tv

For the first time ever, you can watch a baby be born live on Australian TV tonight.

 

In a world where strangers getting married and handsome serial killers stalking women on Netflix are the epitome of entertainment, who knew watching a live birth on TV could be such a planned draw-card?

But that’s exactly what will take place in a new series called Operation:Live that kicks off tonight on Channel Seven, hosted by Melissa Doyle.

According to Channel Seven, Operation:Live will “demystify exactly what unfolds during a caesarean operation and underline the brilliant work that takes place in our hospitals, giving audiences access to a fascinating world that’s normally off limits”.

The operation will be performed at Sydney’s Mater Hospital tonight Sunday, February 10 by leading obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Steven Tan and will be broadcast live.

Dr Tan has delivered over 10,000 babies during his career and said he has been known to “shed a tear or two” during certain births.

“It is a wonderful job and it’s a pleasure and honour to do what I do,” he said in statement provided to Mamamia.

“Words cannot describe the magic. It is truly a very special moment in time when parents have a beautiful child in their hands.”

Dr Tan also said he was inspired to become a doctor when as a child his parents dressed him up in a doctor’s coat and handed him a stethoscope.

Operation:Live will also feature expert commentary from specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Guy Skinner and cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Nikki Stamp, who will explain the stages of the operation as they happen.

Dr Skinner worked as a country GP who ended up delivering babies due to the remote location of his practice which inspired him to pursue a career in obstetrics.

Today he’s one of Melbourne’s busiest obstetricians delivering babies almost every day of the year.

Dr Stamp is one of only 11 female cardiothoracic surgeons in Australia.

Her research has been published in numerous leading medical journals including the ANZ Journal of Surgery and the British Medical Journal.

You can watch  Operation:Live tonight on Channel Seven from 9pm.

Want more from Laura Brodnik? Visit our newsletter page and sign up to “TV and Movies”  for a backstage pass to the best movies, TV shows and celebrity interviews (see one of her newsletters here). 

 

Related Stories

Recommended

Top Comments

random dude au 5 years ago

There are dozens of documentaries that show the wonders of child-birth already

So why does it now have to be a 'live' stream when there is the potential for something that could tragically go wrong for the mother or the child?

Does that count as enthralling viewing?


Sonia McCarthy 5 years ago

Never been able to have my own never have I seen one born live this will be amazing to watch thank you think I will cry

Kylie Gillespie 5 years ago

♥ Birth is utterly amazing and makes me cry every time. Something so special about opening that portal between before and after. Watching a calm physiological birth is the most amazing thing ever though I think; have a watch.

Guest 5 years ago

It's not a competition about what experience is the "most amazing".