MovieChat Forums > The Business of Being Born (2008) Discussion > This movie has a hidden agenda

This movie has a hidden agenda

posted 15 years ago by trompos
18 replies | jump to latest

This is more liberal garbage coming from Hollywood. The movie is SUPPOSED to be about having a home birth but let's dissect it.

The title is "the BUSINESS of being born" and the movie goes ON AND ON about how hospitals are a business ( Really? AH, well, that's just WRONG, you should just GIVE things away, that's the ticket)how doctors charge several times more than a midwife, blah blah. Then they go on about how the US has more infant mortality than (fill in Scandinavian country here)what they fail to mention is that these countries don't have a lower rate of IM and a longer life expectancy because of their free healthcare (which has broken the economy of all Scandinavian nations including Sweden) it has a lot to do with the small size of the nation and the culture (read diet) Scandinavians have a much better diet than Americans and that is why they live longer and have healthier babies, that has NOTHIGN to do with free healthcare Scandinavians have been this way for centuries before free healthcare.

Did these people ever stop to think that the doctor costs (what 3 times as much) as a midwife because he or she has a much better education, more know how and better equipment than a midwife? That he or she is better qualified to deal with a difficult birth, or any problems that may arise, that their medical degree makes them better able to step in to save a mother or child's life (or both) if that need arises where a midwife would have to call 911 and get a doctor in the case of a REAL emergency?

Who ever said giving birth in a filthy plastic pool you filled with tap water while you moan naked in the kitchen is safer was a moron.

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[–] profane77 15 years ago

It seemed to me that the agenda wasn't really hidden at all. The people in this move were just as guilty of fear-mongering as they allege the medical industry is. If you want people to be able to make an informed decision about the way they birth their children, at least try to be a little even handed.

Also, the constant digs at women who choose to give birth in the hospitals were pretty weak. When Rikki Lake said soemthing like "There are actually women who don't care how the baby comes out as long as it's safe," I thought "And what's wrong with that?"

[–] trompos 15 years ago

you're very right. They spoke of these women as if they're morons and as if they don't care about their baby. As if going to a woman who's one step away from being a witch doctor with a basket of herb I think people like my wife and I who will have our baby in a nice clean sterile hospital are more responsible and caring. It seems to me many of these women don't care about the baby as much as they care about being hip and new agey. (that was unfair, as unfair as their statements)

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[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] trompos 15 years ago

"common sense tells us to NOT LAY DOWN to give birth"

did they actually say that in the movie? I don't know how that's common sense. So I guess they want women to stand up while giving birth? Because Rikki Lake (she's about as big as a lake) looked like she was sooooo comfortable hunched over her kitchen counter. Women have been having babies for centuries while lying down. Amazing what these people come up with.

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[–] perennial08 13 years ago

Yes, it's around the 16 minute mark. The natural position is squatting. French (male) doctors invented the lying flat thing in the 17th century thing because it's easier for a standing doctor, but much more difficult for the mother and her pelvis.

This movie sucks and is full of misinformation, btw.

[–] brittannie19 10 years ago

Do you poop lying down? Sounds rather uncomfortable doesn't it?

[–] Aimless_Small_Potatoes 15 years ago

I don't know how you think the movie made you feel guilty for having a C-section because your twins were breech. The WOMAN WHO MADE THE FILM was pregnant and had a C-section because her baby was breech. Right on camera.

How did you miss that?

If you scheduled a C-section in advance because you wanted to PICK the day you had your baby or so you could have a tummy tuck afterwards (someone in the film called it 'designer birth' or something) - yeah...they may have made you feel guilty for that.

But if you schedule your baby's birth and choose unnecessary major surgery instead of doing what your body is supposed to do...maybe you should feel guilty.

If your baby is breech or there is some other medical reason to have a c-section, the movie didn't say there was ANYTHING wrong with that.

Also - it IS common sense not to lay down to give birth. It is called GRAVITY.

"I think I must have one of those faces you can't help believing." Norman Bates

[–] perennial08 13 years ago

Not just gravity. Mother's pelvis, which has bones that become loose close to delivery, has to separate and allow the baby's head through. This is much harder lying down.

[–] theprophecyistrue 15 years ago

I don't really understand why people keep using the word "liberal". It isn't really a political issue, and I doubt many people who have had children - regardless of where or how - would consider their method of birth related to politics or media.

Ricky Lake has made this movie from her perspective, and it is certainly biased. Perhaps she doesn't do her case any favors by not presenting different types of midwives. I live in a very conservative area and probably know more Mormon midwives and homebirthers than from any other background. They are not exactly Lake's "new age hippies", lol.

On a different note, one thing that is essential for a smooth, unmedicated birth is movement. There is no given position that is "right" for labor and birth, but it is far more comfortable to move and change positions frequently, and it helps the baby move down into the birth canal if the mother can move with it. It's also a lot less painful to keep pressure off your back during contractions.

The idea that you should lie on your back during labor is very "modern" (most common within the last century), and western. Even today, most people around the world give birth upright.

[–] trompos 15 years ago

Well that was my point, it's not a political issue but this movie took it there. I mean the constant talk about other countries and their success with home births, and the leftist view of profit driven organizations, as if it were a sin. I had a slant.

