Birthcare Center (2020)

Good

A fun little drama. Having an entire drama themed around postpartum is something we almost never see in drama. The postpartum club kept things alive while sticking to the theme, rather than spending postpartum at home. It also helps that it was only 8 episodes, otherwise, it would have gotten stale easily. The comedy was decent and kept it light. They actually used real babies which is a must for such a theme. Uhm Ji Won was a great casting choice as the lead mother. I wanted the main couple to have more attention since the drama did a good job starting with them. The other mothers' stories were fine but could've been better.

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entertaining family drama!!!!!!!

I normally don't prefer family dramas but i just went in to this drama it's really very entertaining.
The basic story line is saying labor is not the end of pain for a lady but it is just the beginning. It explained how the life of mother changes after her labor in a very entertaining way.
different problems of mothers regarding their carrier, shape of body, their children,taking care of previous kids etc. basically every aspect that a mother faces in shown very cute.
What all problems they actually face and mood swings was entertaining.
other aspect is naming the kid which is very funny but came to know how the parents actually struggle to name the kid.
Their are no much tragic elements if you are looking for a entertaining drama or to watch with a family this is 1st suggested.
Different husbands and their feelings was also very motivating.
After the whole drama my love for my parents became 10 fold I just felt what all my went to raise me. I love this drama to my heart.
If you are planning to marry or planning for kids do watch this drama for sure.

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When/How to watch it?

When to watch it? I think the best moment to watch it is when you want to now more about what is being a woman ( or person capable of getting pregnant) feels like. And how serious is to bring someone to live who needs your all attention, but the hardest part is to not forget yourself in the journey.
How to watch it? With some tissues, obviously haha. But don't worry there are scenes when you can laugh, feel empathy, angry and try to solve cases, too.
Although there are 8 episodes, I believe a lot of people may get bored, because is very slow. But to watch it with someone will get a little more exciting or just watching from time to time.
DON'T RECOMMEND: if you are looking for a rom-com, or laugh all the time, or to make a marathon.
Tell me if this help you!

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Good idea

I'm a bit unsure about this drama. I watched it having just gone through the 4th trimester myself, and I'm in the older age group as well and was working full time with a really busy schedule while pregnant. So while there are quite a few things in the drama that I could relate with, I also sat there thinking "yeah right" A LOT, and I'm not sure who the drama's target audience is. My first thought when I saw that the babies don't stay with the parents was that I'd be pissed if my baby was separated from me unnecessarily. And then there is the unrealistic appearance of someone who just had a baby - high heels, tight clothes and looking that thin? Yeah right. I appreciated some of the humour though, but overall I just felt like I'm watching a highschool drama given how the characters behaved, and it feels like they're in an antenatal course that happens post-natally. Also, have they not heard of breastpads? Cute baby nicknames though.

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Motherhood drama - well executed

I watched this drama with my mother, which felt a bit awkward in the first few eps. The start of the drama might seem a bit unrealistic for some viewers (for example experienced moms).However, the deeper we got in the story the more realistic the topic of childhood rearing became.
I found the overall theme to be refreshing rather than my average romance drama. The development of this story was rather great. Our main characters experienced growth and an understanding of starting motherhood all in their own ways. Especially the main charcter her ambition for her work and achievements seemed rather empowering (a character that seemed empowering for once) and her struggles between choosing between working and her baby. This drama might portay some unknown challenges of new moms that are interesting. Another aspect I liked was the supportive husband of our main character, something we also often don't see in k-dramas.

I especially liked the concise numebr of episodes. This drama is close to perfect drama, for me. I guess I am a bit greedy with my 10. It is a true gem and I hope you will give it a chance.

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Motherhood: A Beautiful Destiny

Mother’s Day is fast approaching and I am suddenly reminded of this show after seeing Green Mother’s Club on Netflix. I wish Netflix carries Birthcare Center on the platform because I think this show is underrated.

