Last night’s childbirth class was nice, as usual. My favorite part of both weeks has been the end when we get on the floor and do our relaxation excercises. The ones where we get comfortable and tell our partners to pamper us how we so desire. Seriously, my body is so tense all the time? I would have paid the 60 dollars just for that 30 minute chunk on Monday nights.
We learned all about C-sections last night, and the teacher kept trying to be reassuring “It’s not the worst thing that could happen.” or “The goal is the baby, C-sections are just the emergency exit,” and such things to ease the minds of women who are really wanting the vaginal delivery and feel hurt when they can’t have it.
Me? I just want a healthy baby to hold when it’s all over. If you find yourself having to cut it out of me with a butter knife? So be it.
We also talked about what goes into our labor bag to use as a resource at home, and then to take to the hospital with us when it’s time. However, I noticed that she did not include “DVDs” on the list. I have already said that I want to purchase some DVD season of some show I’ve always wanted to watch. That way, during the beginning stages of labor when we’re still at home? I’ll have something to distract me. Because, like a good couch potato, I believe good TV is the best medicine for anything that ails you.
What show should I buy? I’ve never watched any of the HBO/Showtime/Cinemax series that everyone has talked about the last few years. Sopranos? Six Feet Under? Are any of those any good? If so, should I get the FIRST seasons of them? Or what about Alias? I hear the first season of that is really good. But, I’ve read enough about that show that I fear it may be ruined for me. Maybe a comedy? Help me out here, people. I need a TV series that will keep me distracted during labor….the suggestion box is now open.
Definitely The Sopranos. And Carnivale. I love Carnivale, even though they cancelled it, dammit.
Well I’m a big fan of Carnivale, but it’s not really a run in the background sort of show. How about Arrested Development? Or The Muppet Show?
Of the ones you named, I’d go with the Sopranos. The first season is a must so you can become familiar with the crowd. If you can wait a week, I highly recommend the first season of Lost. I’m not sure if you’ve been watching it on ABC, but I’m hooked. Last but not least, try Futurama. Sure it’s a cartoon, but it’s a really funny, smart one. Good luck shopping!
This is neither HBO nor Cinemax OR Showtime, but I recommend The Dukes of Hazzard. Seriously! It’s hysterical to watch it now and the plots are so comfy and easy, I think it’d be fantastically distracting. : )
Well without knowing what you’ve seen… what about sex and the city? did you watch that? six feet under might be depressing even though i think it might be interesting cuz my dumb ass watched the very last episode recently and it’s the only one i ever saw. it was good. i’m not a fan of the sopranos. i say go with a comedy. Or one of the following: Nip/Tuck, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The OC, House, 21 Jumpstreet, Desperate Housewives… just to name a few. Oh also Veronica Mars if it’s out then… that’s an incredible show.
ALIAS is a MUST! It’s pretty intense and would take your mind off your major task at hand! I have seen all of the HBO shows and ALIAS (yes I know it’s not an HBO) is by far my favorite. It would be fun to mix it up with some Arrested Development, hilarious!
We’ve been watching Arrested Development Season 1 on DVD. It’s hysterical!
Alias is great! Or you might want to consider the first season of The Office which is coming out soon, I think.
And I second the Arrested Development vote.
Or how about 24? That’s one I always want to see but can never invest the time.
Of course, you can’t go wrong with a nice set of the Simpsons or Family Guy.
Dead Like Me; Coupling (British version)–I’ll try to think of some more…
I like the shows everyone has suggested but I would recommend Gilmore Girls - it is upbeat, and full of fun references . The plot is sweet, mother daughter, easy to follow and the dialogue is good enough that you don’t need to actually see it. It only has happy endings and nobody gets whacked.
Did you watch Sex and the City when it was on? I love the DVD set…
OR! Arrested Development! Season One is out already, and Season Two will be out in early October..
I am CRAZY for Six Feet Under. The 1st season was really good! I also like Sex in the City but you may not want to watch that when your in the middle of a contraction
I don’t have a TV so no help here with tV shows. But as far as movies go? Alien would not be a good one to watch. Just sayin’.
Sex in the City is fantastic - but skinny New Yorkers with great clothes and expensive shoes can get annoying - even when not in labor. I liked Deadwood, but there was a LOT of swearing and naughtiness. I’m still in love with the West Wing - the older ones with Rob Lowe. MMmmm.
Anyway, good luck.
The Sopranos are addicting and good. Also, we really like Sports Night. It isn’t just a season, it is an entire series. And really well written.
Mad About You is ok,, good if you need a distraction but can’t always concentrate, but they forgot to put a “Play All” option on their menu.
I second (or third?) Gilmore Girls. the mother/ daughter stuff would be a good thing to bring NikkiZ into the world with.
Have fun choosing!
Mrscrumley is right… Sopranos is addictive. Plus, after watching all that violence and back-stabbing? You’ll be so thankful Tony’s not pissed at you that childbirth will seem like a cakewalk.
