The Business of Being Born

AADL has no copies of this item

Originally released in 2007.
Documentary.
Bonus features: Ricki and Abby behind the scenes.
Ricki Lake, Abby Epstein.
"Inspired by their own unique birth experiences, producer Ricki Lake and director Abby Epstein team up to provide a nation of mothers-to-be with insight into the process of childbirth and the various options available when preparing for this special event. From pregnancy to the miraculous moment of birth, an informative celebration of the road to motherhood."--Container.
DVD, NTSC; region 1, fullscreen ([widescreen] 1.78:1) presentation; Dolby Digital stereo. surround.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

Summary / Annotation

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

A Must-See submitted by rebouleto on September 18, 2010, 4:27pm This is an important film. The DVD case suggests that it's "must-see for every parent-to-be," but I submit that anyone involved in the life of a pregnant person should see it.

This documentary certainly has an agenda, but it is presented thoughtfully, sensitively and with ample supporting evidence (and qualified talking heads). It is centered around one main theme: the act of childbirth has become grossly overmedicalized in this country, and that puts babies and mothers through unnecessary stress and risk.

If you're pregnant, you should certainly consult your physician or midwife first and foremost before making decisions about your birth. But this film opened my eyes to the options open to women, particularly those who insist on their right to personal agency.

A waste of time submitted by antwang on March 9, 2011, 6:00pm I'm shocked at the inaccuracies and generally uninformed opinions that comprise the argument of this video. The statistics presented in the film are completely misrepresented in most cases, and completely irrelevant in some. Population data from the Netherlands (where my friend just recently gave birth) doesn't translate very well to the U.S., where the healthcare system, population demographics, and the way its statistics are kept are quite different. While midwives can provide a comfortable alternative to the common hospital birth for those who might desire it, this doesn't make physicians the enemy. There's nothing to be gained or learned from watching this video, don't waste your time.

Worth watching submitted by marielle on July 14, 2011, 10:35pm Yes, this video has a point of view; sadly many documentaries do these days. But like most popular documentaries, even those you disagree with, it's worth watching and then analyzing it after the fact for bias and factual information. Is the higher U.S. maternal and infant mortality rate due to interventions on the part of the physician? Probably not. But given the expense and unpleasantness of hospital births, would it be wise to consider emulating the Netherlands? Probably.

This documentary was enjoyable, a bit alarmist about hospital births, and definitely a must-watch for anyone who is interested in natural childbirth.