What we watch about birth and babies can deeply impact us. What we know is that what people in typical American culture view as they grow up doesn't usually represent real, physiologic birth nor show us what our options are. Don't rely on that video you saw in high school, births you've seen in various movies and TV shows or even the random videos you found on the internet--many just provide fodder to fuel our fears, not information to empower us to make decisions about how we want OUR birth to be. Watch the film below and prepare to be impressed with information, options and then use your voice to make your choices known. And if your care providers don't support your choices, find providers who will (we here at Babies in Common can make recommendations, just reach out to info@babiesincommon.com).
The Business of Being Born is one of the most important film about birth in our time. Those of us here at Babies in Common recommend it to ALL expectant parents. It's important to see. Including birth partners and even family members. Please, watch it!
Click below to rent it on YouTube.
Then they made More Business of Being Born.
Click here to watch the whole movie!
Orgasmic Birth is a classic birth film, very helpful to watch to get an idea of how birth works and what is normal! And don't worry, it's not all about orgasm (although if it was, how bad could that be?!?)
Click here to watch the whole film!
Why Not Home? is a movie that interviews medical doctors about their choice to give birth at home.
Why Not Home? Trailer from Jessicca Moore on Vimeo.
Need/Want a Cesarean? Consider asking your care providers for a family-centered Cesarean. Some hospitals have done many and are happy to arrange it if they can get certain care providers together for your particular birth-day and others just don't do them. If they don't find one that will arrange it for you! This video was created for care providers, so keep that in mind as you watch it AND note that it's graphic, it does show the Cesarean birth, but in a much more gentle way than is typically done here in the US.
This video shows how physiologic birth happens with a monkey and even how curious the teenager monkey is (and supportive) and how supportive the "midwife monkey" is to the birthgiver. Amazing, we think!
Microbirth is a fascinating look at how the process of birth actually impacts our gut health and therefore lifelong immunity.
The Natural Cesarean is a film made for obstetrical providers (but helpful for families who are planning Cesareans). While not all hospitals in New England offer all aspects that are included in this film, it's worth asking and if you really want more of these aspects, switch to a hospital that DOES provide them!
Being Dad USA features dads all across the US, including 6 dads from here in Massachusetts, along with 2 local childbirth educators (one is Jeanette from Babies in Common!) and one Massachusetts midwife. A great movie to get conversations going between parents, for sure!
Click here to watch the whole film.
Infant circumcision is something done rather routinely only in the United States and Israel. Find out the biological purpose of the foreskin, the reason why infant circumcision was introduced in the first place (spoiler: to prevent masturbation), why the rest of the world leaves boys penises intact and why you should consider this for your babies, too. This film is an academic presentation by a professor from Georgetown University.
Unacceptable Levels examines the results of the chemical revolution of the 1940s through the eyes of affable filmmaker Ed Brown, a father seeking to understand the world in which he and his wife are raising their children. To create this debut documentary, one man and his camera traveled extensively to find and interview top minds in the fields of science, advocacy, and law. Weaving their testimonies into a compelling narrative, Brown presents us with the story of how the chemical revolution brought us to where we are, and of where, if we’re not vigilant, it may take us.