Save Independent Midwifery Campaign - Business of Being Born screening

Business of Being Born screening - Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes Independent Midwives recently organised a successful film evening at the Chrysalis Theatre, Willen with about 75 midwives, student midwives, antenatal teachers, men and women attending.

The film entitled "The Business of Being Born" was produced by the American chat-show host Ricki Lake and filmmaker Abby Epstein; it questions the way American women have babies and clearly depicts the difference between normal childbirth and "high-tec", medicalised care. Epstein conducts interviews with a number of obstetricians, experts and advocates about the history, culture and economics of childbirth. The film’s fundamental question is 'should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every birth be treated as a potential medical emergency?'

Organiser, and midwife, Valerie Gommon said "Giving birth is clearly the most physically challenging event these women have ever gone through, but it is also the most emotionally rewarding; our aim was to get women thinking about the type of birth they wish to have - for example to consider a homebirth or waterbirth." Michelle Twiselton added "of course induction and epidurals have there place, but the film clearly showed that there are consequences to any interference in the birth process".

A lively panel discussion took place after the film and panelists included Naomi Whitelaw, Consultant Obstetrician at Milton Keynes General, Jane Evans (an Independent Midwife) and Tamara Donn (a Childbirth Educator).

It is Government policy to encourage more homebirths - the homebirth rate in Milton Keynes is currently about 2% whereas Independent Midwives have a homebirth rate of around 70%. Valerie and Michelle - both Independent midwives - plan to continue to campaign for improvements to local maternity services and can be contacted via www.independentmidwives.org.uk. If you missed the Milton Keynes showing, you can still catch the film on 10th June at Northampton - www.saveindependentmidwifery.org

Photos by www.eobphotography.co.uk