Gerald Wright's Movie Coverage
"THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN"
Directed by: Abby Epstein
Executive Producer: Ricki Lake
Release date: Jan. 9, 2008 (NY), Jan. 16, 2008 (LA), Jan. 18, 2008 (SF) and Feb. 29, 2008 (Seattle)
Genre:Documentary
Distributor: Red Envelope Entertainment and International Film Circuit
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
In this sensitive, intelligent and interesting film, Ricki Lake is compelled to find answers after a disappointing birth experience with her first child. She recruits filmmaker Abby Epstein to explore the maternity care system in America. Focusing on New York City, the film reveals that there is much to distrust behind hospital doors and follows several couples who decide to give birth on their own terms. There is an unexpected turn when the filmmaker/director Epstein not only discovers she is pregnant, but finds the life of her child on the line. The questions are asked - Should most births be seen as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potential medical emergency?
The film shows several homebirths with a midwife can be idealistic and the film demonstrates some disturbing trends in the U.S. It shows that vaginal birth is becoming endangered in this country. Labor under strict time frames, with induction, medication, and surgery is fast becoming the way of giving birth. Natural childbirth is just about extinct in most hospitals and is viewed by medical professionals of having no value to the mother and baby. This documentary shows what normal birth looks like and provides historical facts of birth in the U.S. (footage from early 20th century) compared to other industrialized countries such as England where women are given the option of a homebirth. It is a fact that homebirth is cheaper than hospitalization. And in most cases medication and surgery causes side effects and problems.
After watching this film, I asked myself several questions. If birth is a miracle and a natural part of life, then why is it a big business and why American women are not given all the facts? To most people, the idea of giving birth outside of a hospital is foolish and even dangerous: why would any parent limit their newborn's access to technology in the event of an emergency? Why would any couple put their child's life in the hands of a midwife instead of an obstetrician? My conclusion to some of my questions was as follows: in each unique beautiful experience of giving birth-what is natural should be natural. However, in time of complications, the families should have the option of hospitalization.
This is a remarkable film and a must-see movie for anyone even thinking about having a baby.
FILM RATING (A)
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