The Business of Being Born
starring: Ricki Lake
directed by: Abby Epstein
directed by: Abby Epstein
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Product Description:
Studio: New Line Home VideoRelease Date: 05/06/2008Rating: Nr
Amazon.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
Studio: New Line Home VideoRelease Date: 05/06/2008Rating: Nr
Amazon.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
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- The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child (Sears Parenting Library)
- Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First
- The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth
- see more
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Think you want or need a hospital birth? Watch this movie first!
This ground-breaking and controversial movie is also very entertaining. Your eyes will open wide, and your jaw may drop! Ricki Lake is a wonderful "maverick" behind this movie, but it is not about her. It is a very informative documentary on the history and state of maternity care in this country, which has completely lost sight of the normal, natural physiological process of childbirth.
Did you know that the World Health Organization recommends a cesarean rate of 10-15%, and that infant ... Read More
Rating: - Very informative
As a student nurse I would have to say that my observations support this film and their positive view of midwife deliveries.Even a couple of maternal nurse instructors told me that they would use a midwife if the hospital equipment was near by. I have to say that I'm disappointed that my nursing school did not cover midwife delivery in lecture. How can future nurses advise patients (aka CLIENTS in our nursing books) of all the options available to them when we don't discuss alternative delivery options ... Read More
Rating: - finally the truth comes out
just watched this documentary and was very moved by it...to tears and anger.i have had 5 home births and plan my 6th in a couple of weeks.i have witnessed a birth in the hospital and it was exactly how it was portrayed in the film.we went in completely wanting a natural birth and gradually the machines and complete strangers took over the birth.eventually, the mother was told a c-section would be done if she didn't get on with it which gave her incentive to do all she could (even though she couldn't ... Read More
Rating: - Must See!!!
Every human needs to see this movie to learn the truth about childbirth in America.
Rating: 
- Perspective from an OBGYN's son who does like natural child birth.
My wife and I have briefly talked about midwives vrs OBGYN's. My wife was delivered by a midwife at home. We are open to the idea of delivering at home and learning about the different options as well as the risks.
We are awaiting our 2nd child.
What I saw that I liked:
I enjoyed the openmindedness of the movie presenting a positive viewpoint of home births. Pointing out that women having a different perspective than a lot of OBGYN's.
Being raised by ... Read More
- Think you want or need a hospital birth? Watch this movie first!This ground-breaking and controversial movie is also very entertaining. Your eyes will open wide, and your jaw may drop! Ricki Lake is a wonderful "maverick" behind this movie, but it is not about her. It is a very informative documentary on the history and state of maternity care in this country, which has completely lost sight of the normal, natural physiological process of childbirth.
Did you know that the World Health Organization recommends a cesarean rate of 10-15%, and that infant ... Read More
- Very informativeAs a student nurse I would have to say that my observations support this film and their positive view of midwife deliveries.Even a couple of maternal nurse instructors told me that they would use a midwife if the hospital equipment was near by. I have to say that I'm disappointed that my nursing school did not cover midwife delivery in lecture. How can future nurses advise patients (aka CLIENTS in our nursing books) of all the options available to them when we don't discuss alternative delivery options ... Read More
- finally the truth comes outjust watched this documentary and was very moved by it...to tears and anger.i have had 5 home births and plan my 6th in a couple of weeks.i have witnessed a birth in the hospital and it was exactly how it was portrayed in the film.we went in completely wanting a natural birth and gradually the machines and complete strangers took over the birth.eventually, the mother was told a c-section would be done if she didn't get on with it which gave her incentive to do all she could (even though she couldn't ... Read More
- Must See!!!Every human needs to see this movie to learn the truth about childbirth in America.
- Perspective from an OBGYN's son who does like natural child birth.My wife and I have briefly talked about midwives vrs OBGYN's. My wife was delivered by a midwife at home. We are open to the idea of delivering at home and learning about the different options as well as the risks.
We are awaiting our 2nd child.
What I saw that I liked:
I enjoyed the openmindedness of the movie presenting a positive viewpoint of home births. Pointing out that women having a different perspective than a lot of OBGYN's.
Being raised by ... Read More
