World's First Internet Birth
With her husband and doctor at her side, Elizabeth will give birth to her fourth child on Tuesday. Also witnessing the delivery will be thousands of pairs of eyes, as an Internet audience becomes privy to what is being billed as the world's first Internet delivery.
"I won't lose my modesty here. I can control what's seen and what's not seen," the expecting mother, who will only give her name as Elizabeth, told WKMG-TV Reporter Michelle Kane.
America's Health Network, a cable TV network with 7.2 million subscribers, plans to broadcast the delivery of Elizabeth's baby boy on its Web site.
The Orlando-based company said it wanted to show the birth for people curious about how babies are delivered and for pregnant women nervous about having their first child.
"It's such a miraculous and wonderful event," said Dr. Walter Larimore, the show's host. "If there's a problem, we'll show a problem. This is a real family and real people."
Elizabeth, 40, said she is no exhibitionist; she wants to help educate other women.
"I remember with (my first child) I was so overwhelmed, and it wasn't at all what I expected," she said. "It's neat that anybody can watch it and not be afraid."
She was approached by her doctor about the idea because of her history of easy childbirth and quick labor.
"They at first wanted us to use aliases," Elizabeth said. "But I said how in the world am I going to remember to call my husband `John' in the middle of labor?"
Because of Elizabeth's tendency to deliver quickly, her doctors were planning to induce labor even before they were approached by the cable network. Elizabeth's middle child, 11-year-old Joey, was delivered in 2 and 1/2 hours.
Complications can arise with a woman in her 40s, but her doctors, Barb Whalen and Stephen Carlan, said they expect a straightforward delivery. However, if the lives of mother and child are threatened, the broadcast will cease, they said.
The Internet broadcast will begin 6 a.m. EDT Tuesday with Elizabeth's arrival at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women.
She plans to bring a deck of cards to play poker with her two daughters while they wait for her contractions to begin. Doctors said that could take anywhere from one to six hours.
Internet users who want to see the birth can go to www.ahn.com, click on a baby icon and download software from the Real Broadcast Network.
"It's live. Nothing has been rehearsed," said Liz Poole, the producer who will be in the delivery room. "We're being very flexible, following Mother Nature."