I watched this while it was airing about two years ago and I still feel all the feels this show has brought. It made me teary-eyed and warmth my heart as well. I wish more people would appreciate this show, but I think all the married and mothers who are Kdrama fans appreciate this show a lot for raising the many issues many women face, including husbands when a child comes to the world.

In Korea, I believe this is also a social issue, even to the actresses who maybe facing discrimination just because they are not “marketable” now than they used to be as single. I remember Park Ha Sun’s interview before how she faced this challenge after marrying and child birth.

Sohyang’s “Beautiful Destiny” OST is on another level and it will always remind me of this drama.

Anyway, I highly recommend this show. I won’t mind seeing it again another time. This will always be one of my sentimental favorite Korean dramas of all time.

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The twist is smartly written and honestly I didn't see it coming. I really enjoy the humor too thanks to the husbands who made it more entertaining. Oh Hyun Jin's husband is such a dream husband. I truly love all of the characters development here. While Oh Hyun Jin's job is her everything, she prioritizes her job even when she's depressed she went to her Olively just to see her hardwork being shown in there. Hyun Jin also complains a lot to her husband. Meanwhile we got Eun Jeong who gives her all to her children and husband. They are her everything to the point that she kinda neglect herself. Her happiness. Saying she's okay everytime and never complains to her husband. These two opposite character finally found their happiness. I really adore Lee Roo Da's character too. Such a brave and smart woman. Yoon Ji's mom makes us realize that not everyone is fated to have child easily and that's why we must be grateful when we're given a child by God. Must not take it for granted. The mom must be happy so that the child is happy too. I really agree with it and after watching this I really question myself in the future lol.

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Light & Fun to Watch

Didn't expect much from this show since I mostly enjoy suspense family drama shows but this one hit differently. Although short, every episode was fun to watch. Will definitely watch this again.

Didn't expect much from this show since I mostly enjoy suspense family drama shows but this one hit differently. Although short, every episode was fun to watch. Will definitely watch this again.

Didn't expect much from this show since I mostly enjoy suspense family drama shows but this one hit differently. Although short, every episode was fun to watch. Will definitely watch this again.

Didn't expect much from this show since I mostly enjoy suspense family drama shows but this one hit differently. Although short, every episode was fun to watch. Will definitely watch this again.

Didn't expect much from this show since I mostly enjoy suspense family drama shows but this one hit differently. Although short, every episode was fun to watch. Will definitely watch this again.

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Survival Camp: New Mom Edition °8.2° °every new mom needs this°

“The day I got promoted as the youngest director at work, I became the oldest pregnant woman at the hospital.” Jin desperately wanted both of those things, but she didn't want them to happen at the same time.

Pregnancy? “People blabber that it's a beautiful and joyful process. But it's not always like that for women who actually go through it. Pregnancy is exhausting, delivery is cruel, and recovery is miserable.” In saying that, the BCC director shows she truly understands. Jin finally starts to feel a smidge at ease.

BCC is a 2020 release that is rated 81 on AWiki. It is 1 season consisting of 8 65ish-minute episodes. When Do Yoon and Jin arrive at the BCC, I wondered if Jin had actually passed to the afterlife. It looks like heaven (except for the creepy handmaids-tale-gowns). Massages, room service, baby care, classes, other new moms… What is especially poignant and metaphoric is that, to have a child, is the death of one's previous life. Once a woman becomes pregnant, life will never be the same again. Children break us down to nothing, and we have to build ourselves back up again.

The OM's (the /other/ moms) are in another world, though. It doesn't seem much different than Jr high with their persnickety cliquishness. Jin is sneered at because she intends to return to work. ASAP. Now, I really hate it when people sneer at stay-at-home moms. There's nothing easy or cushy about raising kids, feeding your family quality food, and properly keeping a house up. These days, not many families can afford to do it. (In fairness, if kids could vote, it's possible that every mom would be required to stay-at-home). I also find it very distasteful, however, when stay-at-home moms allow their worlds to become so small that they don't have a clue about what it's like out there. If you're a stay-at-home mom, you have no business commenting on somebody who works full-time and tries to juggle family life as well. Most people don't have a choice, and if you've never done it, you can't imagine how difficult it is. Nobody is living a perfect life. Not one of us. I doubt there's such a thing as parenting, or marriage, for that matter, without regrets. Not only is judging others useless, but it's harmful to us as it distracts us from the honest introspection and personal improvement that might alleviate some of those later regrets.

