If you are pregnant, thinking of becoming pregnant or just interested in the controversial debate between at-home birth and hospital births, you must see this incredible new documenatry called The Business of Being Born, which is playing at the Tribeca Film Festival (see below for the two remaining show times) and will hopefully be released very soon. Directed by Abby Epstein and produced by Ricki Lake (yeah that Ricki Lake. She’s a home-birth activist now), the film is a major EYE OPENER.
I saw it last night at the film festival with a friend who is reviewing it for Mothering Magazine. I didn’t know what to expect. But I laughed. I cried. I was dumbfounded at the way the medical profession has manipulated women into thinking that their birth experience must be highly medicalized.
The rate of caserean sections in this country is through the roof. In many countries, women give birth at home and they don’t have nearly the infant or maternal mortality rate that we do. In this case, maybe less is more.
The fim graphically shows a variety of homebirths and hospital births. It also has interesting interviews with birth experts like Michael Odent, Ina May, author of Spiritual Midwifery, a medical anthropologist and numerous doctors and mid-wives.
The homebirths are amazing, amazing to see. Very moving, very beautiful. It made me sad to see how far we have come from experiencing the magic of birth, the beginning of life the way it’s been done for millions of years.
A pregnant woman at the screening said that the film changed her mind. She wants to investigate the possibility of giving birth at home. The film even shows a home birth that goes awry. The mother is transferred to a hospital quickly and gives birth there.
This morning, I ran into a woman who was at the screening on Seventh Avenue and she
said she wished she could do her births over again – after seeing the
movie.
Even those who don’t opt for a home birth will be inspired to investigate a midwife group like the Birthing Center at Roosevelt Hospital, which is featured in the film as well.
Actress and former talk show host Ricki Lake spoke to the Huffington Post, which I reprint here.
Why did you want to produce this film?
I
wanted to make this movie after my two very different birth experiences
with my children. I felt like I had an opportunity to explore and
question birthing practices in this country and perhaps be an advocate
for mothers’ rights and better maternity care.
How did your personal birth experiences influence you?
After
the birth of my sons, particularly my home birth with my second son, I
thought I wanted to become a midwife. Then I looked at all the years of
schooling and training that I would have to do and felt that the time
could be better spent doing a documentary on the subject of birth.
How intimate does the film get?
I am naked at 195 pounds giving birth in my own bathtub. It can’t get any more intimate than that!
What do you hope people take away from the film?
A
lot! I hope this film educates people and empowers them to really know
their choices in childbirth. We do not want to make any woman feel bad
about the outcome of her birth, or the choices she made (or will make).
Did you videotape personal birth experiences at the time?
As
previously referenced, yes I did. For the record, I never filmed my
birth with the goal of showing it to anyone, let alone the general
public. I simply wanted it documented for me.
Other than your film, what are your plans for Tribeca?
I
am thrilled to be in New York for most of the festival and I am very
excited to take part in everything I can. I will be attending all of
the screenings of The Business of Being Born, and I will be doing a
Q&A after every screening.
Source: The Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ricki-lake/ricki-lake-on-the-bus_b_46002.html
Dates and Showtimes at the Tribeca Film Festival:
Sun, Apr 29, 7:00pmClearview Chelsea West Theater 2
Mon, Apr 30, 6:30pmAMC Kips Bay Theater 13
Thu, May 3, 9:45pmAMC Kips Bay Theater 14
Fri, May 4, 5:00pmAMC Village VII Theater 1
Please visit the festival online to purchase tickets.
http://www.tribecafilmfestival.org/
Just to politely balance the previous comment of “…(footling breech), and a home birth would have been a catastrophe.”:
that was my 2nd child (the footling breech part – a total surprise!); but the risks of vaginal birth w/breech presentation, even footling, can also be verbally hyped to the point of skewed accuracy. Ours was certainly far from a catastrophe, in fact my child and I fared much better than my 1st child and I did after the 1st (completely textbook and uneventful) home birth. Increased risk? Sure. Catastrophe across the board? Not so much. Hope that provides some balance :)
I’d like to see this movie. I strongly wanted home birth, hated the medicalized BS, ‘settled’ for wonderful midwife&ob/gyn practice that uses Methodist…and turned out (well, my daughter and I together turned out) to be the rare case that makes home birth such a dangerous risk. After an easy, fast and beautiful labor, we needed an emergency C-section (footling breech), and a home birth would have been a catastrophe. Hope the movie offers a balanced presentation of the small but very real risk of that scenario!!
Then your wife should give birth at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Birthing Center. I’ll be there circa August 16th birthing my third–the other 2 were born there as well. Wonderful place!
But–that’s not why I’m writing. I was searching to find out what happened to Maggie Moo’s! I think it’s been closed since Saturday. But, I seem to be the only one who has noticed…321 is still auctioning off ice cream dates with teachers at MM. Frankly, if its closed for good, I’m glad. It was always so freakin’ hot in there that the ice cream was already melting by the time you paid for it. But–still–I found myself going back again and again. The kids loved the Cotton Candy Ice Cream with Gummy Bears mixed in. I’m sure all the ingredients were organic!
Also, looking forward to seeing the reading on May 24th. You have a great and extensive line-up. Cheers!
I would never let my wife chose a home birth. The risk of complocations is just too great.