Dr. Phil just lost all credibility for me....

[Bathsheba]

Let's hope Rikki Lake (Home Birth supporter) responds to him.

I used to think that Dr Phil had some good advice to offer the masses of mainstream 'folks' out there... but more and more frequently i would find myself at odds with his message... especially his pro-war stance. I haven't watched him in years. Oh well, at least it gets people talking!

[Freya]

I think its a blatant attack on homebirthing and I also think alot of his other "topics" are ridiculous! Whether he actually decides these topics etc or not, HE is the person this show represents and all negative and positive feedback reflects on him.
He is in a position of authority and there may just be some very young people who listen to him as a learned figure and would take what he says as gospel. So he has a responsibility to give his viewers both sides of an argument and let them make their own minds up.

I thought about sending him my thoughts on his birthing/pregnancy topics but I cant do it without getting extremely narky so I will leave it others with better language skills than I.

[Heaven]

Oh Dr Phil I watch it sometimes because he just makes me laugh. He's supposed to be a psychologist but omg, well I have too many things to say here lol. (I'm a psychologist). Sometimes I do wish I could say some things he says to my clients tho.

[little sprocket]

I had a look at the different things he had on his website about pregnancy and birth and home births and hospital births that people posted and to me (and this might just be me) it looks like they are putting together a show all about pregnancy and birth (not just one show dedicated to putting down home births). However they are going to extremes with the bad and the worse of each situation. So pretty much if u watch this episode u will be s%$t scared to go anywhere or do anything when it comes to birthing your child. Its the way all of these talk shows work really. The whole shock value thing. The "traditional way" comment was a bit out there though (and thats coming from someone that had 2 c-sections that were planned).

I guess they will use the arguement too that everyone has a different view on what the traditional way is if u send them a letter saying that hospital isnt the traditional way. Im not trying to say that hospital is the traditional way or anything, I for some reason am always trying to think of things people will come back at me with if I write something

[Trillian]

LOL SaraJane.

Webmegg and Misty, you may well be right, but the discussion here is based on the link that Kelly first posted about the 'requirements' tfor this particular show - when you look at that - it certainly doesnt give one the impression that it will paint homebirths in a favourable light does it?

[Kitt3n]

lol I never really thought any American talk show had much credibility to begin with.

I always used to say that i would find it very, very funny if Dr Phil and his wife were to split up, after all the talk of their "perfect marriage" and how others should live by their rules.

And what happened?

[Mumma2three]

Maybe they had so many positive stories they had to do a callout for bad!! Also it has obvioulsy already created controversy and I bet people would watch just because of that. Maybe it was a good publicity stunt too!!
I just wouldn't worry too much about Dr Phil. There are rules and regulations and i have to say in all the years he's been on (from what I've seen) he doesn't suggest anything reckless or dangerous, and he offers his opinion but ALWAYS makes it clear it is just that and no one has to do what he says. I find him quite reasonable actually. And if I do watch his show I am also fully aware he is also a character. He knows what rates, and that is shock tactics, hard answers etc. It's what his whole show was built on . I also think though that you send 2 people to ANY psychologist and you will get differing opinions on them. It's the same with anything, people are given info and can use it in whatever way they want.
I understand that many people are very pro home births, but give people credit for being able to form their own opinion on make their own choices. Really if Dr Phil is making your choices for you, maybe it's time to turn the TV off...

[Snacks]

LOL Hoobley - I'm with you.
I cannot watch Dr Phil - it is so painful. Makes my eyeballs bleed.

[Jas]

I think that homebirthing isn't child abuse or a bad thing etc so I think it's wrong to put together a show that is going to make other woman out there feel like they are making a bad choice if the pick the legitamate option of homebirth. Woman have a lot of options when it comes to labour and birth and I think we should know the facts and be empowered in them not scared into things!!!

The questions asked in the application to me suggest that this show will basically be saying that homebirths are dangerous and shouldn't be done etc. What would happen if he asked who regrets having a vaginal birth maybe that would get more ppl fired up?

[BeautifulMadness]

Dr phil has put his foot init yet again...whats wrong with this guy seriously?

if a mum wants a homebirth then let her be. This show is going to make out that homebirths are bad for baby etc. blah!!

