Although bringing out baby can be a mercifully quick experience for some mothers, others may face 30 hours of painful labor, followed by the agony of a difficult birth. Here, expectant parents will see all the gruesome details, including epidurals, induction of labor, unplanned cesareans, back labor, and vacuum extractions, as the program follows five couples cinema verité style from their hospital entry to the baby's birth. Viewers will learn about various possible scenarios, and while the view of the births is quite graphic (the labor screams are genuine, and the exhaustion and worries in some cases very touching), every story has a happy ending. Along the way we hear from the doctors and nurses about what is happening, and the couples are interviewed later to share their experiences. Involving, moving, and informative, this tape is highly recommended. Aud: P. (E. Druda)
The Miracle of Birth: Five Birth Stories
(1997) 48 min. $89: public libraries & high schools; $335: colleges & universities. Injoy Productions. PPR. Color cover. Vol. 13, Issue 4
The Miracle of Birth: Five Birth Stories
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