How did the deeply personal experience of bringing life into the world become a highly medicalized industry? In the business of being born, director Abby Epstein and executive producer Ricki Lake pull back the curtain on the modern maternity care system to reveal how financial and institutional pressures shape the way we deliver babies.
This eye-opening documentary about birth examines the stark contrast between natural childbirth practices and the highly medicalized hospital approach common in the United States. By exploring the history and economics of the business of childbirth, the film challenges the prevailing cultural assumption that birth is an emergency waiting to happen rather than a natural, physiological process. Through intimate footage of home and water births, this ricki lake business of being born project offers a grounded, compassionate look at how midwifery and personalized care can transform the birthing experience.
Historically, childbirth was a community-centered event guided by the wisdom of midwives who understood the natural rhythms of labor. As the practice transitioned into hospital settings throughout the twentieth century, the focus shifted toward clinical efficiency, standardized protocols, and costly medical interventions. This shift has led to a dramatic rise in Cesarean sections, inductions, and epidurals, often prioritizing hospital schedules over the natural progression of labor. As a landmark release, the business of being born documentary continues to spark vital conversations about maternal health, obstetric practices, and the rights of pregnant individuals to choose their own path. By analyzing these systemic challenges, the film empowers families to question routine interventions and explore alternative care models that honor the body's innate wisdom. Understanding these dynamics allows expectant parents to approach labor with confidence, clarity, and a deeper connection to the birthing process.
Begin your exploration into the modern maternity system and discover the power of informed choice.
