The Business of Being Born

Yesterday a friend and I watched The Business of Being Born on DVD. I’ve wanted to see this film for a while – I was planning to put it on my Christmas list. So I jumped at the chance to visit and watch it together.

Red Envelope Entertainment

I have a confession to make. Jacob’s birth was very smooth and fast, and I was able to do it without any medications or interventions, assisted by a fabulous midwife. It was exactly what I could have hoped for. And yet I’ve been feeling a little shell-shocked. It was too fast, and I was sort of afraid and in pain and I didn’t really want to do it. I realize I sound kind of whiny, but there it is.

Watching this film was actually very healing for me. Seeing a homebirth midwife in labour herself, clearly wanting to be anywhere else and doing anything else was awesome. It reminded me that we all struggle with birth, because it’s hard. But in the end these experiences are our own, and they are whole and authentic as they are.

Red Envelope Entertainment

Overall, I found the film to be entertaining, educational, and well-balanced. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who is pregnant, or just wants to learn more about the history and culture of birth. Although our medical system is somewhat different in Canada and the issues are not exactly the same, childbirth is still childbirth, and so it’s relevant for women pretty much everywhere.

That, and there are some pretty great births in this movie. Watching them reminded me of this great miracle that is new life. Those who are fortunate enough to take part in it, well, there’s nothing better than that.

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