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[–] segamon 14 years ago

Trompos, I appreciate your perspective. I just watched this movie and wanted to share my perspective as well. This movie did a great injustice to the actual "business of being born." It never described differences between a nurse midwife, a regular midwife, a doula, and OB/GYN.

A nurse midwife has a masters degree in that specific field. Nurse midwives are also nurse practitioners. This is a highly educated field which is evidence based driven. In my opinion, this is one of the best people to consult with during normal pregnancy and delivery.

A midwife who is not a nurse does not possess the same amount of education but has instead attended specialized courses only to help the person qualify for a license. There are also some lay midwifes which are educated through work experience only.

A doula is a representative of the pregnant woman and does not usually directly give care. Most of the time the role of the doula is only supportive.

An OB/GYN... well, you know what they are.

I wish that this movie could have at least done this very simple task. Yet... nope. Those who are interested in the use of a nurse midwife or birthing center must look up almost all of the information needed. The information is not in this documentary.

I agree that childbirth is a natural process and should be treated more like this, but this movie does a horrible job at arguing it's case.

[–] ats02171 14 years ago

think the point of the Documentary is not tell people what they should do but i show women there are other options. No matter how informative or fare balanced a documentary is it's still a movie. Women should be looking finding out what is best for them and do the research themselves.

[–] ptesinge 14 years ago

Trompos,
With all due respect, YOU are the one who is making this a political issue, and only you.

How does giving comparative statistics from other industrialized (= the most similar to us) nations make it "liberal" whatever? I totally agree that this documentary was extremely one-sided and I did not agree with everything it says, however, how would you suggest one have a discussion about birth practices we don't use very much if you don't look at places that DO use those practices? Is your idea of a "non-liberal slanted" [quotes mine] discussion one where you don't look at the issue outside your own little world (when the point IS that here relatively little is known about it)? That's absurd.

As for the birth-position, you're right that women have been lying down for centuries. But guess what they've been doing for MILLENIA? Squatting. Of course I'm not suggesting you shouldn't lie down. (Personally I dont' care what you do with your own birth.) I'm just saying...I'm not sure why you'd mock the mere concept that lying down isn't the most natural based on hundreds of years of habit vs 1000s.

As one sided as the film's opinion was, nobody said anything about politics, conservatives or liberals. As someone pointed out here, I bet a lot of midwifery is most practices amongst particular religious groups (i.e. Mormons, Amish, Christian Scientists, etc). The political bent is all you.

[–] Sunflower017 14 years ago

Well said ptesinge!! I hate how some people always try to turn EVERYTHING into a political issue. Get over it! Stop inventing these claims of a "hidden agenda" It's crazy.

[–] sharkgirlloveschewbacca 9 years ago

That's because out of all the developed countries, America is near the bottom for maternal and infant mortality rates.

[–] Lonesdale 14 years ago

JERK!

[–] adhdrd 13 years ago

Wow- I have no idea how you came to the conclusions you did. Never was the price of health care or the socialist slant of other countries brought into this. Their only comparison was that other countries used midwives and had more natural births than the US and, subsequently, they also had lower maternal/infant mortality rates.

They did, however, discuss the cost of hospital birthing vs. home birthing. The cost of a hospital birth experience does not only include the Dr's salary. You are also paying for any (unnecessary) medications and tests, plus the delivery and recovery room, plus all the nurses and support staff, the anesthesiologist and any surgery fees that go into many hospital births. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to see that paying just one (highly qualified) woman and utilizing your own home for delivery/recovery is a heck of a lot cheaper. You'd think insurance companies would encourage home birth via midwife just based on the amount of money they would save. Midwifery is business, too. Did you notice how they mentioned how difficult it was to stay in business because of the difficulties to get paid by insurances?

Also, they show a midwife actually encouraging the director of the film to go to the hospital during labor since she knew it was going to be a medical necessity. She was not anti-doctors or anti-hospitals in the least. She knew her limitations with a home birth and guided her patient to receive the best treatment for her circumstances. She ended up having an emergency C-section. Not what the mother wanted, but life happens. It's a responsible nurse who quickly assesses the situation and encourages the best for her patient; she did not encourage unnecessary interventions to accommodate the midwife's time frame. Medical intervention is sometimes needed, but not to the extent that it is utilized in this country at this time. That was the whole point of the film.

Quite honestly, I am seriously thinking about a home birth with my first child. I live 2 miles from a hospital in case something unexpected happens. I figured that the Lord created my body to handle this and I trust Him to get me through it. Also, I figure my home or a birthing tub is a heck of a lot more sanitary than a manger, yet that is the place where He decided His son should come into this world. Jesus turned out pretty ok, don't you think?

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[–] Susie-7 11 years ago

I have to argue your point a bit. While the healthier diet and such is no doubt a factor, that doesn't discount the role of health care accessibility. Free health care also means sufficient pre- and post- natal care, which reduces infant mortality. Canada has a better IM rate than the US despite the fact that we have the same crappy diet - but we do have universal health care. As for being a smaller country, well, as the stat is RATE and not INCIDENCE, I'm not really sure I follow the relevance.

And I think the point about money was not that doctors shouldn't get paid more - for all the reasons you mention - but that for the vast majority of births there is simply no need for them to cost three times as much. It's like paying for an engine overhaul when all you needed was an oil change and a seal replaced - we would all accuse the mechanic of gouging us for that and be irritated at the unnecessary repairs!