The TLC Show ‘A Baby Story’ Totally Misled Me (And Left Me Disappointed)

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Back in the early 2000s, I was deep in the throes of what I can only describe as “baby fever.” My partner and I had begun discussing the idea of starting a family, but I was also a bundle of nerves. I mean, I hesitated to adopt a dog for fear of forgetting to feed it, so how could I possibly handle a tiny human? I confided in friends about my doubts about motherhood, devoured parenting books, and grilled every parent I knew. And yes, I binge-watched an embarrassing amount of TLC’s “A Baby Story” — purely for “research.”

You’d think I would have learned my lesson from “A Wedding Story” (seriously, marriage is a lot more than just a beautiful reception), but as soon as I heard that calming piano music at the start of “A Baby Story,” I was hooked. The combination of soothing tunes and images of a flawless, stretch-mark-free belly cradled by perfectly manicured hands pulled me in every time.

“A Baby Story” painted motherhood as a dreamy experience! I couldn’t wait to join the club.

Much like “A Wedding Story,” “A Baby Story” followed couples from conception to delivery, complete with a couple of commercial breaks. The featured couples usually had charming backstories or unique professions, and they shared their narratives from a beautifully decorated nursery, all while looking like they just stepped out of a salon. The expectant mothers were almost always bubbly and thrilled about the adventure of motherhood, while the fathers were engaged and supportive. Labor scenes played out with minimal stress, and by the end, they presented an adorable baby, with a follow-up interview showcasing the parents’ blissful smiles, completely devoid of mess or chaos.

So, you can imagine my shock when, post-C-section, I found myself grappling with the painful experience of my first trip to the bathroom. That moment, when I felt like I was giving birth to a rock after nine days of constipation, wasn’t exactly covered on “A Baby Story.” What gives, “A Baby Story”? You deceived me!

Did the producers consider that moms-to-be, like me, might want to see what their breasts would actually look like once the milk came in? Did they not think it was crucial to show those moments when you’re curled up on the floor, sobbing because your newborn is crying, and you have no clue what’s wrong? Where was the footage of a new mom trying to change a onesie at 3 AM only to get showered in vomit?

I never saw an episode where a mom cried because her shoes no longer fit, her single pair of maternity pants was ripped, and her face was a battlefield of acne. And let’s not even talk about the car seat fiasco when parents argue over how to buckle their newborn in after leaving the hospital. Those reality moments were clearly left on the cutting room floor because I never witnessed a mother losing her sanity from sleep deprivation.

Of course, nothing could prepare me for the fact that I would never pee alone again, but my experience of having a baby ripped from my abdomen was far from what I saw on TV. As I descended into the chaos of postpartum depression, I often questioned why I was so unprepared for the challenges of motherhood. I cried out of frustration, feeling guilty for not sharing the same ecstatic joy as the moms on “A Baby Story” — and yes, my lack of makeup and stylish hair didn’t help.

The pristine, unrealistic depiction of motherhood on “A Baby Story” set me up for a fall. Seriously, it took me months before I even remembered that lipstick existed — or pants, for that matter. I didn’t have a camera crew splicing together only the happy moments; instead, I was living in a chaotic reality that nobody would want to watch.

Eventually, I found a support system of mothers who kept it real. They openly admitted that there were days when they didn’t particularly like their kids. The women who were honest about the fact that my abs would never look the same in a bikini became my lifelines. I clung to those friends who answered my calls when I was sobbing in my closet.

Because of my experience, I always share the unfiltered truth with expecting mothers — the whole, raw reality of motherhood because it’ll catch you off guard and smack you into reality if you’re not ready. While I did enjoy “A Baby Story” in its time, I’d much rather have an open, honest conversation with a mom-to-be face-to-face.

And when her little one arrives, I’ll be there with a bottle of wine, a big tray of lasagna, and a warm hug, helping her realize that those baby books were not exactly spot-on.

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In summary, “A Baby Story” set unrealistic expectations for motherhood, leaving many new moms feeling unprepared and alone. Real support and honest conversations are what new parents truly need.