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I’ve been saying for quite some time now that I am finally going to sit down and watch the documentary, “The Business of Being Born.” Since it was released in 2008, the same year that my little man was born, I have been intrigued by the idea of what this film was about, but a little nervous and hesitant to watch it. Questions loomed through my mind: Would I feel like a bad person for getting an epidermal and giving birth in a hospital? Would I find out information that would scare me?
Finally, a couple weeks ago when my husband left for a drill weekend and Branden and I were rained in, my chance came. I made sure that Branden was busy watching his newest movie obsession, Casper, and I closed my bedroom door and fired up Netflix.
I can honestly say that the next couple hours of my life were truly life-changing. It opened my eyes to a different side of the birthing process–the business of it. This was something that I have never really given much thought until now, but at the end of the day hospital are a business, much like any other, a business that needs to have customers patients in order to thrive. In turn, this really made me evaluate my thoughts about the way I view the health industry as a whole.
For anyone who is unfamiliar with this documentary, it is directed by Abby Esptein and produced by actress Rickie Lake and came about due to Rickie’s less than satisfactory experience of giving birth to her first child. In fact, due to the modern day drugs pumped in her throughout the entire birthing process, she didn’t feel that she really experienced much at all. Therefore, the ladies set out to take a closer look at the maternity care system in America.
There were MANY components of this captivating film that sucked me in and lead me to both spend some time researching further as well as re-thinking if I would ever consider giving birth again in a hospital. (Ya know? If I ever decide that it’s the right time for baby #2.) One of them being the discussed fact that it costs more money to deliver a baby in a hospital then a birthing center, yet this is the method that the health insurance companies prefer…hmmmmm.
Overall, I commend these women for setting out on this journey and opening the eyes of others, and thank the couples who shared their personal birthing stories throughout the documentary. This truly wasn’t just a film, but an experience. For more information or to instantly watch the film, please visit http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/, immediately, I highly recommend it.
So, what was your birthing experience like and why?
Fashionably Yours,
Allison
As Editor of this blog, please allow me to comment first on this very interesting post, and try to answer Ali’s question about our personal birthing experience that she asked all of us Mamas.
I had worked with OB/GYNs for a number of years before having my children, so I was well aware of the fact that doctors are people too, with all their strengths and weaknesses. So, while I had great trust in my doctor, who I had worked with and saw his compassion and expertise every day, I still wanted to have the minimal necessary intervention during my two deliveries.
I chose a birthing room, with the goal of natural childbirth, but within a major teaching hospital, so that all the necessary medical intervention was available to me, just in case there were any surprises along the way. Fortunately, I was able to deliver both babies naturally with a lot more leniency than a traditional delivery room, but I still had delivery by a trusted doctor as opposed to any of the other options. This worked for me, both for my worry wort side, and for my desire to let my body do what it needed to do.
Thank you, Ali, for sharing this important information with all of us.
Deborah