review

I am sorry for all of you out there who aren't really interested in this topic...but I really have birth on the brain right now! I officially have my own "on call" days at the birth center now.  Before, I would just pop in whenever one of my students invited me to be their Douala in labor.  Yesterday I spent the afternoon in training-- going over the emergency procedures with the other assistants at the birth center.  I learned things like how to prime an IV bag, how to draw up pitocin and methergine in syringes for postpartum bleeding, how to switch the regulators on the 02 tanks and how to set them up.  It reminded me that out of hospital birth is really safe for low risk candidates. I already knew this for myself...but it confirmed to me that we are indeed equipped to handle emergencies.

The conversation amongst my company turned to this movie.

It is the movie that Ricki Lake produced called, "The Business of Being Born".  It is now available for viewing via Netflix.  You can either have them send you the dvd or just stream it on your computer- which is what I did last night (I just signed up for the free trial offer and planned to cancel after the trial period was over.)  It was riveting.  I felt as though it perfectly articulated all of my frustrations with the way we handle obstetrics in this country.  I highly recommend watching it and I highly recommend that you get your friends to watch it.  It is very thought provoking and sweet at the same time.  There are several births shown..c-section and otherwise.  I have a hard time watching the sections.  Gruesome.  All in all, a great documentary about the state of birth in our country and what some women are doing about it.  Watch it and let me know what you think!

Comments

[Heather]

I saw this movie at a preview showing with our local birth community. I felt it was well done (there were some questions we had - gloves, Abby's section, etc). I am looking forward to getting it from Netflix to share with my husband. I am hoping those who are not as educated about women's choices in birth will see the movie and make more informed decisions about their care. I am not a birth professional - just a birth junkie expecting our third child in the next few weeks (to be born at home)

[Liz]

I watched this movie a couple weeks ago (on my computer) and also thoroughly enjoyed it. I want to buy the dvd to show my girls when they get to the child-bearing age. I am hopeful that birth in our country is going to do a major turn around in the next 10 years, but just in case it doesn't, I want to be armed with lots of concrete information for my girls. No one told me that I had options for birth. No one told me the risks of a lot of the interventions that are routine in hospitals today. I found out on my own by reading and reading and reading. This movie pretty much sums it up.

[ariana]

Funny thing...I am streaming this movie on netflix this afternoon!

I will comment on what I think later!

[Megan]

I had my second baby at home-so amazing. Relaxing, empowering, and wonderful. "Misconceptions," by Naomi Wolfe is a great read on this topic. Also, two pbs (i think) documentaries, "Born in the USA" and "Unconventional Births." Haven't seen this yet, but heard all about it. Anything to let women know more about their options is a good thing!

[ariana]

I finished the movie! Here's my thoughts...

My background (condensed): I have a baby born January 2007. I had a wonderful pregnancy - trouble free. Water broke (at work) 5 days before my due date. Went to doctor - didn't feel contractions. Was put on Pitocin as soon as I got to my room. 8 hours from water breaking wanted the epidural because contractions were intense at that point. Water broke at 10A, had him at 11:54P. Pushed about 30 minutes or so.

I am a healthy, active mom - a distance runner. I know the thrill of running a race and feeling strong with accomplishment.

That said, I definitely think the movie taught me a great deal about what goes on. I am an HR person whose experience is in health care. I hate to villain-ize doctors, because I think the problem is with our culture. Americans sue. So hospitals and doctors work with the system and protect themselves.
Everyone works for a profit. Even a midwife. We all are trying to make it in this world!

I think that if I am blessed to have another baby I would love to do it with a midwife and try to go for the experience without Pitocin/epidural! BUT, not at home. :( I think a birthing center would be great. :)

I definitely agree that a midwife is a great choice. My nurse was the one who cared for me the most. The doctor came in and did a couple of things that could have been done by the nurse...

Hmm. I think that's all.

To sum, I learned a lot, think the movie was well put together. It made me cry at moments.

Most of all, it reminded me that being a mom is a precious gift!

Maybe I missed this, but are you becoming a midwife or doula? :)

[Dallas]

Thanks for recommending the video. My husband and I watched it this weekend and we really learned a lot. We don't have kids yet, so we don't know too much about obstetrics and labor, but this video really showed an amazing side of it - not the screaming, swearing, numbing the feeling side of things that they show on TV. My husband really liked the part showing the father in the tub holding the mother in labor.

[Michele]

I had seen Ricki Lake's interview on the Rachel Ray show months ago...and I had added this movie to our Netflix queue. I finished watched the film this morning on our computer. I thought that it was brillant and well put together. I had our daughter at the hospital...and felt a lot of the same things that the other mothers in the film did. I wish that this film would have been available before my delivery. Thanks for putting up this post.

[Em]

I am planning to watch this movie. My sister and I were going to watch it together a few days ago, but didn't get the chance. I think she's planning to blog about it too. Maybe I'll get the chance soon.

[Jen]

Wow... so I just watched this movie with my husband, I added it to my queue back when you originally posted and it finally made it to the top! Everything in it made sense to me. What struck me was how comfortable the babies looked when they were born in the water, as opposed to the shot at the end when the baby was crying on the blanket on the table. My next birth (#3, nothing in the works yet) will most definitely happen at home or a birthing center. What training did you go through? Thanks for posting it!!