[~Kate~]

Yep, Dr Phil gives me the irrits as well. I watch it for the entertainment value. A bit like a tame jerry springer sometimes. I think he needs to do more topics with pros and cons. This is a very biased question and I imagine that it was done for one reason and that is PUBLICITY! And guess what...we're all talking about it.

I think anybody that has had a homebirth whether traumatic or perfect should write in. What a wally but guess what, I'm not a sheep so will not be letting Dr Phil or anyone else influence how I should/would give birth.

[Jennifer13]

Well, as far as Dr Phil goes, I don't mind him.

But I decided to disregard his opinions as far as birth, breastfeeding and attachment parenting go a long time ago after hearing how he and his wife felt about the issues and their own experiences.

FWIW I did see one show where he presented a Mum standing up for her right to bf in public without being asked to leave and was good with his language on how behind the US is in this regard, but otherwise I ignore him on these issues!

[squidipa]

I dont see the problem with it. He's just doing another topic for his show, no biggie.

I agree maybe someone didnt have the home birth they thought they were gonna have i dunno home birth is not something i chose to do NOT that i have anything against it. medically i would have died if i tried it due to medical problems.

[Sophia73]

It is quite possible that he already has a few people lined up with positive home birth experiences and he just wants to show both sides of the story. It is what good journalism is all about - balanced views.

I agree Tonydayl and hope he does look at both sides of the story. Why pretend that there aren't risks - sometimes I tired of this "glossing over" the more difficult elements of birth and baby - these issues exist - lets at least talk about them!

Of course I, like a few others who have posted would surely have lost my life and my baby if not for the superb care of medical staff. The scary thing is that I could easily have considered myself a good candidate for a home birth - well prepared, fabulously healthy pregnancy, baby in a good position. So yes, I show my bias there!

[paradise lost]

Sophia i had a homebirth and i assure you, if it begins to go wrong they call an ambulance! The AVERAGE emergency c-section takes place close to 3 hours after it is prescribed. Yes, some are done much faster, but the AVERAGE is something like 2 hours 45 or something (which means some are a lot longer after!). I was about 12 mins from hospital by ambulance, 3 by heli-ambulance. Plenty of time for an emergency section, even if i was one of those very few women who got one in 20mins. And my midwives WERE "excellent medical staff".

Bx

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Well, I gave birth in a hospital and my son nearly died thanks to the procedures. A homebirth would mean I gave birth and had a baby. So don't say hospitals are great all the time because they're not. They don't save lives - they just tell you they do when they kill you in the first place.

Why not just all apply to be on the show stating you had a bad home birth and then just be all positive when the cameras are rolling? Bingo! Result!

Personally, I don't watch chat shows. Sure, they may be on for 10 minutes after something or before something else but I don't watch them. I just can't be doing with it. Jeremy Vine is bad enough and I turn him off a lot!

[Phteven]

^Bx, is right about the wait for an emergency c-section.
Once it became obvious that Imran wasn't going to come out the conventional exit my midwife made sure I was feeling nothing from the waist down and then I sat around for ages waiting for the ob and surgery to be prepped up. I was actually glad for the wait - it gave me a chance to get my head around it.

[studentmum]

I have seen quite a lot of Dr Phil over the years, have read nearly all of his books and have noticed his newer shows seem to be getting more one sided than the older ones were.

He has a right to an opinion of course and I often respect what his input is HOWEVER as a man in a position of great influence (Which he is because a HUGE number of ppl get their info from TV) I really feel he should tread lightly with the "This is how it is" statements.

There is often MORE than two sides to every story and I think when in a position such as his it is best to remain as neutral as possible and ensure that all understand that each situation is unique.

He is a conservative Christian and lets ppl know that that is where his view and morals come from but if he is advocating for Christian values then he should realise some of his seemingly biased and judgemental statements would make fellow Christians cringe (I have)

Unfortuately as a TV show there is sensationalism and a lot goes on behind the scenes that we don't see, I think at the end of the day no matter how his show goes there is a man who really has done a lot of good already and who deep down has just tried to be the best man he can be.

We can't know how things would turn out had one of us been in his shoes...