So last night, I watched the Ricki Lake/Abby Epstein documentary, the Business of Being Born on the internet.

http://quicksilverscreen.com/watch?video=45525

I thought it was interesting. I didn’t find it amazing as some people wrote in the review, but I will say it is a lot of food for thought. I thought it was an interesting commentary on the culture of childbirth in America and how it has become so medicalized. I wonder how we will look back on this time period in 30 or 40 years. I think the film definitely had a mission/vision/slant they want presented and that was okay with me, that’s what documentaries are usually about.

The only thing that did rub me the wrong way about the movie was the statement that mothers who deliver babies with the assistance of drugs do not produce the natural body oxytocin and therefore miss out on the crucial bonding after the birth (this is a general paraphrase of what a doctor said in an interview–it’s not a direct quote). Oxytocin is the love/bonding hormone and I understand scientifically that its production would be altered in a medicated state. But, I know plenty of women who experienced intense feelings towards their babies after they were born, even with an epidural.

I think what I took away from this is how important it is for me to think about what I want for the birth and to have many open conversations with my OB as we get closer to the due date. I need to be involved in getting information so that I can make these important decisions. I also think that I need that information to be able to respond to situations that can potentially arise during labor, so I don’t feel overwhelmed or disappointed. Empowering women isn’t just about giving them natural home births, but also about giving women the right to make decisions about their body without judgment, whether that includes drugs or not.