The Business of Being Born

The Business of Being Born is a phenomenal, intimate documentary film meant to inspire and empower women as it educates them about the truth concerning maternity care in the United States, and women's choices surrounding childbirth.

This passion-filled project by the film's director, Ricki Lake, an actress and former talk-show host, lends enormous credibility to the film. By including her own birth story, and that of the film's Producer Abby Epstein, the film becomes even more personal and moving. It is not one woman's detached view of what home birth is, or should be like. It is not one woman's take on hospital births, but the viewer is led on a journey into each birth couple's world. We are invited into Lake's kitchen, her bedroom, and literally into her bathtub where her second son is born under the watchful care of a midwife. It is the same with each of the couples featured in the film. They allow us to see them naked - literally and figuratively. After watching this film, you realize what an honor it is to be invited into such a deeply personal, spiritual, and vulnerable part of their lives.

The opening scene is shot in the home of the film's featured midwife. The lighting is dim and she is faceless. We see only her hands carefully gathering supplies - IV solutions, warmed surgical instruments from the oven, a suture kit, and even oxygen - as she prepares to go to a birth. Right away this scene sends a not so subtle message that midwives are knowledgeable, skilled, and prepared. Later in the film we find out she is a certified midwife and registered nurse with 20 years of birthing experience.

As the storyline unfolds, the connection between Lake and Epstein transcends a work relationship and ventures into a kind of deep sisterhood. Their interactions are funny, thoughtful, and honest. And their stories, as well as the stories of other couples in the film are raw and inspiring. Watching them brings the sweet memories of my own son's birth just 20 months ago, flooding back.

Infused with humorous exchanges to lighten the heaviness that sets in af- ter watching laboring women strapped to beds under the influence of mind altering drugs, cartoons...