More Business of Being Born (Giveaway!)
**This giveaway has ended. Thank you to all who entered -nearly 100 of you!- and I really hope you all get to see the film at some point.
Congratulations to the winner, Amber! Woot! Amber please contact me with your mailing address and we’ll get your prize shipped out.**
I’m six months into my third pregnancy and at this point, ‘baby talk’ is an equally passionate subject as food. My girlfriends can attest to the fact that I could talk birth and babies for hours at a time.
The third time around is every bit as exciting for me as the first pregnancy and although I have less (far less) time for reading and research, it is still a priority.
Imagine my delight when a PR rep for Ricki Lake contacted me recently and asked if I would be interested in reviewing her latest documentary series, More Business of Being Born.
Like millions of other women, I had watched The Business of Being Born, Ricki’s breakout documentary on the birthing crisis in America, and really enjoyed it. In fact, Danny and I had just recently watched it together and I gleaned even more from the film the second time around.
The timing couldn’t have been better for me to be introduced to the film’s follow-up series. It was as if all the research I was wishing I had time to do was already done for me and condensed into a tidy 4-DVD package. All I had to do was pop the corn and put my feet up.
I watched all four DVD’s last weekend. I cried. I laughed. I took notes. I formulated questions for my doctor. I booked an appointment to interview a doula.
This film touched on so many topics that I needed to learn about. For the first time, the term VBAC is in my vocabulary, as Mateo (my second) was a breech baby and delivered by scheduled C-section. I am an advocate of natural birth (Noah was an all-natural, drug-free delivery) and sincerely hope to avoid surgery this time around. MBOBB answered a lot of my questions regarding VBAC’s.
I’m incredibly thankful for this new, eye opening documentary on modern birth made by women for women.
Today ‘More Business of Being Born‘ premieres in L.A. and around North America (find a screening) and I’m here to tell you that it is a MUST SEE for expecting parents or future parents.
I’m giving away More Business of Being Born: The Complete Box Set at the bottom of the post, but first, read a little about what each film contains!
DVD #1: Down on The Farm: Conversations with Legendary Midwife Ina May Gaskin
Follow Executive Producer Ricki Lake and Director Abby Epstein to The Farm Community in Summertown, Tennessee, where pioneer midwife Ina May Gaskin talks candidly about the latest birth trends and the art of midwifery. Gaskin, who was featured in the original The Business of Being Born, sparked Lake’s initial interest in natural birth and has continued to inspire the filmmaking duo’s advocacy efforts.
DVD #2 – Special Deliveries: Celebrity Mothers Talk Straight on Birth
Featuring celebrity moms Laila Ali, Gisele Bundchen, Cindy Crawford, Alyson Hannigan, Melissa Joan Hart, Kellie Martin, Alanis Morissette, Christy Turlington-Burns and Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Special Deliveries is a collection of intimate birth stories from a diverse group of mothers. Whether they chose to deliver at a hospital, home or birthing center, these heartfelt and humorous testimonies speak to the lasting power of the birth experience.
True inspiration for any mother-to-be, this group of women trusted their bodies and intuitions, taking responsibility for their birth decisions even when things didn’t go according to plan. None of these courageous women has ever spoken on the record in such compelling detail, and, on this DVD, the filmmakers weave together their passionate narratives as a celebration of the journey to motherhood that will leave viewers with a renewed sense of amazement about the power of women.
DVD # 3 – Explore Your Options: Doulas, Birth Centers & C-Sections
The most comprehensive and educational DVD in the series, Explore Your Options offers birth-planning guidance around key topics such as the role of doulas (labor support specialists,) the advantages of birth centers and the alarming escalation of cesarean sections in the United States and Brazil.
Epstein and Lake talk to doulas about why their profession is currently booming and uncover why having a good doula can make-or-break the entire birth experience. They look at the ever-growing rates of inductions and c-sections, which have reached 50% in many US hospitals and more than 99% in some private hospitals in Brazil.
How “safe” are these cesarean surgeries, and what are the health implications for the mothers and babies? Explore Your Options examines the pros and cons of birth centers, described as a perfect middle ground between home and hospital.
DVD #4 – The VBAC Dilemma: What Your Options Really Are
The VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) has become a hot-button issue in the modern maternity care system, as one in three new mothers will give birth via cesarean section. Are all of these mothers then forced to undergo a repeat cesarean the next time around? Epstein and Lake posed that question to dozens of experts, determining the surprising truth about VBACs.
Giveaway!
Thanks to our friends at MBOBB, I have the complete DVD set to giveaway.
Giveaway Prize: 1 copy of More Business of Being Born: The Complete Box Set (4 DVD’s) Value: $59.99
To Enter the Giveaway: Leave a comment on this post. That’s it.
** This giveaway is now closed. A big thank you to all who entered!**
Giveaway will end in one week, on November 15 at 11:59. Good luck to all!
Count me in!!!
I'm hoping to become a mother in the next few years. It'd be great to start my research with these DVDs. Thanks for the giveaway!
