The Business of Being Born

lillaura4unme · March 2015

Hi, I'm a FTM at 28 and honestly for most of my life wasn't even considering having a baby. This board has been really great and I enjoy hearing everyone's very different experiences with pregnancy. I'm pretty nervous and stumbled across the film The Business of Being Born and the Netflix series, which goes into more details of natural child birth and the labor experience. Any thoughts on this? I never thought about the risks of C-section for otherwise healthy low-risk pregnancies, drugs given during labor and that sort of rushed hospital atmosphere. Or the maternity mortality, infant mortality rates in the US compared to other countries. It's scary to think about but I'd rather make informed decisions about childbirth. I'm 11wks5days btw.

barrelocarol · March 2015

Oooooh, I'll have to watch this!

mariessa02 · March 2015

Love the original documentary and the series they did to follow up. It is such a great series for women to see. I've always been in favor of natural child birth and after seeing these films I am an even bigger advocate for it and even more determined to do what I can to stick to my beliefs and births plan at the time I deliver :] The films also bring up very important points about the time directly after birth and how it should just be you baby and daddy... The bonding time is super important right after baby is born.

Jamilla9 · March 2015

Love the movie and series!! It helped start my research on natural childbirth and what I wanted my birth to look like. I eventually went with a midwife group and had a doula during delivery, got to use the tub to labor. It was awesome.

MrsPyrowiz · March 2015

I love the original documentary, I haven't seen the follow up series. Part of why I'm going with an unmedicated birth (unless intervention is 100% for baby's and my health) is from watching it. I also have physical issues that could make me a more likely candidate for complications with an epidural and I'd rather not risk it. The only thing that scares me about childbirth is the fact that I am a very tiny person.

kissthebunny · March 2015

Now I'm very interested! Thanks for sharing

AsYouWishButtercup · March 2015

Absolutely love the movie and series. Very informative. As a person learning to be a doula and a second time mom I've watched these many times. Great place to start an education about childbirth.

lillaura4unme · March 2015

@MrsPyrowiz I'm also leaning that way and I'm also concerned about my size. I'm not even sure if I'm a candidate. I had a confusing rushed experience at clinic with OBGYN and turns out they forgot to schedule my first prenatal appointment with the nurse and I just went straight into meeting doctor for 5 minutes. He's like you're fine. Ok fine I'll write you a prescription for nausea.

MrsPyrowiz · March 2015

Thank you, @etc35173! That's very encouraging.

And @lillaura4unme I can't believe you had that happen in an appointment. I went with a midwife and she's very supportive.

lillaura4unme · March 2015

@MrsPyrowiz they blamed it on an employee who was fired because she wasn't scheduling right. I went in for my first prenatal (took a half PTO day) and they said I needed another blood test to confirm its an active pregnancy. So once confirmation came in they scheduled me to just see doctor and get first ultrasound. I finally called last week to ask and found out they had accidentally skipped it. I'm due for genetics test this week and will hopefully get rescheduled so they can do an actual exam, look at medical history etc.

ForeverEverAfter · March 2015

I loved that documentary, I only saw part of the follow up, but it was good too. I'm in Canada where the c section statistic is a bit better, but still over the WHO recommendations. I did a lot more research after watching it. A lot of the routine procedures at the hospital I had #1 at were outdated. I was glad to be informed beforehand, so I could opt out of some of them.

sschwege · March 2015

etc35173 said:
Its definitely biased, all documentaries are. I think that if your intention is to have an unmedicated at home birth then it will probably be beneficial and help you to feel more comfortable with your decision. It is also important to be aware of what could happen, some otherwise healthy women will require C-sections for one reason or another.

The maternal and infant mortality rates in the US are higher than other countries but the statistic doesn't take into account that while the US counts all live births as live births, many European countries only count births after 22 weeks gestation and weighing more than 500g. This doesn't account for the entire difference but the number is less related to the actual birthing experience than to the raised number of preterm births that occur in the United States.

https://sm.stanford.edu/archive/stanmed/2013fall/article2.html

Find an OB

As much as I like 'The Business of Being Born" as sort of a starting out point in your journey it is biased as any documentary is and some things are misleading, such as the infant mortality rate sited. The US adheres to the guidelines set by the World Health Organization on what a 'live birth' is. So let's say a baby is born so early that it has no chance of survival, however it takes a single breath or shows any sign of life, then it should be classified as a 'live birth'. Other countries do not follow those strict guidelines which makes their numbers look better. So I agree with you on this.

