29/04/2026
Those of you that know me well will know that I love watching medical dramas. I've recently started re-watching Grey's Anatomy. And I've just watched episode 17 of season 2. In this post, I'm going to be discussing some of the content of episode 16 and 17. So anyone who is watching Grey's Anatomy, for the first time, and hasn't yet watched both episodes, come back later, to avoid spoilers.
For anyone unfamiliar with the characters in Grey's Anatomy, Addison is an OBGYN, who has never given birth herself and Miranda Bailey is a surgeon, who, in these episodes, is in labour with her first baby.
Near the beginning of episode 16, Bailey goes into spontaneous labour.
She is admitted and we see her, in her hospital room, moving around and coping well with labour. It has just been noted that she is 8cm dilated. The following exchange then happens.
Addison: "There is no shame in an epidural, Miranda."
Bailey: "Epidural increases the possibility of a c-section."
Addison: "It also decreases pain. Miranda, this is a big baby. It is your first baby, and I'm telling you it is not going to be a short or an easy labour."
Bailey: "I can handle a little pain, no problem. Women all over the world do this at home with nothing more than a pair of scissors and a bucket of hot water."
Why was Addison even mentioning an epidural to a labouring woman, who was clearly coping very well with labour? Why say something that might suggest to her you don't think she is coping, or that she won't be able to cope later on? And why would she be so negative about how the labour may progress? Such negativity could cause a spike in adrenaline, which could actually lengthen the labour. Conversly, being told how well she is doing, how amazing it that she has got to 8cm dilated without any drugs, that in all likelihood she's got less time left in labour than she's already had, and that she is well on the way to meeting her baby, would give her an oxytocin boost. And more oxytocin in her system would not only increases the efficiency of contractions, but help her to be more relaxed. And a relaxed body doesn't feel pain as acutely as a stressed one.
Later we see Bailey, still moving around and coping well. She stands beside the bed, leaning over it, during a contraction, keeping herself upright and active, which, as any good midwife or doula will tell you, will not only allow your contractions to do their job as efficiently as possible, but also to cause less discomfort, compared with lying on your back.
Bailey says, "Trying to get gravity to do me a favour. I'm 9cm dilated. I need that last centimeter."
Bailey is clearly well educated on the potential benefits of movement and positioning, during labour, and the risks of epidurals.
In a later scene, we see Bailey lying on the bed, on her side.
Addison says, "Doctor Bailey, I need you to turn on your back. I need you to push." There did not seem to be any reason why this change of position was requested, other than maybe: that's just the way we get people to push babies out, here!
Again, why? Why would you ask a woman who has chosen to lie on her side to turn onto her back? Lying on your back is one of the worst positions to labour in, especially during the pushing stage. It is generally less efficient, and more painful than either upright or side-lying positions. And lying on your back to push leads to more tearing than lying on your side.
Eventually doctors persuade Bailey into a semi-reclined position to push (better than flat on her back at least). She gives birth vaginally, without instrumental assistance, to a healthy baby.
In one of the final scenes of episide 17, Bailey is up and about (carrying the baby) within hours of the birth. If she had given in to the pressure to have an epidural, she would have most likely still been stuck in bed.
