniques of the Bradley Method. The process takes over 24 hours and in the end they are forced to use an epidural, but the end result is a healthy baby girl.
    Free trial of discovery+
  121. S1 E121 - Placenta Previa II
    November 9, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    Waiting for her train, Brenda Lee begins hemorrhaging. She is 32 weeks pregnant. She already knows that she has a complete placenta previa, a condition in which the placenta covers the opening of the cervix. She delivers a two month premature baby girl.
    This video is currently unavailable
  122. S1 E122 - Transverse Birth
    November 9, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    After delivering stillborn twins, Laurie and Will didn't think they'd have another child. However, four years later, Laurie is ready again. As delivery time nears, they discover the baby is in transverse position. An emergency C-section is performed.
    This video is currently unavailable
  123. S1 E123 - First Time Parents
    November 16, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    Two first-time mothers deal with the fears of labor and delivery. Esther Cohen worries that her breast augmentation will effect her ability to nurse. The pitocin given to Colleen Bell causes her labor to progress rapidly.
    This video is currently unavailable
  124. S1 E124 - Easy Births
    November 16, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    Monica Dalton feels pressure just 30 minutes after her epidural, signaling that her baby is ready to deliver. Jennifer Oleff is worried when meconium is found in her amniotic fluid, but her healthy baby boy arrives quickly.
    This video is currently unavailable
  125. S1 E125 - Bicornuate Uterus
    November 30, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    Nineteen-year-old Carleshia hopes to beat the odds after two previous miscarriages. She suffers from a congenital condition where the uterus develops with two chambers. Her baby is implanted on the larger side of the chambers, and she is nearly full term.
    This video is currently unavailable
  126. S1 E126 - Preterm Rupture of Membranes
    November 30, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    After an eighteen-year hiatus, Karen Missey finds herself pregnant again with a second son. This time around, Karen won't be a single mother. She and new husband Ed are preparing themselves for the hectic life of raising a newborn.
    This video is currently unavailable
  127. S1 E127 - Hospital Midwives
    December 28, 2003
    22min
    TV-PG
    Twenty-six year-old Deanna Watts chooses a natural birth with the help of midwives at Northwestern Memorial's Prentice Women's Hospital. Unable to cope with the pain she opts for an epidural. Several hours later she naturally delivers her baby girl.
    This video is currently unavailable
  128. S1 E128 - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
    January 5, 2004
    22min
    TV-PG
    At age 21, Mary Judd was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome, a condition associated with infertility. Seven years later, a pregnancy test reveals she is pregnant and she and her husband are surprised and thrilled.
    This video is currently unavailable
  129. S1 E129 - Thrombophilia
    January 18, 2004
    22min
    TV-PG
    Cora Simmons' clotting disorder thrombophilia makes for a tricky delivery of her twin boys. During her c-section, the first baby is born quickly, but the second is larger and becomes lodged in her uterus.
    This video is currently unavailable
  130. S1 E130 - First-Time Fears
    January 25, 2004
    22min
    TV-PG
    An amnio infusion is ordered when meconium is found in Denise Dixon's amniotic fluid. Teenager Tiffany Gilyard has neglected her prenatal care and now has symptoms of preeclampsia. Despite doctor's concerns, Tiffany gives birth to a healthy girl.
    This video is currently unavailable
  131. S1 E131 - VBAC I
    September 3, 2000
    22min
    TV-PG
    Doctors and pregnant women challenge the belief that once a woman delivers a baby c-section, her chances of having a vaginal delivery are slim. The VBAC, or vaginal birth after cesarean delivery, is becoming increasingly commonplace.
    This video is currently unavailable
  132. S1 E132 - Hypertension
    May 29, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Journey with a mother experiencing hypertension or high blood pressure during pregnancy and heavy bleeding after the birth. Watch as the medical team works to help her deliver a healthy baby.
    This video is currently unavailable
  133. S1 E133 - Hearing Impaired
    September 12, 2001
    22min
    TV-PG
    Examine the effects of genetic hearing as one woman with a family history of hearing loss gives birth. Explore ear development in the fetus, the learning problems associated with even mild hearing loss, and hearing tests available for newborns.
    This video is currently unavailable
  134. S1 E134 - Hospital Bedrest
    February 10, 2004
    22min
    TV-PG
    Leah's water breaks eight weeks before her due date and she's confined to hospital bedrest. Karen is pregnant again after 18 years. When her water broke at just 27 weeks, Karen was rushed to the emergency room and confined to strict hospital bedrest.
    This video is currently unavailable

Details

More info

Audio languages
English
Subtitles
English [CC]
Starring
Deborah Seif
Studio
discovery plus
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