Dr. Renee Clauselle recently met with actress Ricki Lake at the Mama Glow Salon Series in New York where her documentary, “The Business of Being Born,” was being featured. After she was compelled to find answers following a disappointing birth experience with her first child, Mrs. Lake recruited filmmaker Abby Epstein to explore the maternity care system in the United States.
Focusing on New York City, this 2008 documentary reveals various maternity issues behind hospital doors and follows several couples who decide to give birth at home instead, without doctors and heavy medical attention. “The Business of Being Born” showcases poignant birth stories from celebrities such as Alanis Morissette, Gisele Bundchen, Christy Turlington-Burns, Cindy Crawford and more. This film gives the audience a firsthand look at alternatives to hospital births and seeks to educate people about the history of childbirth in the United States and around the world.