Ricki Lake discusses documentary at benefit screening
When she decided on a home birth for her second son, Owen, 6, former talk show host Ricki Lake says she had no idea that the experience would prove to be the impetus for a documentary…nor that the birth, itself, would be viewed by thousands of strangers. Talking to People Wednesday night after a benefit screening of her new film The Business of Being Born, Ricki noted that — six years later — "it is a little late to be ambivalent" about the decision to include footage from Owen’s birth.
It was a very tough choice, but I didn’t document the birth to show it to anybody. If I had, I would have done three things differently: I would have had better lighting, I would have removed the shampoo bottles behind my head, and I would have worn a shirt. I forgot that they were [filming] it.
Although this morning Ricki insisted on the Today show that she’s not "anti-doctor" or "anti-hospital," The Business of Being Born strongly advocates home births and midwifery under the theory that there is a direct correlation between the rise in inductions and demand for epidurals with the rise in Caesarian deliveries. The film seems to have made a point with at least one celebrity mom. Keri Russell, who attended the Wednesday night screening, called The Business of Being Born "an inspiring, informative documentary." She added,
It really changed the way I thought about birth in an important way.
Keri is mom to River Russell, her 7-month-old son with husband Shane Deary. Ricki also has a 10-year-old son Milo. The Business of Being Born is now playing in limited release.
Source: People
March 7th, 2008 at 1:05 am
I am a midwife with 20 years of experience “catching” babies in hospitals, birth centers and homes. I am very thrilled about the message of the film “The Business of Being Born” and hope that many American women (and their partners/families) will be inspired by the message of empowerment through midwife-assisted out-of-hospital birth. I sincerely believe that unless and until the U.S. switches to a midwifery model AND considers birth in homes and birth centers to be “ideal” for maternal and infant health the U.S. will continue to have very poor maternal and infant morbidity and mortality outcomes in comparison with those countries in which midwifery care is the “norm”. I know this is a radical statement but feel its truth is unassailable. Lisa, C.N.M. (Certified Nurse Midwife)