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Product Description: Birth is a miracle a rite of passage a natural part of life. But birth is also big business.Compelled to explore the subject after the delivery of her first child actress Ricki Lake recruits filmmaker Abby Epstein to question the way American women have babies.Epstein gains access to several pregnant New York City women as they weigh their options. Some of these women are or will become clients of Cara Muhlhahn a charismatic midwife who between birth events shares both memories and footage of her own birth experience.Footage of women having babies punctuates THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN. Each experience is unique; all are equally beautiful and equally surprising. Giving birth is clearly the most physically challenging event these women have ever gone through but it is also the most emotionally rewarding.Along the way Epstein conducts interviews with a number of obstetricians experts and advocates about the history culture and economics of childbirth. The film‟s fundamental question: should most births be viewed as a natural life process or should every delivery be treated as a potential medical emergency?As Epstein uncovers some surprising answers her own pregnancy adds a very personal dimension to THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN a must-see movie for anyone even thinkingSystem Requirements:Running Time: 85 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Rating: UNRATED UPC: 794043120787 Manufacturer No: 1000038370Amazon.com: Is it conceivable that in the United States, profit is increasingly driving the business of birthing--sometimes at the expense of the best possible outcome for mothers and babies? Should birth be viewed and treated as a natural process or a potential medical emergency? This documentary, produced by Ricki Lake and directed by Abby Epstein, opines that money and fear are changing the way Americans give birth, and not necessarily for the better. Beginning with shocking statistics that the United States has the second-worst newborn death rate in the developed world and one of the highest maternal mortality rates in industrialized countries, the film presents interviews with medical professionals including Dr. Jacques Moritz, OB/GYN from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital; Dr. Michel Odent, OB/GYN researcher; and Masden Wagner, MD, former Director for Women's and Children's Health at the World Health Organization. Each expert paints a dismal picture of American birthing and emphasizes the frequent overuse of medical procedures in what are otherwise potentially normal deliveries. Stressing the prevalent use of midwives in birthing in other developed nations (70% of births are attended by midwives in Europe and Japan, versus 8% in the U.S.), the documentary then follows Cara Muhlhahn, a certified nurse midwife in New York City, as she attends a variety of home births. The footage is candid and sometimes very graphic, showing various home-delivery methods, including water birth. Interviews with Cara and her clients emphasize their shared philosophy on birthing as a normal life process that, when attended by a caring and well-trained midwife, can be both empowering and exhilarating. Though a midwife is often characterized as a supportive, but medically untrained birth attendee, the film dispels that stereotype, stressing a good midwife's solid training and knowledge of when it's appropriate to seek outside medical intervention. Key in every birth is a commitment to doing what's best for mother and baby, regardless of pre-planned agendas. The filmmaker's lament is that hospitals and doctors often too quickly advocate medical intervention in the interest of saving time and avoiding potential litigation. While unquestionably advocating midwifery over hospital birthing, this documentary presents solid expert opinions, concrete facts and statistics, and anecdotal experiences of both mothers and midwives that are crucial in making an informed decision about the use of midwifery in birthing as well as enlightening as to the current state of birthing in the United States. --Tami Horiuchi
Customer Reviews:
- amazing: from a mother's point of view... simply amazing. loved the interview with ina may... and all the mama's stories!!! must see for all mamas!!!
- Obscene Lanuage; Overkill on Completely Naked Women Delivering Babies; Too Long and Drawn Out.: There was great potential for this to have been a classic educational movie. Instead of classy, it ended up as crass. Most parents will probably be frustrated over the foul language used, to include the "F-WORD". It was not some minor interjection made by some on looking bystander. It was Ricki Lake's choice word to describe the emotion of her labor experience. It was also Abby Epstein's, the movie's director, choice word in the heat of her labor. It could have easily been edited out. If you're religious in any way, you will also probably be annoyed by the repeated use of "oh my god" throughout the documentary. Lengthy clips of completely naked women delivering their children at home started to be a bit over kill. The movie was 85 minutes, but it could have easily been condensed to about 25 minutes.
I'm a strong advocate of home delivery and the use of midwives, but I can not recommend this movie due to its unnecessary profanity and unnecessary "lengthiness". Trust me, if you're really interested in watching this movie; just see the 3 minute trailer. It will give all the information you need without the added garbage featured in the movie.
- MUST SEE MOVIE!! : After watching this movie I can't imagine any women not wanting to at LEAST check out home birthing options. The statistics for mother and baby are quite frightening for any one in the US that is planning on delivering in a hospital setting.
After watching this film I am definitely going for a home birth!
Watch this movie and pass it one to every woman you know!!
- A Must see for Expectant Moms or if you are Thinking about Getting Pregnant!: Well Done Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein. It is great to see you giving the women the power to make educated and informed choices. I like the fact that it DOES show both sides of the story (interviews with both people for and against home births). It also shows that midwives arent reckless hippies who will bar you from entering a hospital as the director herself found out when she was rushed to hospital on the advice of her midwife. It shows that yes birthing should be as natural as the mother chooses but if needed those highly skilled OB's come in and help (as it happens in other countries).
I am an immigrant from one of those countries that has mainly midwife care, there is a huge difference in birth outcomes and more positive experiences from the gals I have spoken to. Giving birth seems less natural and more medical when done under the supervision of an OB hooked up to IV's and monitors which make it impossible to move around and be in more natural birthing posistions! Speaking of OB's I cant tell you how lost I was when I found out I was pregnant and the OB didnt want to see me until I was 10 WEEKS, I was horrified - especially since you can do alot of daamge to a fetus in 10 weeks!!!!!!! Midwives are fantastic and since they are geared up for natural births and not so much surgery they should be ideally used more often for low risk mothers and this doco shows these professionals in a good light (Finally).
So for my next little one I will certainly look into my options thanks to this film as I wasnt even aware I had such options! - A Must-See for EVERYONE!!!: After seeing 2 benefit screenings of the film, I am convinced it is a film that every single person in our country should see. It's not just for women of child-bearing age. When the profits from a maternity ward can make or break an entire hospital, we truly have a problem for the whole country - especially when so many people can't afford health care at all!
As a doula, I see too many mothers who don't understand the things being done to them (and not always FOR them) when they are in labor. I see too many mothers with questions that aren't answered to their satisfaction. I see too many mothers with too few options.
As good consumers, we research major purchases such as cars and houses, but very few of us have any choice about where and under whose care we deliver our children. It's time we demand a voice and better choices for our own care!
While I am very glad we have the medical technology for birth available, not every birth warrants the use of most of that technology. Birth is not a crisis waiting to happen - at worst, it is a natural disaster from which 97% of women know how to cope and recover from. At best, it can be the most awesome experience you will ever have, and it should be that way for more women.
I loved this film. I am buying two copies - one for myself/clients to borrow, and one for our local library. Everyone should see this film! Everyone!!!
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