The Face of Birth (2012)

Directors:

Gavin Banks, Kate Gorman

Writer:

Kate Gorman

Stars:

Andrew Bisits, Justine Caines, Vicki Car

Cast

Credited cast:
Andrew Bisits	...	Himself
Justine Caines	...	Herself
Vicki Car	...	Herself
Hannah Dahlen	...	Herself
Robbie Davis-Floyd	...	Herself
Rhea Dempsey	...	Herself
Sarah Doherty	...	Herelf
Ina May Gaskin	...	Herself
Kate Gorman	...	Herself
Noni Hazlehurst	...	Herself
Patrice Hickey	...	Herself
Jan Ireland	...	Herself
Shelia Kitzinger	...	Herself
Tanya Kunoth	...	Herself
Diane Menage	...	Herself

Storyline

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 March 2012 (Australia)

Box Office

Budget:

AUD 100,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Baby Banksia, Goodeyedeer

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

User Reviews

Great documentary about the importance of choice in maternity care

I watched this film for the first time over a year ago and was blown away by the powerful stories it presented. Many of the women in the film faced challenges in their pregnancies and births, but all of them were satisfied with the outcomes because they felt at every moment that they were the main decision-makers in the process.

The experts in the film come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but those that struck me most were the hospitals that were implementing policies very unconventional for modern maternity hospitals (midwifery-led units, 30% rates of home birth with hospital midwives and low rates of intervention) with excellent results. I think we need to study these examples of the best of all modes of care and as health care consumers, decide what works best for us.

Vaginal birth after caesarean, births in rural areas, births on aboriginal country far from the nearest hospital with culturally appropriate care, births in hospitals, elective caesarean sections, planned home births and planned home births that ended up transferring to hospital in a very positive way are all shown in this film, mixed in with expert opinions and best practice models.

This film is a must-see for pregnant women, especially those who are pregnant for the first time or those who are confused about all the options being offered to them or lack of options that are available. Change in maternity services will happen when we, the consumers, start demanding that real choices and the adoption of best care practices without the pressure of healthcare industry lobbies.