Interesting new film about the effect of childbirth practices on newborn babies. It’s pretty extreme stuff, but I think there is a lot of truth to it. We need to question the way babies are treated right after birth. It makes sense that those first few moments are really important, and the panic mode of a hospital birthing room right after the birth is not calming or peaceful. The baby is also poked, prodded, gooped up and jostled immediately after birth. I love that midwives but the baby directly on the breast immediately after the birth. This seems to crucial to me for bonding.
I do wish they had featured some partners who weren’t men in the film, but it’s not surprising they didn’t. Sigh.
Via DoulaMomma
Radical Doula 
I was also a bit troubled by the emphasis on it being a birth film for *fathers* specifically. Though it does not diminish for me the importance of the topic, I do wish there was some recognition that not all babies are born to a mother + father pair. This is just the trailer – maybe the actual film will be more expansive.
Thank you for posting my film trailer.
I hope you’ll visit my blog(s) .. http://www.theothersideoftheglass.blogspot.com and http://www.hospitalbirthdebate.blogspot.com.
I appreciate your comments and thoughts about the focus on fathers. I am answering these questions on my blog.
The film is first of all, about the need for society to embrace — remember– that the human baby is a sacred, conscious, feeling, experiencing, remembering baby, and it is about healing males/the masculine in our society. I hope you’ll check out my blog and read more. It is so more than it first appears to be.
I will be on the radio Saturday at 5 pm Central time on http://www.kopn.org. You can stream it live or listen later to a podcast in the archives.
Thanks, again.
Janel
this is a note from Jesca, co-host of Kore Issues on KOPN 89.5:
The gifted and courageous creator of this poignant film, Janel Martin, will be one of our guests this Saturday at 5pm on Kore Issues (www.kopn.org 89.5 fm).
It is my sentiment that every adult should watch this film, regardless of their gender or whether they will be, are, or are not a parent, regardless of their age or stage in life. We all were given life by the combination of a man and woman. We were all at one time an infant. We carry with us all we have experienced from conception whether consciously or subconsciously.
This accepted ignorance or “conscience comforting” idea of thinking babies don’t remember or that what happens in womb/in labor/in birth and there after does not continually effect the parents and their relationship with their young has got to end. To me what this film addresses is a big part of the kore reason so many families are falling apart everywhere today. The family is the microcosm of the world human family so healing and changing this is crucial to us all in this world. If one part of humanity is ailing the rest is not the same nor can it reach it’s potential.
This is needed and I am compelled to let everyone I know, know about it. I highly recommend you watch this trailor now, and the film when it is completed. As with anything, it is your choice whether you watch it, what you think of it, and whether you share it with others or not. If you do watch it and you are not a robot, prepare for the strong chance that you will feel many different emotions (I now I did) and to probably be awakened to a new understanding of what is happening in regard to this issue (I know I was).
Finally, a birth film for men. A film to empower fathers to protect their babies. By L. Janel Martin
Thank you Janel, you are a true Katalyzt ; ) and you honor us all by your devoted service.
what really got to me was the way that the trailer was so focused on triggering the “protect” aspect of fatherhood/masculinity. there was a way that it was really working to appeal to this hyper-masculine idea of fatherhood. I don’t think the entire film will be more expansive, because I think that the baseline rationale for the film is that fathers need to be empowered (as manly men!) to step in and protect their wives and babies from the abuse of the medical system.
problematic, yet interesting.
Crabgrass:
I hope you’ll go to my blog, http://www.theothersideoftheglassthefilm.blogspot.com and http://www.hospitalbirthdebate.blogspot.com and read about why the filmis for men and about men.
Is there actually a film out? the blog doesn’t make it clear
what is its exact name?
“The other side of the glass”?
“Finally, a birth film for men”?
Where can I get hold of it?
Thanks