Top 30 Funniest Going into Labor TV Scenes

#30: Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz
“The Big Bang Theory” (2007-19)
To be fair, either of Bernadette’s labor stories could’ve made our list, but we’re going with the first one. For starters, while most expectant parents may prefer to share this precious moment alone, Bernadette rolls into the hospital with an entourage. After a false start, they’re sent home, where Raj drops a huge reveal that gets him booted from “Team Baby.” Meanwhile, Bernadette’s slow labor delays Amy and Sheldon’s annual night of passion, leading the birthday girl to hilariously quip, “I thought this baby was supposed to ruin their sex life, not mine.” Eventually, the soon-to-be parents steal a moment alone before their bundle of joy arrives. Just a heads-up to the medical staff: approach Bernadette’s cervix at your own risk.
#29: Zelena
“Once Upon a Time” (2011-18)
Pretending to be a midwife isn’t quite the same as, you know, actually training as one— but don’t tell Zelena that. Last time we saw her, she was still in her first trimester, but it turns out that onion rings seasoned with dark magic can really speed a pregnancy along. Regina and Robin rush her to the hospital, where she encounters the very wry and questionably qualified Dr. Whale. It probably doesn’t help that Zelena and Whale have some past beef, too. She may want that angry baby out of her, but we’re guessing Dr. Whale wouldn’t mind getting this irate patient out of his delivery room—preferably before she tosses him across it.
#28: Wanda Maximoff
“WandaVision” (2021)
Each episode of “WandaVision” parodies a different era of classic sitcoms. Episode three takes us to the 70s, where Wanda and Vision brace themselves for parenthood. True to sitcom tradition, Wanda’s pregnancy defies all biological norms. Plus, her contractions are powerful enough to trigger a neighborhood-wide blackout. Additionally, the usual “I think my water just broke” line takes an unexpected turn. Yeah, it does bring a whole new meaning to water birth! The episode also pokes fun at the cliché of hiding pregnancies with props. Also, the arrival of a stork—yes, an actual stork—only adds to the hilarity. And hey, why have just one baby when you can have surprise twins? It’s double the chaos and double the laughs!
#27: Mary
“The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” (2005-08)
It’s Christmas at the Tipton, every room is booked, and a heavily pregnant Mary seeks refuge from a snowstorm. What could happen? Perhaps a kid who’s just learned there’s no chance of his parents getting back together and his twin brother will join her in the elevator, which, of course, will get stuck. Cody thinks he’s ready to help with the birth, but reality hits hard, shining as brightly as Rudolph’s nose on Christmas Eve. Would we want to be stuck in an elevator with two 12-year-old birthing assistants? Probably not. But hey, it’ll be a great story to tell her daughter someday. Luckily, the doors open just in time for the adults to take over.
#26: Vanessa Scott
“My Wife and Kids” (2000-05)
As Vanessa’s due date nears, Michael jumps into action, crafting a plan complete with an actual script for the big moment. However, in sitcoms, as in reality, things don’t always go according to plan. When Vanessa actually goes into labor, Michael’s meticulously crafted plan goes right out the window. Screaming ensues, Junior tumbles down the stairs, Jay faints, and Michael unexpectedly finds himself delivering his own grandbaby—none of which was in his script. Plus, Vanessa’s language turns out to be far more colorful than anything he could’ve penned. And if you thought 12-year-olds were too young to assist with a birth, wait until you meet Franklin! It’s chaotic but one of the series’ funniest moments.
#25: Keiko O’Brien
“Star Trek: The Next Generation” (1987-94)
Note to anyone—human or otherwise—suddenly tasked with delivering a baby: it’s not quite like commanding a Starship Enterprise crew. For one thing, the baby doesn’t take commands from anyone just yet. Worf finds this out the hard way when Keiko goes into labor while they’re already caring for injured crew members. Despite Worf’s lack of obstetrics expertise, he’s the only one available to assist her. Let’s just say that if a textbook could deliver a baby, it might sound like this. His usual stoic demeanor, which might be perfect for running a spacecraft, proves comically out of place during childbirth. He might not offer much comfort, but he gets the job done.
#24: Gloria Stivic
“All in the Family” (1971-79)
Nothing ruins a romantic night like your partner having contractions before dinner is even served! One moment, you're toasting to your lives together, and the next, you're scrambling to get organized and borrowing money from your server to make a call. Yes, Mike panics when Gloria goes into labor, but not as much as when he realizes she and the baby are trapped in a phone booth. While it might not be the ideal place to be stuck at such a crucial moment, at least her doctor is just a phone call away. Even after they get her out of the phone booth and into a hospital, Mike remains a nervous wreck.
