This movie had a lot of different statistics and information regarding birth that surprised me. First of all, I was surprised by how widely birth practices differed in the United States and other developed countries. The Business of Being Born stated that midwives administered 70-90% of births in Europe and Japan (Epstein, 2008). Meanwhile, midwives took part in less than 8% of the births in the United States (Epstein, 2008). This statistic means that Americans are largely influenced by doctors and hospital protocol when it comes to planning and giving birth. Moreover, this suggests that Americans are more likely to give birth with the help of medical intervention. Accordingly, the movie claimed that medical intervention is often unnecessary and doctors tend to “search for a pathology where it doesn’t exist” (Epstein, 2008). This assertion means that hospital births are not only very different and even contrary to the natural birth experience, but they are likely to include negative repercussions for future mothers. Statistics further underpin this belief, illustrating that the United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among developed countries (Epstein, 2008). This information was surprising because I have always believed that the United States was one of the leaders in the field of healthcare.
What registered my attention while watching this movie is that hospitals provide women with the most uncomfortable position of giving birth. The lithotomy position is more painful and makes it harder to push, which slows down the birthing process. Vertical birth is not only better because it is more natural but because it is more effective than the lithotomy position. Another interesting piece of information was the belief that doctors induced labor to fit their schedules. Finally, it was interesting to learn that the popularity of cesarean sections is currently on the rise with one in three women opting for this birthing procedure. This tendency is supported by celebrities who take pride in their C-sections and by doctors who are open to providing elective cesareans.
Having learned that most doctors are “not trained in normal births” and that 90% of women are liable to be induced, I believe that birth in the United States is an unnatural process for the most part (Epstein, 2008). Therefore, patients must understand the limits of a hospital environment. I would recommend my patients, friends, and family members learn more about their health and are cautious when planning their birth. In addition, I would urge them to look for a conscientious and well-rounded practitioner who understands the pluses of natural birth and is ready to function as a backup in case of an emergency.
The benefits of having a Certified Nurse Midwife deliver the baby include the possibility of more options. While hospital births are usually routine processes that end in the medical inducement or even a cesarean, a CNM provides patients with a variety of ways to give birth. By giving birth at home, in a familiar environment, women are more likely to feel relaxed and take their time while giving birth. Furthermore, CNMs provide a greater chance for patients to bond with their newborns since the possibility of being separated is less than in a hospital. Due to the lesser degree of intervention and the possibility of more options, I would choose a CNM for my partner.
Reference
Epstein, A. (Director). (2008). The Business of Being Born. Web.