It's obvious that the screenwriters have been through this. I love the treatment of the birth, along with every other subject. They nail the emotions. The baby has an adorably crumpled frown. That frown is upside-down for everyone else. This couple had given up on ever having a baby. Now, the whole family's ecstatic. “You came through the birth so easily!” Her mother-in-law is all smiles. She's got it wrong, though. Jin actually died on the birthing table and was resuscitated. Everyone is over the moon, except for Jin. She's.just.exhausted.

Jin is an achiever. She immediately gets caught up in the subtle competitions going on between the OMs. First, she starts to feel competitive about breast milk. She calls her friend for advice. Said friend comments that it's been a long time since her baby was a /baby/. The camera pans over to a gangly, pimpled middle school boy. As he leaves, Jin's friend yells at him that he should /shave/ before going to school. The door slams. Then she finds his cigarettes. ‘I really can't help you right now,’ she says, and ends the call.

That sets the table. Through Jin's journey, the writers show the stress, the frustration, confusion, the bombardment of choices and pressures, all the nosy outsiders - each with an opinion, the fear, and the absolute irony involved in childbirth ~ and they show it well.


〰Mixed Emotions〰

Jin feels so out of place. She worked up until the last moment. All the OMs seem to know more. She's far behind. They liken it to the last car on the Snowpiercer train (that ain't good). She sees that work at her job is going on fine without her. She's losing herself. Her identity. Jin doesn't feel the overwhelming love that the OMs have for their babies. It's not like she can force herself to feel a certain way! She feels so very out of place.

〰Marital Strife and Physical Changes〰

Then it's relational stress. Poor Do Yoon. While his wife is being bullied, condescended to, and failing at breastfeeding, she's taking it all out on him. He can't even breathe right. He ends up bonding with another father who teaches him to wear earth tones so that he can blend into the background;) They go shopping together. The whole thing is pretty cute with them gushing over cribs and bottle warmers. But his new friend's time at the center ends first. Do Yoon actually runs after his bro's car in the driveway, then trips and falls as his buddy is leaving. Next, they get into how a woman's body changes. One of the OMs has gained so much weight she's doubled her size - and her career is dependent on her looks. Jin hasn't felt like a woman in a long time. Her body hasn't been hers for a long time. She has to hear how /this/ is a time when men tend to cheat. Then she has to watch her husband head off to his awards show with his beautiful coworker. In a convertible.

〰Choosing a Name〰

The pressure of picking a name doesn't elude this couple. Koreans have 39 days to register their babies’ births, so they don't deal with naming the kids until ep7. Until then they have silly nicknames like Glue Stick or Sprout. A baby's name contains the wishes of its mother,“ and “A name is a vessel that holds a person's fate,” is the verbiage being bandied around. I remember when I picked up the baby name book, the first thing that stuck out was the statement that boys with exotic names have a higher incidence of mental illness. (Yikes!) I've heard psychologists talk about trying to find a mock-proof name for their kids - they ultimately failed. We gave our son the first name of his father and grandfather, but ended up calling him by his middle name to “avoid confusion”. The confusion came when we had to update his records when he turned 18 and was issued an ID. The insurance company didn't want to pay his bills. When he graduated from HS, no one recognized the name they called out, lol. We have survived this, and worse. It's not humanly possible to do everything perfectly. One does need to lighten up and have some humility. The perfect parent has yet to be discovered on this flawed earth.

〰Finding the Perfect Nanny - before any of the other b!+ches do!〰

As their discharge date approaches, the babysitter competitions begin.