#23: Cheyenne Lee
“Superstore” (2015-21)
The moment Amy’s water broke certainly elicited some laughter from all of us. However, Cheyenne’s labor story was a huge hysterical mess. A big chain store isn’t exactly the ideal spot to have a baby, but hey, at least it’s well-stocked. For instance, Mateo gets sidetracked while gathering towels—we guess he wanted this baby to be born with style and comfort. Meanwhile, Garrett documents everything for the baby’s dad, and customers still expect service. Just when you think things can’t get any wilder, it turns out to be false labor. However, she ultimately gives birth in the store, and as she holds her daughter, she looks like she’s on Cloud Nine.
#22: Temperance “Bones” Brennan
“Bones” (2005-17)
Even going into labor can’t slow you down when you’re on the verge of cracking a case—just ask Angela. Being in the middle of a prison riot while nine months pregnant isn’t ideal either. Sure, we’ve seen that false labor is a thing, just not this time. So, after apprehending their suspect’s shoes, Bones suddenly shifts gears, urgently telling Booth they need to get to the hospital immediately. With no time to find one, they stop at an inn, only to be told there’s no room. Bones hilariously threatens to give birth right there on the lawn if they don’t find her somewhere. Hey, you don’t mess with Bones.
#21: Amy Santiago
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (2013-21)
Always the professional; nothing can throw Amy off her policing game. During a borough-wide blackout, Captain Holt and Terry get trapped in an elevator, leaving Amy to take charge. Did her waters just break? Yeah, but there’s work to be done, and apparently, it’s nothing a fresh pair of sweatpants can’t handle. While Amy keeps her Sergeant hat on, Rosa times her contractions, and even Hitchcock and Scully manage to be surprisingly helpful. Where’s Jake, you might ask? Oh, just out keeping the streets of Brooklyn safe. While he’s doing his best to get back to Amy, she’s in, umm, capable hands. It’s just too bad that he misses the show.
#20: Shirley Bennett
“Community” (2009-15)
Shirley goes into labor during the class’ ridiculous Anthropology finals. But with a food festival blocking the roads, she has no choice but to start delivering there and then. Most of the students sit and watch as if this is just a typical day in class. Meanwhile, not all of Shirley’s pals are coming off quite as well-meaning as perhaps they intend. Due to prior experience earlier in the season, Abed jumps into action, only Shirley isn’t comfortable having him peek at her “nethers”. So he guides Britta through it instead. Well, we guess that’s one way to earn an A+ in Anthropology.
#19: Gina’s Office Friend
“Martin” (1992-97)
Martin says he’ll help Gina throw a baby shower for her pregnant friend. But things take an unexpected turn when Gina gets caught up elsewhere, and an additional guest decides to make an appearance. With Tommy and Cole by his side, Martin gears up in rubber gloves and a shower cap to help deliver Thomasina’s baby. In a hilariously ridiculous moment, he catches the infant as it flies across the room. Funnier still is his response when Tommy asks about the umbilical cord. And somehow, it just gets more absurd from there. There’s nothing more comical than a show that acknowledges how unrealistic TV births can be.
#18: Petra Solano
“Jane the Virgin” (2014-19)
After Jane’s dreamy birth story, the writers decided that Petra’s needed to be a bit more action-packed and humorous. So unlike her frenemy’s euphoric experience, almost anything that can go wrong does. With only Jane around to help, this storyline focused on the rocky relationship between the two and how that dynamic changes as a result. After all, having your frenemy as a birthing partner is the perfect opportunity to share exactly what’s on your mind. Petra eventually delivers twin girls Anna and Elsa, definitely not named after the “Frozen” characters. As for the hostility with Jane, perhaps motherhood will help her “Let It Go”.
#17: Amy Duncan
“Good Luck Charlie” (2010-14)
With the baby overdue, the family tries to prevent Amy from giving birth on Charlie’s birthday. But as we all know, it’s kind of hard to predict when these things might happen. For starters, you probably wouldn’t choose an ice cream truck as a location to give birth if you could. And you might want a medical professional around rather than your easily-stressed husband and teenage daughter. However, when Teddy’s car runs out of gas on the way to the hospital, they’re left with no alternative. No one handles the stress worse than Bob, but he finds a pretty sweet way to deal with it.
