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The Business of Being Born | 
| Director: Abby Epstein
Actors: Ricki Lake, Dr. Michel Odent, Abby Epstein, Cara Muhlhahn, Dr. Marsden Wagner
Studio: New Line Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $27.98
Buy New: $19.92
You Save: $8.06 (29%)
New (40) Used (13) from $19.92
Rating:  55 reviews
Sales Rank: 2357
Format: Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: Unrated
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 84
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: TRNDN38370D
UPC: 794043120787
EAN: 0794043120787
ASIN: B0013LL2XY
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: May 6, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: ******BRAND NEW****** ** Over 1.5 million orders shipped worldwide and more than 500 000 items in stock, BUY FROM A TRUSTED SOURCE, ESTABLISHED SINCE 1998 - INETVIDEO ~~~
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Product Description
Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 05/06/2008 Rating: 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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| Customer Reviews: Read 50 more reviews...
 Everyone about to give birth get this! January 2, 2009
My husband and I watched this video when I was 3 months pregnant and we're so glad we did.
This documentary follows real women as they share their experiences with homebirths. Included are lots of interviews with doctors, specialists, midwives, and information about how birthing has changed and moved from homes to hospitals, also the effects of pain medications, and the rise of Caesarean sections.
If the birthing process made you nervous before, you'll feel really nervous now; and not about how you'll feel about giving birth, but about the way hospitals have developed the business of delivering babies. It's interesting to note that the US has the highest infant mortality rate of any industrialized nation, as well as maternal deaths. We also mostly choose to have our babies in hospitals, and do not use midwives.
My husband and I had not considered having a homebirth, but this movie definitely has us considering it. I think we'll probably end up with a hospital birth with our midwife, BUT we have considerable knowledge and are willing to fight for our rights now.
A great book I recommend is "Hey! Who's having this baby anyway?" which deals with many of the same issues and describes your rights for a homebirth and hospital birth.
Thanks to the filmmakers for putting together a much needed movie. You've done a fabulous job!
A must watch! December 28, 2008
This is a great documentary with a lot of good, hard facts about midwives and natural child birth. Our country (US) is going in a very bad direction with how we treat women and labor and delivery. It is unique to our country and the results are not what they should be. The maternal and infant death rate in our country is high and the c-section rate is beyond high. This movie should be seen by any one thinking about getting pregnant or is pregnant. It is not anti-doctor or hospital, as seen towards the end of the movie, but it is very pro-midwife for the majority of the women in our country who are not high risk.
Great film! December 6, 2008
This really is a must-see for anyone interested or concerned about childbirth, health care, midwifery, c-sections, the United States' comparatively low birth rate to other developed countries, and women's issues in general.
This film takes you through the astounding history of childbirth in the United States, all the way to today - when one of every three births occurs by c-section, and childbirth is indeed a business rather than an intimate, natural event. This is an eye-opening and thoughtful movie, one that shows women that there are other options available rather than succumbing to the "standard" childbirth today, which is sorely lacking.
Think you want or need a hospital birth? Watch this movie first! November 22, 2008
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 mortality increases when that rate is exceeded? Did you know that the rate of cesarean births in this country is over 30% and rising? But ask your OB and hospital what their rates are, because they may well be 40% or higher, depending on where you live!
Women and babies in this country are being done a tremendous disservice by the medical community. They are being robbed of an amazing, natural phenomenon for the sake of convenience and malpractice insurance. Please, do yourself and your baby a favor and educate yourself on your options for pregnancy and birth. For women in low-risk categories, birth outside of the hospital has been proven to be as safe or safer than birth in a hospital.
Parents and other individuals who are interested in pursuing a natural way of raising healthy, happy children should also read Healing Our Children: Because Your New Baby Matters! Sacred Wisdom for Preconception, Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting (ages 0-6) by Ramiel Nagel.
Very informative November 14, 2008
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 ourselves? Women are now having c-sections so that their child can enroll in school more quickly. The world is in such a rush we're rushing babies out of their womb before they're ready. The happiest baby on the block is another good dvd to watch. I think the reason for the state mandated PKU test of neonates or newborns should be looked at because I think it has to do with the effects of splenda. Don't believe me? Just google PKU and splenda and then google PKU and newborn and test. I tried to bring this observation up with my instructor but it went in one ear and out the other and I was told that I don't critically think.
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