How the baby comes out: A review of "The Business of Being Born."

The moment Smush was born.

So, I mentioned a few weeks ago that I watched Ricki Lake's documentary, The Business of Being Born. Here's the Netflix synopsis in case you haven't seen it (but really, you should see it):

Director Abby Epstein's controversial documentary takes a hard look at America's maternity care system, juxtaposing hospital deliveries against the growing popularity of at-home, natural childbirths that some expectant parents are opting for. Former talk show host Ricki Lake was inspired to produce this compelling exposé after a dissatisfying birthing experience with her first child left her with many unanswered questions.

(Hey, not sure why that "the" is bold like that. Anyway ... )

I have to say, I really liked this film. I appreciated the historical background it provided -- like, did you know that in the 1940's, women had what were called "twilight births?" Basically, they'd go into the hospital when labor started, and doctors would give them some awful drug cocktail that would allow them to be awake but unaware of everything until the baby popped out. They had to be strapped down and blindfolded. They didn't remember a thing when they woke up days later. I mean, crazy, right? Well, it happened.

There were a few preachy, militant soundbites I didn't care for, but overall, the film spoke to my senses. It presents the facts and lets the viewer decide. And quite honestly, all the facts make logical sense.

After watching, I couldn't help but think, would things have gone differently during Smush's birth if I hadn't had an epidural? If I had been allowed to push in whichever position I felt comfortable in? One foreign doctor in the film said he does not deliver while the mother is lying down. He makes her squat down and he sits on a little stool to catch the baby as it basically falls out. Since you all know I was the president of the Physics Club in high school, I'll just say DUH. Of course! Because that all-encompassing (and sometimes annoying) force called gravity would allow the baby to descend more naturally. Whereas, when you're lying on your back ... what, you're expecting the baby to crawl out on its own accord? And if your baby is facing upward like mine, he gets stuck, and the only way out is by some external force, like a vacuum. Which hurts like hell and rips you from here to there and back.

Oh, but I had an epidural, so I didn't feel it (praise be!). Which was fine and dandy, until all the drugs wore off and I actually passed out on the hospital toilet due to the extreme pain.

What, I didn't tell you that story? Oh, boy. What a great time that was. Thankfully, a nurse was with me when I lost consciousness and she was able to summon a whole bunch of extra nurses to wake me up with smelling salts.

And you all know how we couldn't "special hug" for months after because my nether regions were so jacked up. That was a little bit stressful, to say the least.

Yeah, I obviously have some pent-up frustration and regret over my second child's birth. Well, actually, the birth was great. Painless, and I didn't have to do any work. The aftermath? I would have preferred to relive junior high. Twice. Frizzy hair and all.

But I digress. The one thing I loved most about the film was the ending: director Abby Epstein's birth. She was pregnant at the time of filming and decided she wanted a home birth with a midwife, like Ricki had. But in the end, her placenta quit functioning and her baby was essentially starving. He was breech (not head first) and had to be delivered by C-section. He was premature so he needed the NICU. She said she would have loved to have a home birth, but her baby needed those interventions or he may not have made it.

The film did NOT condemn necessary interventions. It did not condemn obstetricians nor hospitals, as they have their place in the medical community. It didn't really condemn anyone -- it simply praised the old school way of doing things -- drug-free, midwife-assisted, at home -- and backed up its accolades with statistics and facts. And that's why I liked it.

So, if you have Netflix, you can watch this film streaming. Or, if you don't, you can probably borrow it from your local library. But any and every woman planning to have a baby has got to see this film. Even if you're not planning to have babies or if you're done having babies, it's worth watching.

I'm not saying I'm going to have my next baby in a tub with a midwife. I'm not quite ready to think about my next child's birth yet. I think I need to come to terms with my past experiences and go from there. But, I feel enlightened now. And knowledge is power.

In the end, it doesn't matter how the baby comes out, but mothers should know the ins and outs of all birthing methods and be prepared to deal with the consequences. It's our right and responsibility to know.