#16: Carla Espinosa
“Scrubs” (2001-10)
They might work at a hospital, but JD and Turk are clueless when it comes to childbirth. For one thing, they seem to forget that it’s actually Turk and Carla who are having the baby. While they’re busy celebrating with fanfare and forgetting essential items, Elliot steps up to help Carla in her time of need. Not wanting to be outshone, Turk plans to make a hero’s comeback, only for that to backfire too. Meanwhile, Ted manages to live stream the event across the hospital. Ultimately, Turk comes through for Carla, even finding the upside to getting his hand stuck in an ice machine.
#15: Fran Fine
“The Nanny” (1993-99)
When a heavily pregnant woman enters an elevator with arguably the worst birthing partner imaginable, you can guess what’s about to go down. For Fran, there’s no one worse than C.C. who smokes, drinks, and deliberates over her own relationship, all while ignoring Fran who by now is laying on the elevator floor. In fact, it’s Fran who ends up reassuring C.C. rather than the other way around. Eventually, music brings the ladies together, with Fran’s contractions providing some unexpected harmonies. Also let’s not forget that C.C. and Niles end up getting married over Fran’s hospital bed, while she’s still in labor.
#14: Rachel Green
“Friends” (1994-2004)
Poor Rachel: she’s overdue, uncomfortable, and in labor for most of the two-part season eight finale. But with the baby in no rush to come out, she must now also endure an array of colorful roommates, including one familiar face. All the other women come and go while she’s barely dilated. However, the baby seems to pick her moments and decides it's time to come out just as her mom is on her last nerve. The birth doesn’t go any smoother, with Ross almost getting knocked out by the mother of his child. Hey, Ross, maybe now isn’t the time to complain about your pain.
#13: Quinn Fabray
“Glee” (2009-15)
While this one may not have been intentionally written to make audiences laugh, it certainly succeeded. For some inexplicable reason, the writers decided to have Quinn’s labor progress in tandem with Vocal Adrenaline’s performance of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Let’s just say that the result isn’t perhaps quite as dramatic as they hoped for. Instead, it cuts back and forth between the two events with Quinn even filling in some of the lyrics. Well, at least the parts of Vocal Adrenaline's performance we get to see are pretty impressive. Also, props to Quinn for delivering a baby in the time it takes to sing this Queen classic.
#12: Scream to Music
“Murphy Brown” (1988-98)
This Emmy-winning episode managed to be both progressive and funny, but was considered rather controversial for its time. Even though she’s a single mother, Murphy is surrounded by her well-meaning albeit slightly useless friends. For instance, Frank didn’t end up packing her anything she actually needs and Jim wants minimal involvement. There’s also a unique sense of humor here that wasn’t often seen in shows of its time, likely due to its two female writers. This episode has the perfect balance of sentimentality with comedy interspersed in all the right moments.
#11: Lily Aldrin
“How I Met Your Mother” (2005-14)
Mid-birth isn't the best time to suggest baby names. Ending their seventh season on a frantic and packed note, this episode sees Lily finally go into labor, but is so stubborn about going to the hospital with Marshall that she refuses to leave until Ted and Robin end up distracting her enough to leave. With Marshall trying to get back to Manhattan after being stuck in Atlantic City, he ends up getting Barney's help for the way home - but not without a baby-naming condition. Arriving in the nick of time, Lily loves the condition, naming their son Marvin Wait-for-it Eriksen.
#10: Bree & Danielle Van de Kamp
“Desperate Housewives” (2004-12)
This isn't exactly the kind of horror you typically associate with a birth. Playing an easily convincing pregnant mom for a Halloween party, Danielle is playing with guests right until Bree throws her out for her own good. A little too late, however, as Danielle's water breaks mid-argument, forcing Bree to act as the problem-solving mother instead. Moving houses, they ask Orson to deliver the baby first before realizing he's both extremely under-qualified and very drunk. Finding the best person for the job, Bree grabs Adam, who hobbles over in a Frankenstein outfit, delivering the baby all while in costume to the fright of local children.
#9: Looking Too Much
“Everybody Loves Raymond” (1996-2005)
Training doesn't always prepare you for the emotions of a situation. Driving a very pregnant Debra to the hospital, Robert and Ray start fighting as they get stuck in traffic on the bridge. Right as they stop, Debra's contractions kick into high gear and they're forced to deliver the baby on the road. Robert takes over with his emergency training, putting himself into an incredibly awkward point of view. Screaming at Ray for his unbearably protective instincts, Debra tears into him to get Ray under control. Realizing in shock that Debra's not even giving birth, everyone gets back to their seats in awkward silence.
