Thank you Ricki Lake for bringing so much attention and media to the homebirth issue. I haven’t yet seen The Business of Being Born (I’m seeing it tomorrow so I will report back) but it certainly has gotten some significant attention in the press.
On Good Morning America they had a segment yesterday on Do-It-Yourself (DIY) births, or unattended homebirths. You can watch here. It’s a really good segment, until the a-hole doctor goes off an a fetal personhood tirade.
“What women need to appreciate is that the few hours of labor are the most dangerous time during the entire lifetime of the soon-to-be-born child,” said Dr. Frank Chervenak, Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. “Because of this, I would argue … all soon-to-be born children have a right to access immediate Caesarean delivery, and women who are denying this right are irresponsible.”
This kind of thing is EXACTLY why birthing rights activists NEED to work with reproductive rights and abortion rights people. These kinds of arguments, which basically imply that the unborn fetus has rights that trump the needs, desires and even health of the mother. Also framing childbirth as the most dangerous hours of an unborn childs life is problematic to say the least. And this guy isn’t even a pediatrician! He’s an OB-GYN. Oh sorry, I thought their concern was supposed to be the MOTHER. Nevermind how much people think medical interventions are hurting fetuses and mothers.
There was also a review in the NYTimes of the movie, which is super positive and supportive of home birth! That’s exciting. Also here you can see the trailer of another forthcoming film about homebirth in NYC.
Radical Doula 
I just went and saw the movie tonight and it was incredible. We had a brief Q&A with a couple of the filmmakers (though Ms. Lake and the director were both at home “sick as dogs,” Ricky did manage to speak the crowd via a cell phone held to a mic :)) and it was… well… great.
I’d just like to let people know that if you don’t get a chance to see this in public somewhere soon Netflix will have it available in early February. I’ve already put it in my queue and can’t wait to see it!