Your 'find and OB' comment I have to disagree with you on. First of all, family medicine doctors deliver babies as well as certified nurse midwives who primarily (I think about 90%) deliver in hospitals. So there's that. Also there is evidence to suggest that a home birth with a trained MW in low-risk pregnancy is just as safe as a hospital birth. Now other studies seem to point to a higher infant death rate in HB, perhaps 2 to 3 times higher, which upon first reading sounds insanely high, but when you look at the absolute risk it is still extremely low making it a safe option. Of course for a multitude of reasons HBs are hard to study and nobody can say for certain, there are just too many factors at play. I chose a MW in a hospital because to me that seemed the best of both worlds a low-intervention birth with emergency help only seconds away. But no I don't think, "find an OB' is the best option for all women.

jenboston22 · March 2015

I also loved this documentary. It actually didn't change my personal decision to plan for help with the pain (likely epidural), but it was very interesting and very informative.

sschwege · March 2015

etc35173 said:
@sschwege to clarify I really don't discourage any woman from choosing an OB or a midwife so that wasn't my intention. My computer froze.

That makes a lot more sense! Your post started off so nice and informative and then spiraled into, something that read, "An OB should be your only option!" It really didn't fit with the rest of your post, so it makes sense that your computer froze

Glad everything turned out OK in the end with you and baby! My cousin-in-law had Pre-E with her first, induced at 36w. Her second pregnancy was uneventful and she went into spontaneous labor at 39ish weeks. Hopefully you will not have to worry about that this time.

bpv101283 · March 2015

I liked the documentary but think it can be misleading now that I've gone through birth at a hospital. My hospital birth was picture perfect. I was not treated any way but with the upmost respect and was given every option I could imagine. I think the key is being ready to accept that a birth plan may have to change at any moment. I can't tell you how many people had horror stories from hospital births or home births or whatever. I just count myself lucky that mine went so smooth.

LadyJane083 · March 2015

I like the movie especially for the positive "your body can do this"

I am using midwives at a free-standing birth center that is across the street from a hospital with a NICU in case of emergencies.

MrsPyrowiz · March 2015

lillaura4unme said:
@MrsPyrowiz they blamed it on an employee who was fired because she wasn't scheduling right. I went in for my first prenatal (took a half PTO day) and they said I needed another blood test to confirm its an active pregnancy. So once confirmation came in they scheduled me to just see doctor and get first ultrasound. I finally called last week to ask and found out they had accidentally skipped it. I'm due for genetics test this week and will hopefully get rescheduled so they can do an actual exam, look at medical history etc.

Oh my goodness, that sounds a little stressful. I hope it's all smooth sailing for you and baby from here on out!

Izzies · March 2015

I really enjoyed the video! I saw before the birth of my first and in hind sight wish I had hired a doula to advocate for me at the hospital. I was very vocal about not wanting pitocin but the nurses were very pushy and made me feel like I HAD to have it for the safety of my baby.
I had to have a emergency c-section because my daughter became stuck and her heart rate dropped. Though I argued and fought and cried about not having the c-section it was obviously necessary as my daughter was not breathing when they were finally able to get her out.
I can't help but feel that if I had not had the pitocin my body would have had time to progress. But maybe not who knows.

GingerPop79 · March 2015

I loved both the documentary and follow up series. They are what lead me and my SO to research about what options are available and we decided to use a midwife practice and will give birth in a birthing center that is within a hospital.

JenLovesDesign · March 2015

Funny! I just looked into that yesterday and started watching the series. However I found it really boring and the women were so annoying.

mariessa02 · March 2015

@JenLovesDesign that's funny :P Try the original, that's the one I've seen and one of the series episodes (the one on doulas, birth centers and c-sections) I tried another episode and turned it off. The info in the original documentary is really good and I also enjoyed the episode on doulas. It isn't very highly entertaining, but more informative & quality knowledge for future mamas, especially for us 1st timers!

jwebbbber45678 · March 2015

I was all about the epidural, then my friend just had a horrible experience with one. After watching this film, I am strongly considering switching to a midwife and a birthing center. I have such a low threshold for pain but the thought of being numb through the whole experience and having multiple interventions frightens me as well. It also seems more natural to squat as opposed to lying on your back. I have more research and thinking to do.