I love Family Guy! I just can’t get enought of Stewie. That might be good for all of you to get some laughs in. Although, I am not sure I would want to hear Peter Griffin in the heat of the moment.
Two Words:
Sopranos
and/or
Oz.
Both are magnificant. Season One of either would be excellent choices. However, keep in mind that neither are little-kid friendly. I didn’t know if LilZ was going to be around during the early-labor-at-home thing.
Good luck! I have been reading you for awhile now, and am getting so excited for you!!
love,
Lumi
I would say “Lost”, except that you would really have to pay attention to this show and you might be too *busy* for that.
“Veronica Mars” is AWESOME. As is “O.C.”.
I don’t have HBO etc, so I can’t comment on the others.
Good luck.
The O.C. is AWESOME with hot guys. (Not all teenagers. they play teenagers but they’re really mid 20’s).
I also liked Buffy. =) Buffy was good.
Hmm… Alias was pretty good, as well. So is Will & Grace… Also Darma and Greg if they have that as a box set ^_^
I would definitely recommend The Sopranos. But, it seems to serious and involved for ‘labor distraction’. So, my second thought is Curb Your Enthusiasm which is one of the most hilarious shows I’ve ever seen. (Just in case you don’t know, it’s about Larry David’s (of Seinfeld fame) every day life.) Really - it’s SO funny.
I highly recommend Arrested Development - it is best viewed on DVD anyway. I canNOT recommend the Sopranos, Carnivale or Six Feet Under. Not because I don’t love those shows, because I DO, but rather, I don’t think they would be good viewing while in labor. They can be very dark and death is often a topic. Also, those series are very involved and you really need to be paying 100% full attention. If I were in labor, I would not want to be watching something like that. You want something that you can stop and start at will.
Coupling, the Office, Sex and the City would all be great ones to watch.
I’d totally recommend The Sopranos. Or Arrested Development. Or CSI. (I’m really digging that right now). Or Dead Like Me (Only 2 seasons of it, so you can’t get too invested in it). Law & Order: SVU is great, too.
i LOVE alias! also, charmed is really good too. very supernatural. i haven’t watched any of the hbo shows as i don’t get hbo.
Lots of good suggestions here, but I agree with some earlier commenters that some of them (Sopranos, the Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm) might be too distracting or dark or hard to follow for labor watching. Arrested Development is very, very good and quite funny, but there are a lot of characters and it takes an episode or two to sort them out. So if you go with that one, you should maybe watch the first few episodes *before* you go into labor. I would add to the list the very, very funny Freaks and Geeks, which is a show about high school that was tragically canceled after only one season.
Freaks and Geeks is a great series to get on DVD. You will LOVE it if you don’t already. We’ve been watching a lot of Reno 911, and that’s some hilarity.
Not on your list, but I would choose any of the seasons of 24, although definitely the first if you’ve never seen it. Watching one episode makes you desperately want to see the next, so it makes time go by really quickly. Obviously, it’s fast-paced and at times a bit violent, so not the most relaxing of shows, but so easy to get caught up in you may actually be annoyed that you have to go give birth! (j/k, of course!)
Arrested developement definitely!! Greatest show ever!! Even lilz will laugh his butt off.
I had vag with my first child and C with the second. I have to admit that I would take the C anyday! I had a pretty tough vag delivery though so it probably isn’t a fair comparison. I recovered much faster from the C and the meds I was prescribed afterward rocked!!
Tracy
Because my son is 54 years old (not really, but still) there weren’t DVDs around to distract me during early labor. I watched TWO MULES FOR SISTER SARA on TNT and enjoyed every second of it.
I agree with Kim. You should watch Buffy. The dialogue is the best out of any show I’ve ever seen. Very witty. Also, if you miss a minute here or there, you won’t miss too much.
Ohh, and, ummm… I wasn’t just saying that because I have every season of Buffy and am some sort of crazed fan…
I totally watched Phil Mikelson (yes, I am a golf freak and I love love love Phil (have for many years)) win the Masters while in early labor (before going to hospital). I promised him that if he won, and I had the baby on the same day, I would change the baby’s name! Well, he won!! But no baby to real early next morning - so no name change - what a relief to the hubby. But well, it makes a great birth story. I will always remember that day (oh and so will the baby!). So great idea!!
But shows I like are The Closer (so great, try it!) and NCIS.
Gilmore Girls is a good choice, and Sports Night is now out on DVD (DH just bought it for my birthday yesterday, so he’s slightly out of the doghouse.)
Nip/Tuck. It is the best show on television. Unless you are conservative, then you might have a problem with it. But I am willing to bet after 3 months of reading this blog that you aren’t too conservative for it.
P.S. If you sign up for Netflix, you can get a rent HBO series off there, in case you get something you hate.
Oh, where to begin….oh yes, w/ all the shows I’ve been telling you to watch for YEARS now!
Nip/Tuck
Rescue Me
Six Feet Under
Buffy
The Shield
Smallville
That should start you out…..