Jin's mom was set to babysit, but she needs an emergency surgery. Jin's first thought is about herself and her career. This is really inconvenient for Jin. When Mom points out her selfish attitude, Jin blows up, in rich irony, and blames her mom for not raising her better. Jin realizes she reverts to being a toddler around her loving, caring, giving, self-sacrificing mother. These new moms haven't worked out their relationships with their /own/ parents ~ And around it goes. Jin ends up in a competitive 3-way interview with a top-rated nanny and another mother. They cut in a Joseon era sword fight between the questions.

〰And the bang-jammy of them all: Breast V Bottle〰

She isn't producing milk. Jin has trouble making breast milk and breastfeeding. That's no trifle - Her life becomes ALL about that. They put her on a strict diet and a physical routine of massages and exercises to make her a better producer. She feels like a cow. They flesh out the breastfeeding versus formula wars beautifully. People get very emotional about it. Of course, the science is settled. It's better to breastfeed (cheaper, too). It's better to eat organic and prepare all your meals at home. It's even better to just grow your own food. It's better to monitor your caffeine intake. It's better to exercise regularly. It's better to go to bed early. It's better to not sit all day at the office but to stand once in awhile. It's better to squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom. It's better to brake slowly so you don't wear out the brake pads on your car too quickly. Obviously, these things aren't all of the same importance, but the point is that it's impossible to live a perfect life and to do /all/ the better things. We really have no idea what other people are going through and what struggles they have. This is an issue where the information is out there. They don't need to hear it again from outsiders. It's better to keep our opinions to ourselves. It really is. There are mothers who try their best to breastfeed and cannot keep it up, emotionally and physically. It isn't something that one should comment on to a stranger - someone whose struggles are entirely unknown to the speaker. If it would work, I'd be all-in on it, but It won't work, and it won't make the world a better place. These actions morph into self-aggrandizing superiority rituals, and that's just wrong. Regardless of our past choices, it's better than better to always be improving. Never stop working on yourself; when you're done, fix e'erbody else. In ep3, with around 10 1/2 minutes to go, there's a sequence on the breast v bottle wars that is not only the highlight of the show, it's production gold. They show arguments, fights, car accidents, bar fights, videos of the fights, videos that go viral and cause fights on other continents… all over breastfeeding... It's bloody brilliant.

The acting is excellent. Uhm Ji Won (The Odd Family: Zombie on Sale) is FL, Oh Hyun Jin. I've seen her in The Cursed-8.3, which is fabulous. As a fun fact, the actor who plays her husband in The Cursed, Jung Moon Sung from Hospital Playlist-9, plays the ob/gyn who delivers her baby here. Yoon Park (You Are My Spring, Doctor Slump), nine years Ms Uhm's junior, is her husband, Kim Do Yoon. I've seen him in Forecasting Love and Weather-6.8 and Introverted (My Shy) Boss-6.5. He plays a duplicitous character in both of those shows. He's such a sweetheart in the opening of BCC I couldn't place him at first. { bunny trail - I'm just over 4 years into my Asian programming addiction and I'm still not used to how many Korean actors don't look very Asian. I'm from the northeast. If I saw Mr. Yoon on the street wearing a suit I would think -Jewish Attorney- before I would think that he's Asian. Korea, being a peninsula situated in the center of the coast, was likely a stopping point for many a varied traveler. In addition, the USA has had personnel placed there for the better part of a century. Kcountry seems to have more variety mixed into the population than Japan or the southeast Asian countries (China, a country that also seems to love their Euro looking actors, varies widely by territory). Mixing the gene pool up makes the most beautiful offspring. It doesn't mean anything, it's just interesting.}

Park Ha Sun (Two Weeks, The Veil) portrays Jo Eun Jung. Married to a pro golfer, she's the queen of the BCC. All the OMs suck up to her. The darling Choi Ri (My First First Love-8) is the rebel mom, Lee Roo Da. She has pink in her hair, multicolor nail polish, bare feet, and No, “I won't be breastfeeding,“ thank you very much. Jang Hye Jin (The Red Sleeve, A Time Called You) plays Choi Hye Sook, the BCC manager. She's so perfectly casted it's spooky. She can't hide how much Roo Da distresses her. Director Park Soo Won also brought us Work Later, Drink Now S2.