WDDCH · March 2015

If people watch the documentary to the end they'll see that it ends in an emergency and necessary cesarean. They could have left that part out of their "biased" documentary but they chose to include it. To show that emergencies do happen and to be grateful we do have the technology to save women and babies *when necessary*. Also note they are not just pro-midwife. They had many OBs they trusted as well.

The movie goes into great detail to show that the "cascade of interventions" can increase the chances of needing a non-emergent or emergent cesarean.

I had two epidural births and one epidural-free birth before I finally watched the original. It served to confirm a lot of things in my heart that led to my third birth being intervention-free. I had my fourth at a birth center and my fifth at home.

This sixth baby is also going to be born at home, if all is well. I will do anything I can to reduce the risks of needing cesarean. If it is absolutely needed then we are prepared for that, as some things do happen beyond our control (as shown at the end of the documentary). It's a great film! I have the second part of the series but haven't watched it yet.

Knottie01495548 · March 2015

After this doc and much more research we are doing a water birth at a birth center with a doula and a midwife. I can't wait

mill1020 · March 2015

I went to an initial screening of this several years ago, just as it was being released. Didn't feel that it was particularly accurate. Ricki Lake didn't impress me too terribly much, either, and to call it a documentary or "journalism" would be a stretch.

To be fair, at that point I'd already had several hospital births that were excellent experiences, and had felt very well cared-for by my OB (who, all in all, performed two ECVs on me so that I could have a vaginal birth with my 3rd child).

lillaura4unme · March 2015

@mill1020 I'm glad you had good experiences at the hospital. I'm really still researching but that's good to hear. I'm a journalist so my standards are a little different and I agree it's not journalism, however i feel it pretty accurately documents her specific experience and journey as she researched home births/midwives so I'd call it a documentary. If I go with hospital birth I hope my experience is like yours and I feel well-cared for by my OB. I appreciate your comment.

onewayticket · March 2015

I gave birth at a hospital, with an epidural. I only had 45 mins of active labor and felt aware the entire time. I actually felt more "present" once I received the pain medicine. Before that, I was in my own little world of contractions. My son was placed skin to skin on my chest and began nursing right away. Overall, a wonderful birthing experience. Thought I would share the other side of the coin.

lillaura4unme · March 2015

onewayticket said:
I gave birth at a hospital, with an epidural. I only had 45 mins of active labor and felt aware the entire time. I actually felt more "present" once I received the pain medicine. Before that, I was in my own little world of contractions. My son was placed skin to skin on my chest and began nursing right away. Overall, a wonderful birthing experience. Thought I would share the other side of the coin.

Thank you! Definitely appreciate your feedback.

crivera919 · March 2015

All I've got to say is that 4 of my friends have had babies in the last year. We all watched the business of being born. We all wanted a natural birth for our babies, but all 4 of my friends had to have pitocin and an epidural lol and have told me I should do the same! I'm going to heed the warning here. All of their babies were healthy, and since my baby is likely to be a freaking giant... I'm going to take the drugs and pray my baby and vagina are ok afterwards!

melewen · March 2015

Once you start researching each individual intervention I think you'll feel very strongly that you'd like to try natural.. Natural IS how we evolved right?! It only makes sense. I recommend a Bradley birthing class too--90% of students give birth unmedicated and you learn some truly amazing info. I'd love to chat more about going au natural if you like! I'm VERY passionate about the issue.

mill1020 · March 2015

@lillaura4unme, I guess by the strictest definition you may be able to argue for its being in that category. It's a factual record/report of her experience, yes. It's also incredibly sensationalist. For example, induction w/ pitocin is depicted as leading to an inevitable roller coaster (at this point there is literally a cartoon for illustration), culminating in unnecessary c-section. It is absolutely not the case that pitocin and induction ultimately equal c-section.

I honestly used to like Ricki Lake for her crappy '90's (and admittedly sensationalist) TV, but have lost respect for her to be producing something that's supposed to be a documentary--with so little integrity. Where's Jerry Springer when you need him? (Hah).