#8: Pam Beesly
“The Office” (2005-13)
Getting involved can go way too far. When Pam's contractions finally become too much, she tries to call off the whole birth before Jim reassures her to go, with Kevin and Michael getting way too personal with him. Grabbing their gear, Jim and Pam head to the elevator right as work gets out, with Stanley running to grab the elevator behind them. Dwight's unnecessary role as escort gets particularly hairy as he gets pulled over for impersonating a police officer, even throwing away weapons in the process. Pulling into the hospital, Michael even takes an ambulance's parking spot.
#7: Meter Running
“Frasier” (1993-2004)
Hopping in a taxi after Frasier's fancy car breaks down, Martin, Niles, and Frasier stop bickering just in time to talk to their cab driver and discover her water broke. Pulling over while trying to save his shoes, Niles takes the first stab at delivering the driver’s baby, revealing he fainted in medical school. Frasier takes over, soothing the driver's breathing down while annoying her with his incessant nitpicking. Martin finally takes over, clearly the most level headed and qualified, setting the boys to work before Niles chimes in about their meter.
#6: Rebecca Donaldson
“Full House” (1987-95)
Going into labor three weeks early at a party, Becky is forced to leave Michelle's “Flintstones” birthday to go to the hospital. Jesse starts freaking out in the waiting room, noticeably pained enough to time his own contraction along with Becky’s. Ending up in surgery for appendicitis, he has Danny swap in, who coaches Becky through her birth with a hilarious rendition of "We Will Rock You." Wheeled back in on anesthesia, Jesse arrives just in time to see his new twins born, while deliriously singing and goofing around on the drugs.
#5: Lois
“Malcolm in the Middle” (2000-06)
In one of the most chaotic scenes, Lois goes into labor with only her awful mother, Francis, and Hal’s poker buddies for help. Meanwhile, Hal and the boys get themselves into a predicament that lands Hal in hospital and unable to reach his wife. While Lois tries to cope with labor pains through the pandemonium, Hal hallucinates all sorts of wacky scenarios, and the boys decide to go and learn more about birth and babies. Ultimately it’s Francis who ends up having to deliver the baby. The episode ends with the brothers taking their duties extremely seriously while the baby’s gender remains deliberately unknown.
#4: Phoebe Buffay
“Friends” (1994-2004)
Phoebe handles being in labor pretty much how she handles everything else – with surprising and remarkable positivity. Contractions? No problem! Your scheduled doctor can’t come? Sure! Your substitute doctor has an affinity for the Fonz? Eh, maybe this won’t be so easy. In the end, though, the doc knows what he’s doing, even if he has some unorthodox ways to get in the zone to deliver. Phoebe powers through and gives birth to Frank Jr. Jr., Leslie, and Chandler -- who turns out to be a girl. It’s a birthing scene worthy of two thumbs up and an enthusiastic “Ayyy!”
#3: Vivian Banks
“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (1990-96)
Pregnancy rarely deals out this much aggression. Annoying her entire family with her incessant bell ringing, Aunt Viv brings the entire family together... against her. Getting to the hospital ahead of the family, Vivian is already ready to deliver when everyone arrives. Running into the rest of his kids, Phil gets directions to Viv and jumps into action so fast that he barrels right over a stretcher, and crashes right onto the floor in his frantic stress.
#2: Gloria Delgado--Pritchett
“Modern Family” (2009-20)
The only proper way to crash a birthday is with another birthday. After planning a whole party and special day for Manny, Gloria's water breaks in the middle of the events, with Jay saving the day by getting Gloria to the hospital and ordering pizza for the rest of the guests. As family arrives, they hear screaming and run to what they presume will be a screaming Gloria. They enter to find Jay screaming as Gloria crushes his hand, and Manny convinces his mom to stop holding the baby in, making for a briefly touching moment before understanding his dad's pain when she grabs his hand too.
#1: No Plan
“I Love Lucy” (1951-57)
No matter how much planning you put in, sometimes the universe has other ideas. With Lucy ready to pop at any moment, Ricky is unhinged in his anxiety, quickly roping in Fred and Ethel to his madness. Starting rehearsals for Lucy's birth, Ricky sets everyone a job: with Ethel on the phone, Fred carrying her bag, and him managing his pained wife. Oblivious to the rehearsals, Lucy comes in, ready to go. Put into a frenzy, Ricky is knocked into the couch, having to do all the jobs in one hilarious mess. Ricky even forgets Lucy in the struggle and hurts himself along the way.
Which TV labor delivered the laughter for you? Let us know in the comments.
