Friday, June 15, 2012

Movies To Watch And Not To Watch When You Are Pregnant

Pregnancy is both a very beautiful and anxious time.  This is particularly true for me because of the problems I've had in the past.  As a result, I like my pregnancy movies to be optimistic and enjoyable not horrifying or depressing.  That is why I have characterized the following movies not based on whether they are good or not but based on whether they are good for a worried pregnant woman to watch. 

Movies to Watch

The Blind Side (2009)

This is such an amazing mother-child movie! I watched it last night (for the 20th time) and cried through most of it.  I especially love when Sandra Bullock is reading Ferdinand the Bull to her kids.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie!!!!!!





Father of the Bride 2 (1995) and Father's Little Dividend (1951)

Father's Little Dividend is a great movie for first time parents and grandparents.  It's a beautiful and hilarious classic about expecting a baby and bonding with him after birth.   

Father of the Bride 2 (the remake of Father's Little Dividend) is the perfect pregnancy/American Dream movie!!!  It pays up the birth of a child in the best of ways.  Even though it is a bit ridiculous at times ("the baby wing" and the baby shower with the storks), it leaves you feeling happy and sentimental about the birth of your child. 

Baby Boom (1987)

In this movie, the life of a hard working and highly paid executive (Diane Keaton) is turned upside down when she "inherits" a baby from her cousin. 

This is a great family movie about bonding with your children.  What I really loved was how the main character overcame obstacles and how her love for her daughter helped her make better life/career decisions. 

Babies (2010)

This movie is amazing!!! It follows four babies through the first year of their lives.  What I really loved was watching the contrast between how the babies were raised in these different parts of the world: Mongolia, Japan, Namibia and the US.  This movie is very well done.  There is no narrative so you just watch the babies interact with the world around them.   



Movies Not to Watch During Pregnancy

All Alien(s) Movies

These are great movies.  The reason that they are not happy pregnancy movies is pretty self explanatory if you've seen them or have a remote idea regarding what they are about: monsters impregnate unwilling victims (through their face) and then the aliens burst out of their stomachs, killing them in the most violent of ways. 

Prometheus may have actually been the worst pregnancy movie (even though we loved it).

Twilight Breaking Dawn (2011)

I did not actually see this movie but from what I've read, the birth scene is extremely violent and follows a very disturbing pregnancy. 

















Rosemary's Baby (1968)

This is actually a really good movie.  In fact, it is one of the best horror movies I've ever seen.  That is also the reason that I don't like it as a pregnancy movie.  There are enough things to be anxious about when you are pregnant.  The fact that your baby may be the devil or anti-Christ should not be one of them. 

Maybe Baby (2000)

This "comedy" is about the problems a couple has conceiving a child.

I did not find this movie funny at all. In fact, it left me feeling depressed. If you are looking for a positive pregnancy movie, this is not it.