If you have an excellent doctor (and by all means, do your research and find one), she will do everything she can to give you the best possible birth for you and baby. Period.

egerere8 · March 2015

53 hours of consistent labor, a sheet white baby, and not remembering the first few weeks of my daughter's life..... natural was not worth it. We took a Bradley class and more than half of our 9 classmates had csection or serious interventions (two could have lost their babies) because they all went too long trying to get a too big baby out the natural way. If I could go back I would NEVER DO IT AGAIN. I honestly only remember a few moments of thst first month because I was awake for almost 5 straight days: in labor....then in the hospital with every intervention in the book after the natural route didn't work....all the while demanding we "stick to our (in hindsight-crazy) birth plan." I almost missed my baby's birth because it became an emergency csection thanks to all the Bradley birth plan coaching to avoid it at all costs. I absolutely do not believe the statistic that 90 percent of Bradley classes have natural birth. We know hundreds who did the class and almost half had interventions or c sections. I would take the class all over again for the info it provided and for the amazing life long friendships we made but not for the birth plan. I fully believe there are too many interventions but I still wish to this day we had seen natural as an option...not the only way...and taken swifter action to get her out by any means necessary. We are lucky ...so blessed...our baby was ok. She wasn't when she came out and it was because we waited so long trying to do it "naturally." We have modern medicine for a reason and should have taken it as seriously as we did all the other advice so we could feel prepared either way.

melewen · March 2015

@egerere8 you should really report your teacher to bradley because it sounds like your class is awful. ALL of my teachers students have gone without medication--aside from 2 who had necessary c sections--and she simply teaches that labor is good for the baby if you do need a section (rather than scheduling it). I guess it's nice to blame the method rather than finding a reasonable doctor and using logic but it's not very fair to a method which encourages proper eating, exercises, relaxation, and education.. Scapegoat I guess.

Unknown · March 2015

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Nutmegger2 · March 2015

knitttingmama said:

CRivera07 said:
All I've got to say is that 4 of my friends have had babies in the last year. We all watched the business of being born. We all wanted a natural birth for our babies, but all 4 of my friends had to have pitocin and an epidural lol and have told me I should do the same! I'm going to heed the warning here. All of their babies were healthy, and since my baby is likely to be a freaking giant... I'm going to take the drugs and pray my baby and vagina are ok afterwards!
It really doesn't matter how big your baby is (except for the extreme end obvi), the hardest part is birthing the head. You can have a 10lb baby with a small head. Oh and don't pay attention to the guesses given during late U/S about the baby's weight. Those are known to be inaccurate and are not a good indication of how labour will go.

People told me the same with my first... My final u/s 2 weeks before the birth said 9 lbs 5oz. I should have listened to her, my doc said no way. 8 and change. Even AFTER she was born, the 2 docs in OR guessed 8lbs14 oz and 9lbs4oz. After holding her! She was 9 lbs 14oz. The ultrasound tech nailed it and the docs were wrong.

However I agree on birthing a big baby. They let me push for 4 hours becuase they said I had the room in my pelvis. I did have an epidural, but after 2 hours pushing, they had essentially turned it off, so the last 2 were natural. Too bad she was stuck in the cord (not distressed, so they DIDNT realize) and we went to C. So I like to think I've pretty much had all the birth experiences!

Nutmegger2 · March 2015

Wow, @melewen You really reported me for a TOU violation for suggesting that as a FTM, you might not want to be so rigid and sure of how your birth will be? And that you should listen to the stories of experienced mothers who may have thought the same and found themselves with a different birth experience? That's REALLY low. You want to get me banned, go for it. You all can have your la la land for FTM who don't need to hear from us old hags who have been there. I'm honestly in shock,

barrelocarol · March 2015

@Nutmegger2 seems to be convinced she can pinpoint who reported her, even though it's anonymous and not instant.

Nutmegger2 · March 2015

Well, my comment was directed to her, and she clearly hates me, so walks like a duck, talks like a duck.

My comment was a perfectly reasonable thought that perhaps since she had not yet experienced childbirth, she may want to listen to experiences of others who may have also gone in with rigid, determined birth plans and had them not work out. Doing so can lead to lots of Disappointment. I can't think of who else would find that SO offensive as to report me, unless someone else has a personal vendetta and maliciously and falsely reported me.

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