Search - Pregnant in America on DVD

So what did his wife think?

Ladycake | 05/13/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I can't begin to describe how irritating I found this movie. Although I am totally pro home-birth and alarmed by the birth statistics in the US, I could not get past how self-absorbed the filmmaker/father was. I really regret having watching this film, except for the brief clips of Ina May Gaskin. She's awesome and outshines any penny-ante Michael Moore wannabes."

The film has passion, but lacks substance

Jennifer N. Riedy | Allentown, PA | 12/28/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As a doula, childbirth educator, and low intervention birth advocate, I had looked forward to the release of this movie with high hopes.

In the end, I was disappointed with the film. The film style was clearly directly copied from Michael Moore's style without any attempt to express this filmmaker's own style, Mr. Buonaugurio has passion, and he is right that many people are left in the dark when it comes to childbirth practices in America. But he offered very little in the way of HOPE for people.

I've had 3 home births myself, but right from the begining I was put off by the flip chart in the background that had boldly written on it "The hospital is our enemy." The hospital is NOT our enemy. It certainly is excessive for the majority of women in America to birth in hospitals rather than at home or in birthing centers, but the hospital serves a necessary role in keeping birth safe.

I continue to be annoyed at how the natural birth community misrepresents the Cytotec issue. I am not a fan of Cytotec, and believe that it should only be used with full informed consent. But that informed consent is being denied by BOTH sides of the debate. The medical establishment does not make women aware that it has an increased risk of causing uterine rupture, meconium passage, and hyperstimulation of the uterus even in women with no previous cesarean sections. The natural birth community does make women aware that the "contraindication" on prescribing it to pregnant women only applies to prescriptions for the treatment of ulcers because it can bring on labor. The package insert for Cytotec specifically addresses use for labor induction, and while it does not specifically "approve" its use, it only contraindicates its use in women with a previous cesarean or who are on their 5th or greater pregnancy.

I was most especially annoyed by the failure of the moviemaker to more fully address the NICU stay of his daughter. He invited us into this deeply personal area of his life, and then for reasons unknown, did not provide a full explaination of what happened in the NICU. It was clear to me from looking at the baby in the hospital that the original transfer had merit--her respiration was clearly not normal. But the days of "observation" after she was released from the NICU...what was going on there? I suspect it was an unnecessary treatment that may be part of the reason the movie provides no real hope for the viewer. Mr. Buonaugurio learned first hand how difficult it can be to stand up to the medical establishment and say "this treatment is not needed. I'm not accepting it."

In the end, I think this film has value if it is used as a discussion starter...but I don't think it has value if viewed as a stand-alone product."

Everyone should see this--everyone!

S. Wilkirson | 01/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Every human in the U.S. should see this. It is a valuable resource shedding light into what has become a criminal misuse of medical authority to medicalize birth for profit, taking and endangering lives all the while. Dr. Wagner is a personal hero of mine and one of the few with the integrity and courage to stand up and shout in the face of this particular hurricane."

Lotus Guide Review by Rahasya Poe

Rahasya Poe | Chico, CA | 09/04/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Pregnant in America (DVD)
Written and directed by Steve Buonaugurio
Intention Media ([...])

This is a well-balanced view of the health system surrounding being pregnant in America. It asks questions such as: "Why is it that the cesarean rate is 30 percent in the United States while the rest of the world considers 7 percent too high? Why are we charged so much more for fewer services in our hospitals than in other countries? Why do we give a drug to induce labor when it clearly states on the label: "Do not give to pregnant women"? Why do most childbirths happen Monday through Friday in our hospitals? Why are we discouraged and even penalized for not wanting a cesarean birth or wanting homebirth? If you're looking for answers, you're not alone--order this DVD.

Rahasya Poe, Lotus Guide magazine [...]
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