I have a friend who's a doula in training, I'd love to give this to her! (I'm finished with having babies myself 🙂
I loved The Business of Being Born so I can't wait to see this one!
The Business of Being Born is excellent and I recommend it to every pregnant woman. I'm looking forward to seeing the next one! Go midwife assisted home births!
I'm expecting my first child and was already planning to watch the BOBB with my husband. I'd be very happy to watch the new series too — we have so much to learn!
I would love-love-love a copy of this…just found out we're expecting so I'm getting my education on! THANKS, Aimee!
I would LOVE a copy of this! *crosses fingers*
Wow, this would be amazing to have! Even if I don't win it, I'm going to find it and watch it. In about a year, we'll be planning for our third child, so I'd love to have this information and share it with my friends.
I've given birth to three babies (all girls) and each time was different. I love hearing about other women's experiences. Definitely need to watch this series!
I would LOVE to have this dvd set. I had a planned home birth that I was unable to see happen. I would love to watch this and share it with EVERYONE I KNOW!
I loved the first one, and would love this one too! I just had my first daughter and had midwives at a birth center until I needed to transfer to the hospital and have a c-section. I would love to watch the one on VBACs especially, as that's what I want for the next pregnancy!
What a great giveaway! I'm 6 months pregnant with my second, so the timing is perfect 🙂 I'll seek it out anyway, sounds really informative. Thanks!
I am so excited to see More Business of Being Born. The first documentary really changed the way I viewed birth.
I can not wait to watch this. The Business of Being Born changed my husbands whole view on birth and I'm grateful that he was finally on my side.
I would love to see these.
How cool! I would love to watch this series and share these DVDs with other women I know who are expecting.
Thanks! Thought the Business of Being Born was great- can't wait to see the new one.
That sounds really interesting!
The trailer has me hooked!
I would love this!!!
I'm in my 5th month with my 3rd also, and although I will deliver at a hospital, I love love love my midwives and the care and attention they give me!
I haven't seen the first movie yet, but as my husband and I are hoping to start a family very soon, they are on my must-watch list! I've heard very good things about this documentary, and coming from a traditional health-care background, I'm always anxious to learn more about the alternative side.
I kept meaning to watch the original film on Netflix but haven't got around to it. My sister is a labor and delivery nurse, and for a while, I entertained the idea of becoming a certified doula before life got in the way, so we talk about labor and delivery a lot. I think we would both love the entire series. If I happen to win, I will take it with me to Texas!
I'm looking so forward to watching this. I'm hoping to begin midwifery school next year and these movies are doing so much for women and birth!
Congrats on your pregnancy!
Congrats on your third! My first isn't due until January but he was a complete surprise! I was told I'd never have kids!
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Loved the first Business movie so I'm really excited to see these! We're trying for our second and I'd like to go a different route than the usual hospital birth.
I would absolutely love this DVD set!! I am currently a gestational surrogate pregnant with twins for great friends of ours. I had a boy for them 2 1/2 years ago and have 2 children of my own as well(7 and 6). I loved The Business of Being Born and was so excited when I saw that they were releasing MBOBB 🙂
Congratulations! As Maman to two girls, you're in for a treat 🙂 I watched The Business of Being Born when I was pregnant with my first in 2007 and loved loved loved it. My second was born in July and we had a doula with us which we really appreciated. I can't wait to see the follow up!
I'm very interested in seeing this, I learned a lot in the Buisness of Being Born but would really like to learn more as I continue to have children!
Would love to have these. A great resource!
Wow, would love this!
Business of Being Born totally inspired me to have an all natural, drug free birth. I can't wait to see the new films!
Congrats on your third little one! I would love this DVD set. I've begun providing support for parents-to-be in my community and these videos would be so helpful with our discussions.
The first DVD changed my life (by changing the birth of my first son) – I saw the first of the new movies at a screening and can't wait to see the rest. I can only *dream* of winning my own set! These DVDs are amazing!
love this series!!
I can't wait to watch More BBB! What a great contribution to the advocacy of safe and happy childbirth in the USA! I hope every pregnant woman watches this.
I just gave birth five weeks ago, completely naturally, to a beautiful, if somewhat large (9 lbs 7 oz), baby boy and my sister is studying to be a midwife. Needless to say, we're both interested in that which surrounds birth and would love to see these DVDs.
Sounds like such a great series!
I would love to win! This would be a great resource as I get closer to my due date. I'm hoping for a natural birth!
What a great resource. Thanks for the chance to win!
I would love to share this with my sister as she is expecting in February!!
Of all the giveaways on the blogs I follow, this is the one I'd most like to win. What a great resource for my and my friends' families.
looks great!
Would love this resource!
Oooh, this is such a cool giveaway!
Aimee! this new series is great! So glad that you have gotten to review it and that VBAC is now in your vocabulary!!! I look forward to seeing that particular one and will be waiting to hear of your success!
Wow…I SOOO want to see this!
very interested in this–thanks for the giveaway!