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The Business of Being Born |  | Director: Abby Epstein
Actors: Julia Barnett Tracy, Louann Brizendine, Michael Brodman, Patricia Burkhardt, Tina Cassidy
Studio: New Line Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $4.76
as of 11/24/2009 22:10 CST details
You Save: $15.22 (76%)
New (35) Used (12) Collectible (1) from $4.70
Rating:  92 reviews
Format: Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: Unrated
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 87 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: 1000038370
UPC: 794043120787
EAN: 0794043120787
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: May 6, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Birth is a miracle, a rite of passage, a natural part of life. But birth is also big business. Compelled to explore the subject after the delivery of her first child, actress Ricki Lake recruits filmmaker Abby Epstein to question the way American women have babies. Epstein gains access to several pregnant New York City women as they weigh their options. Some of these women are or will become |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Birth is a miracle a rite of passage a natural part of life. But birth is also big business.Compelled to explore the subject after the delivery of her first child actress Ricki Lake recruits filmmaker Abby Epstein to question the way American women have babies.Epstein gains access to several pregnant New York City women as they weigh their options. Some of these women are or will become clients of Cara Muhlhahn a charismatic midwife who between birth events shares both memories and footage of her own birth experience.Footage of women having babies punctuates THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN. Each experience is unique; all are equally beautiful and equally surprising. Giving birth is clearly the most physically challenging event these women have ever gone through but it is also the most emotionally rewarding.Along the way Epstein conducts interviews with a number of obstetricians experts and advocates about the history culture and economics of childbirth. The filmâs fundamental question: should most births be viewed as a natural life process or should every delivery be treated as a potential medical emergency?As Epstein uncovers some surprising answers her own pregnancy adds a very personal dimension to THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN a must-see movie for anyone even thinkingSystem Requirements:Running Time: 85 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Rating: UNRATED UPC: 794043120787 Manufacturer No: 1000038370
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:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 92
 Very Informative November 20, 2009
M. Cischke (Dearborn, MI)
I am 5 months pregant and have been researching my options for a birth plan. This DVD was very helpful. I understand it is a little biased but I watched it with open eyes. I plan on having a Natural Birth. I planned on it before I saw the DVD, but the video did help solidify my plan. I recommend it for all pregnant women... and their partners.
A Must-See Movie For All Expecting Parents! November 20, 2009
C. Engberg (Texas, USA)
I had been told my entire life (and of course, this is all you will ever see in the movies, too) that women have their babies in the hospital. This is how its done, right?
Wrong.
In every other country (except America) the MAJORITY of women use midwives and deliver their babies at home. America uses hospital births as the standard (over 85% of all births), yet we have the second highest infant mortality and mother mortality rates of any country in the WORLD! Maybe hospitals aren't the best option after all.
Ricki Lake has created a wonderful documentary about the "business of being born." She shows, using numerous interviews and proven facts, that hospital births are just that: a business. She talks about the history of midwives and shows women going through delivery with a midwife versus the women going through delivery at the hospital. She interviews nurses and doctors from the labor and delivery units of several hospitals asking them if they have ever seen anyone deliver a baby naturally (vaginally, no drugs or inducements). None of them had. Ricki Lake shows how the increased use of pitosin and other inducement drugs correlate with the rise in birth defects and child behavioral problems like Autism.
It is an incredibly eye-opening movie that all expecting couples should see before deciding the route of delivery that they want to take. Also great for people who have not yet started having children (it's never too early to think about it). It is definitely worth the small investment of money for the video to hear the whole truth (especially when you think about the fact that a midwife costs about $4000 for all pre and post-natal care and delivery, while just giving birth in a hospital can cost over $10,000). This video will help you make an informed decision.
The Business of Being Born
A MUST-SEE FOR EVERY WOMAN November 17, 2009
HaydensMommy08 (Vancouver, WA)
This movie is amazing for any woman who has children or is planning on having them. Childbirth in America is discraceful but you have options! Explore the alternatives and benefits of using a midwife.
 Perfect for moms considering home births! November 7, 2009
S. Platis
I purchased this video for my Child Development class at a large suburban high school. The birth process was very graphic at times; I was surprised how squeemish some of the students got. However, it was a valuable learning tool and very informative.
Wished for more November 6, 2009
J. Vincent (Over the valley, CA United States)
This is a great movie, I love it, I want to show it to all my friends! I just wish there was a little more "meat" to it. I've always felt they stopped about halfway or 3/4s of the way through the process of getting hard facts and data into the documentary. There's a lot of great information, but from the title, I was expecting more of an exposé on the specifics of the "birth industry" in America than this is. I like the way the documentary ended, so it didn't wander into "All medical interventions are bad and just a grab for your money!" territory, I thought it really balanced out the whole thing.
The personal stories are wonderful (though I wish we had spent more time with the midwifery practice to personalize that story more), the information is fascinating, the births are amazing, and it's all packaged beautifully. Again, the only complaint is that I would have liked -more- specifics on insurance company profiteering, policy trends that care more about protecting against liability than making sure the woman is really cared for, and things of that nature (the Business end of "The Business of being born"). Usually I would object to some of the language that is occasionally involved that is not edited out and could have been, but I've been at births, I know how it can be when you're right in the hea(r)t of it and I think it's not wrong to show it. It's a good movie I just think more could have been done.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 92
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