"My Mom's Having a Baby" is a 1977 episode of the American television anthology series ''

ABC Afterschool Special ''ABC Afterschool Special'' is an American television anthology series that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from October 4, 1972, to January 23, 1997, usually in the late afternoon on weekdays. Most episodes were dramatically presen ...

'', which aired on February 16, 1977. The episode would be historic as it was the first television program of its kind in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

to showcase the pregnancy process and conception to young people, using a combination of animation and live action.

Premise

Upon learning that his mother is pregnant with what will be his brother, 10-year-old Petey Evans begins to wonder (through animated fantasies and flashbacks) about how babies are born, only to realize that those theories are not delivered by storks or popping out of a stomach. So, with help from his friends Oskar and Kelly, they go to a real expert who will be performing the delivery, Dr.

Lendon Smith Lendon Howard Smith (June 3, 1921 – November 17, 2001) was an American Ob/Gyn, pediatrician, author, and television personality. He was notable for his advice on parenting and advocating children's health and eating issues. He was known to fans ...

, who uses an animated film that explains in detail (via Smith's narration) of how a pregnancy begins and how the child is conceived. The remaining portion of this program features an actual live birth being performed in front of the cameras, which was taken from a 1974

ABC's Wide World of Entertainment ''ABC's Wide World of Entertainment'' is a late night television block of programs created by the ABC television network. It premiered on January 8, 1973, and ended three years later. The title was based on the long-running broadcast ''ABC's Wid ...

special called '' David Hartman: Birth & Babies''."Television — The Quiet Life as Pursued by David Hartman"
From New York Times (August 20, 1995) Actress Candace Farrell, who played the mother in this program, was pregnant at the time of filming the 1974 special, which resulted in the producers hiring her for this program.

Awards

* This program won a

Daytime Emmy Award The Daytime Emmy Awards, or Daytime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the New York–based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences ...

in 1977 for Outstanding Children's Informational Special.

Cast

* Shane Sinutko as Petey Evans * Jarred Johnson as Oskar * Rachael Longaker as Kelly * Lendon Smith as himself * Candace Farrell as Anne Evans

References

External links

*
Review from MSN movies
1977 American television episodes ABC Afterschool Special episodes Pregnancy-themed television episodes Sex education {{tv-episode-stub

Premise

Awards

Cast

See also

References

External links