6 TV Moms Who Shoulda Had a Doula

If there's one thing Hollywood seems to love, it's the "drama" of birth! No serialized television show is complete without a scene of one of the characters having a baby, right? The panicked husband driving to the hospital the second his wife's water breaks, the bustle and screaming...it's all very exciting, and sometimes scary. What if these 6 TV birth scenes had the comforting presence of a doula? Possible spoilers after the break:

6. Betty on "Mad Men" season 3, episode 5

"Your job is done - the waiting room is down the hall", the nurse tells Don Draper as she wheels Betty away to the maternity ward. This episode gives us a glimpse of the disturbing realities of birth in the 1960s as Betty experiences the frightening effects of psychedelic "twilight sleep" drugs while her husband drinks and smokes in the waiting room. Although things aren't perfect today, we have come a long way and modern mothers typically enjoy having their husband or partner as well as their doula with them to offer support and comfort during labor.

5. Rachel on "Friends" season 8, episode 23

Right? Right?? A doula could have given Rachel and Ross the tools and tricks to stay calm and in control during early labor so she didn't have to sit at the hospital in her "semi-private room" listening to a bickering couple and Janice's laughter for 17 hours before active labor began.

4. Quinn on "Glee" season 1, episode 22

Quinn is young and scared. Her birth scene isn't necessarily unrealistic - well, except for the sparkling clean 3-month-old "newborn" they hand her - but although it's a pretty serious moment the show plays it for laughs as Quinn cries "you suck!" and screams along to a flashy rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody. A doula could have really helped her feel prepared for giving birth and making her tough decisions!

3. Daisy on "Bones" season 10, episode 8

"But wait", you might say, "Daisy HAD a doula!" No...no. Nope. I'm not the only one who was dismayed at the show's terrible characterization of a doula as a crazy-eyed, crystal-slinging woman trying to strong-arm Daisy and her friends into doing things her way (what were the producers thinking? I believe Emily Deschanel had a doula in real life, so she knows better!). Daisy probably would have loved having a real, professional, trained doula at her side who would have helped her find her OWN path, and treated her friends with courtesy.

2. Pam on "The Office" season 6, episode 17-18

How cute are Jim and Pam as new parents? This two-part episode has it all: nervous Jim wanting to rush to the hospital, timing the contractions, Pam trying to play it cool, well-meaning friends getting in the way. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would love to doula for TV's sweetest couple, helping them feel prepared for that trip to the hospital and taking care of things so they could just relax and bond together throughout the stages of labor.

1. Karen on "Psych" season 1, episode 8

Police Chief Karen Vick is the number one TV mom who shoulda had a doula! When her water breaks in Lassiter's car, much to his dismay, he drives her to the hospital and tries to drop her off. Karen orders him to stay and snaps at the doctor that she wants to give birth naturally! The doctor asks Lassiter to help keep her focused and motivated, so he tries both a drill sergeant routine and an uncomfortable crooning before she tells him it's not working, to just shut up and hold her hand. It's wonderful to not have to labor alone, but a doula would also have known just what to do and say! Oh yeah, and I'd have encouraged her not to go back to work the next day. ;)

You can watch all these episodes too, on

Netflix

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What other television birthing moms do you think would totally have loved to have a doula in the picture?

Source: New feed