The Business of Being Born is definitely worth a view. It’s refreshing to watch natural births, without all the stereotypical screaming and swearing that populates today’s media. The movie also illuminates hospital and doctor agenda’s during the typical birthing process and points out the conflict of these agendas with the natural birthing process. It is shocking to see the OB’s admitting that they did NOT actually experience a natural birth during their schooling, rather, they are trained as surgeons and specialize in cesareans. The United States status for infant and maternal mortality is also a startlingly poor figure. And most disturbing of all was discovering the ‘twighlight’ sleep hospitals put women into in the 40’s & 50’s.
The movie really only discusses the two extremes, home births and hospital births, but there are certainly more options available to women. It is certainly an educational piece of film, but would leave most women lost between the extremes when in fact there are a variety of intermediary options available today including hospital birthing centers, independent birthing centers and midwives who work in hospitals.
All in all, an educational, worthwhile and entertaining movie to check out!
