The Business of Being Born

The Business of Being Born is an amazing documentary look at birth in America. It addresses the fact that childbirth in America has turned into a corporate business machine leaving us with one of the worst infant mortality rates in the world. This film also probes the reasons why women in America feel they must deliver in a hospital setting with massive, and often life threatening, interventions. Birth is not a disease, but somehow (primarily male) Dr.’s have convinced most U.S women that their body’s are not capable to the most basic of human functions…give birth. Ricky Lake and her friend Abby Epstein created a beautiful and poignant film about the power women hold, how it was taken away, and how we are slowly gaining it back.
You can watch it free on Netflix, and see the trailer here.Â
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Jennifer Lea writes for jlogged.com, and is co-owner of 









March 28th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I thought that was Klancy.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Oh my gosh, I thought that was you when this first opened on my screen. I’ve been wanting to see this…
March 28th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
P.S. How do I watch it free on Netflix? Are you talking about the free trial period for a new membership?
March 29th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Netflix has a “watch it now” function (if you are a member.) I had this film in my queue and then realized I could click a button and watch it on my laptop. Pretty nifty.
March 30th, 2008 at 10:39 am
O.K., cool. I’ve been thinking about joining and this is even more reason to…
April 9th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Hey Jen,
I just watched The business of being born. What an awesome film.
I remember my mom telling me that she had my two brothers at home, and then in 1961 when she had my sister at the hospital, they tried to strap her legs together so she wouldn’t deliver until the Dr. arrived.
Mom, being the Wva. farm woman that she was kicked the nurse and delivered my sister into her own hands.
She said they were all so mad at her, they treated her horrible the rest of her stay.
April 9th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Cool story Vick. Yo’ mama rocks!