The Business of Being Born
a doctumentary film from executive producer Ricki Lake and director Abby Epstein

Pete and I were recently a part of the previewing of this new movie at UNC Charlotte. (You can view the movie trailer above by clicking play.) Doctors, midwives, doulas, and childbirth educators were invited along with the rest of the public. It will be in theaters January 9th and it is a movie everyone should watch to become more aware of the birth practices in the United States. The statistic that is the hardest to ignore is the fact that the United States ranks thirty-first in maternal and infant mortality and morbidity rates.

"Every single European nation has better maternal and infant outcomes than the United States. The majority of the industrialized nations that have good statistics have one thing in common that the United States lacks--- midwives, and lots of them, who see birth has normal and natural and are the gatekeepers for all pregnant women." Gentle Birth Choices; Harper, R.N.

"Birth: it’s a miracle. A rite of passage. A natural part of life. But more than anything, birth is a business. Compelled to find answers after a disappointing birth experience with her first child, actress Ricki Lake recruits filmmaker Abby Epstein to examine and question the way American women have babies. The film interlaces intimate birth stories with surprising historical, political and scientific insights and shocking statistics about the current maternity care system. When director Epstein discovers she is pregnant during the making of the film, the journey becomes even more personal. Should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potentially catastrophic medical emergency?"
quoted from www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com

Uncle Jonathan, Aunt Rosie, and cousin Ian

"No more pictures, please"

Avery, 17 months old
]

The Davis family very EARLY on Christmas morning :-)

Christmas 2007

Cousin Micah, 5 years old

Cousin Jonah, 3 years old

I've been thinking a lot about how amazing it is that our God came to us as a helpless baby born in the most humble of places. A King. Our Savior. I wonder what Mary felt and was thinking as she brought Jesus into the world.

"Here with Us" by Joy Williams

"It's still a mystery to me
That the hands of God can be so small
How tiny fingers reaching in the night
Were the very hands that measured the sky

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Heaven's love reaching down to save the world
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Son of God, servant King
Here with us,
You're here with us

It's still a mystery to me
How His infant eyes have see the dawn of time
How His ears have heard an angel symphony
But Mary still had to rock her saviour to sleep

You're here with us

Jesus the Christ, Born in Bethlehem
A baby born to save
To save the souls of man

You're here with us."

Do you ever wonder where all your stuff comes from and where it all goes? This 20 minute, interactive movie, The Story of Stuff, explains it all in a very thought-provoking manner. We found it from viewing one of our friend's blogs. You can watch this movie in 4 minute segments or all it once.

Pete and I both felt much more content with the things we have after viewing this! But that is only one of the many thoughts we had after watching.

And in the words of our friend Ben, "If you can't stand listening to some 'tree-hugger' talk about 'the environment' then this video is definitely not for you... Oh wait, yes it is. You live on this planet too."