Ricki Lake gets down to birth business
MOTHER'S DAY GUIDE: Actress shows mothers they have choices in birth options
By Cindy Spielvogel -- Video Business, 2/18/2008
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FEB. 18 | After experiencing one hospital birth and then deciding to have a more memorable experience with a home birth for her second child, actress and talk show host Ricki Lake wanted to make New Line’s The Business of Being Born to show other mothers they have choices. She set out to show that the birth process doesn’t have to be driven by doctors and hospitals, that midwives and home births can be used far more frequently. She explained to VB’s Cindy Spielvogel why she believes the documentary is a program that mothers will want to see.
VB: Why would this DVD make a good gift for Mother’s Day?
Lake: The images of birth you see in the film are things you might never imagine in your wildest dreams. There’s a woman standing up who catches her own baby. Once you’re a mother, you’ll always have a connection to your children’s births. It’s about celebrating becoming a mother.
VB: Do you think more women should consider home births over hospitals?
Lake: I think it’s up to the person to decide. This is about having the information so you can decide what’s right for you. For me, my second birth was a water birth, and I’m glad I did it, but it’s not for everybody; it was the best choice for me. There’s a line in the film about how we spend more time researching buying a digital camera than giving birth. Most of us don’t know we have options. In the film, we’re not anti-doctor; we’re pro-choice.
VB: What kind of DVD would you like for Mother’s Day?
Lake: I’m a mother of two sons, so I like any kind of family movie. And I love documentaries. My favorite movie is Bugsy Malone—Alan Parker is one of my favorite directors. I like the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, The Sound of Music, typical classic family films—and the original Hairspray [which stars Lake].