Click here to learn more about The Business of Being Born and to view clips of the movie.
Q: What inspired you and Ricki Lake to make this film?
A: Ricki suggested it to me originally … it seemed like a slim shot at first. I didn’t yet understand that it was a gender topic as well as a health and economic topic … she started from the point of view of a convert while I started as a cynic … In fact, at first I was judgmental of it … But the more I read I became interested … Two years into the filming, I got pregnant …
Q: How did you find these women?
A: Through the midwives ... the women [pregnant women in film] felt so strongly about what they were doing … most were clamoring to participate…
Q: Did you consider interviewing women who were not using midwives?
A: We did. But we did not want people to get bogged down in the politics … that’s already out there. We wanted to show the other side … We wanted to share the story of the midwife’s point of view …
Q: Does Kara [the main midwife in film] use a particular birthing process?
A: [Abby explain that the midwives work closely with each couple.] It all depends on what the couple wants … Midwives need to feel the shape … she intuits what the couple is like and makes suggestions. Some people like to be left alone, while others want to be handled more … it’s a transcendent experience …
Q: Did being pregnant during the filming affect the direction of the film?
A: I felt so lucky because I knew all these people and had so much great information. It was special. Actually, I didn’t think my birth would ever be in the film … My editor had suggested I film it (so I did, knowing it was footage I might not use) … It was a decision we made after the fact … The whole time I had choices … You want to feel like you are making the decisions about your baby …
Q: Where should women go to learn more about midwifery?
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