The all female screenwriting team is Kim Ji Soo (Missing Crown Prince), Yoon Soo Min (Stock Struck), and Im Yeon Soo (Go Back Couple). They are the stars. If you are pregnant or a new mom or if you ever were, they will make you feel less alone. “I never understood why mothers resigned after maternity leave, before.” (Jin is having a mini-epiphany). ”Now, I do.” “Giving birth really takes a toll on you,” we hear in the next scene. Yep, they've been through this.

“The moment we accepted our unhappiness, we could finally be happy,” Jin observes. Midshow, the women start to drop the facade. They open up to eachother more - whether wittingly or not. They compete less and support eachother more. Now that'll make the world a better place.


〰QUOTES〰

…humiliation is a luxury of an emotion that one can only feel when he or she is still a human.

Attachment maketh man. 77% of motiveless crimes are committed by neglected children.


〰IMHO〰

RATINGS
Directing 7,5
Writing 8,5
Acting 8
Romance 5
Flutters 4
Art 7.9
Sound & music 7
Ending 8

LEVELS
Warmth 5
Action/ Excitement 1
Laughs 3.7
Tears 2.5
Fright 2.5
Tension/Anxiety 3.5
Gore 1
Thought provocation 8
Snores 0

Re-watch? possible - I recommend it for every pregnant woman


Age 13+

Rated TV-15

In order of ~lite&trite~ to ~heavy&serious~ you may also like:

A Witch's Love 7.8,
Love to Hate You 8.9,
Her Private Life 8,
A Love So Beautiful-7,
Live Up To Your Name-7.6;
Touch your heart 8.2,
Crash Landing On You 9.1,
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha-8.4,
Oh My Ghost 10,
It's Okay Not To Be Okay 9,
Love Struck in the City 7.3,
Be Melodramatic-8.7
Familiar Wife-8.5,
Hospital Playlist 9,
Saimdang-8.5,
My Unfamiliar Family-7.9,
Misaeng-9.1,
My Mister 9.5,
I'll See You When the Weather is Fine 9
Something in the Rain-8.6,
The Cursed 8.3,
Mother-8.8,

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A Humorus series that dears to challenge the notion of the good mother

I don't remember when I laughed this much in a drama. It has allot of dark humor and shows several aspects in the process of becomming a mother. The fear, the stigmatisation of the working mother and the feeling that society seems to forget to stigmatise (and for that matter involve) the father.

I loved how they showed the moralisarion of mothers who seem to loose what little digaty and right to their body the second their pregnancy shows. I really just wanted to yell att eaverybody to just let the protagonist have her d** coffe.

The effekts, lighting and small sketches in this series are amazing and really inhance the emotions trying to be convayed.

There was one character that annoyed me kept on interperting babies emotions with an annoying voice. Her caracter really added to presshure put on mothers but I found my self annoyed att her and wanting to tell her to shut up and let the mom have a chance. But I loved the rest of the caracters, there was not a singel caracter that was flat, all got to evolve without changing their core personalaties. The same with paranthood, the series showed a veriety of ways to love your child. A veriety of ways of being and becoming a parant. Not all joyfull, but presented in a very humoros way.

I'm a succer for series that dere talk about what actually makes a good parent whilecaccnoladging that bad parents exist, this series gave me that too ;)

The verity of human relations in the series astonished me. So many in such a short series. It really has it all from bromance thrue romance to girls sticking upp for each other, to girls making life hell for each other, coliguaul relations and fighting to hit the topp.

Im missing the LGBTQIA parents in the veriety, and there are a few scenes that ruind the my ability to completely connect with one of the moms and kind of ruined the emotional flow of those scenes.

All in all I really recommend this series, but would not want to stay att a birthcare center. Do these really exsist?

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