Rosemary Birthing Home Blog

SPECIAL BENEFIT SCREENING OF “THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN”

Directed by Abby Epstein, Executive Produced by Ricki Lake

ON: MAY 3rd, 2008

LOCATION & TIME: Lakewood Ranch Cinemas, 5:00 p.m.

TICKETS: $15 / FREE for Expecting Mothers

The Florida Friends of Midwives is pleased to announce a special benefit screening of:

THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN

A DOCUMENTARY FILM DIRECTED BY ABBY EPSTEIN AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY RICKI LAKE

In 2001, actress Ricki Lake gave birth to her second child with the assistance of a midwife in her home bathtub. She made the choice for a home birth after she experienced unwanted medical interventions while delivering her first child at a hospital birthing center. Ricki succeeded in giving birth on her own terms and the experience was so unexpectedly empowering and life-changing that she felt every woman should know what they could be missing out on.

Ricki approached filmmaker Abby Epstein to collaborate on a film that would examine birth culture in America, and ask questions about the way American women have babies.

Footage of women having babies punctuates THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN. Each experience is unique; all are equally beautiful and equally surprising. Giving birth is clearly the most physically challenging event these women have ever gone through, but it is also the most emotionally rewarding.

Along the way, Epstein conducts interviews with a number of obstetricians, experts and advocates about the history, culture and economics of childbirth. The film’s fundamental question: should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potential medical emergency?

As Epstein uncovers some surprising answers, her own pregnancy adds a very personal dimension to THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN, a must-see movie for anyone even thinking about having a baby!

This film premiered at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival and was released in select theaters in January 2008. It became available on Netflix in February 2008. The filmmakers are allowing these local screenings to help raise awareness on the topic and support birth organizations on a local level. All proceeds from this screening will go to benefit The Florida Friends of Midwives and the International Caesarean Awareness Network.

For more information go to www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com or www.flmidwifery.org.

Birth is a miracle, a rite of passage, a natural part of life. But birth is also big business.

Compelled to explore the subject after the delivery of her first child, actress Ricki Lake recruits filmmaker Abby Epstein to question the way American women have babies.

The film interlaces intimate birth stories with surprising historical, political and scientific insights and shocking statistics about the current maternity care system. When director Epstein discovers she is pregnant during the making of the film, the journey becomes even more personal.

Should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potentially catastrophic medical emergency?

Join us at Rosemary Birthing Home 6:30 Thursday evenings for organizational/planning meetings if you would like to be involved.

Visit the following websites for more information.

www.flmidwifery.org

www.flmidwifery.blogspot.com/2008/01/join-ffom-today.html

www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com

Holly Riley will guide you through how to use cloth diapers every first Wednesday at 11:00am.

Tami Fowler, one of the Rosemary Birth Assistants gave birth to OWEN JOHN KENDALL FOWLER 10/22/07. OWEN WAS BORN AT HOME IN THE WATER. BELOW IS A PICTURE FROM TAMI’S BLESSINGWAY. BABY PICTURES WILL COME SOON! ANYONE INTERESTED IN BRINGING FOOD TO THE FOWLER FAMILY DURING THIER BABYMOON LET US KNOW!

Come join baby wearing group at Rosemary Birthing Home. 10am every first Wednesday of the month.
~Learn about the benefits of wearing or continuously carrying your baby.
~Find out about the different types of baby carriers and learn how to use them.
~Learn how you can take care of your baby and have both hands free.
~Meet other parents and make lifelong friendships.
For more information call Tanya at 962-4068 or email go_romanovs@yahoo.com

Rosemary Birthing Home will be hosting an elimination communication group every Monday 11:30 am at the birthing home. The group is free and open to the public. Please come by and share your experience, ask questions, and learn what other moms, dads, and caregivers are doing to understand thier babies cues to go to the bathroom. Diapering is less necassary with elimination communication!

Rosemary Birthing Home has a beautiful new birth tub. We love waterbirth! Baby Kane was the first baby to enjoy our new tub. Maybe your baby will enjoy the gentle calm beginning that waterbirth offers. We hope so!

8/31/07 Baby Rain was born in the tub and then enjoyed a gentle bath.