Reality show of women in labor: moving or disturbing?  

《来吧孩子》吓坏观众 直播分娩被指重口

“产房实录”、“直播分娩”、“带有血水的新生儿”，堪称中国荧屏底线的重口味画面大量呈现在节目中。因此在大量网友高呼“妈妈好伟大”、“理解了生育的不易”等称赞声中，《来吧孩子》也被不少网友质疑为“展现血腥”、“贩卖隐私”。[查看全文]

(ECNS) – A reality show featuring childbirth has drawn divided reactions from viewers.

The one-hour show, "Come on, my baby," debuted on China's Shenzhen Television on the eve of Mother's Day. Some people praised it as an ode to mothers who suffer to give birth to their children. While others, after watching the women in labor pains, said the show is disturbing and might be an invasion of privacy.

The show records the process of three women's childbirths. Sixty-four cameras are installed in operating rooms, patient rooms and rest areas of Red House Hospital, the busiest women's hospital in Shanghai.

The cameras capture funny and moving moments of clumsy fathers-to-be taking care of their wives, tough mothers-to-be going through pains, as well as grandparents nagging about everything.

What the cameras also capture are bloody and painful pictures of women in agony, close-ups of their facial expressions, screams and wails.

Some viewers who're also expectant mothers say the disturbing scenes have discouraged them from giving natural births. Others say they don't think it's appropriate to show such intimate pictures of women in labor, and it's not suitable for children to watch, either.

The show denied using labor pains as a selling point. Director Yi Hua said the show is meant to be one that spreads love.

Journalism professor Wang Zhenjun said the show is a good attempt as it stresses the greatness of a mother's love, but also pointed out that it needs to pay attention to the handling of details and to consider the audience's acceptance level.