Orgasmic Birth: The Best-Kept Secret (2008) Poster

(2008)

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10/10
We don't need to keep Orgasmic Birth a secret!
barbara-42829 December 2008
I am thrilled with the new attention to birth in the media. Of the three recent films, Orgasmic Birth adds depth and beauty to the existing available media.

I have been a childbirth educator, doula, mother, etc. for over 25 years. Because of the technocratic methods of birth in my local hospitals and my lack of access to home births, I cherish the opportunity I have through Orgasmic Birth to witness totally undisturbed labor and birth. I've had faith that it existed but it has been hard to come by in the typical hospital births where I have assisted families.

Now that I have this video, I have been introducing undisturbed labor and birth to my birth classes. I waited a while because I was a bit nervous that it was too out of their reach. But then I began to feel guilty that I was depriving them of knowledge about birth that they should really have the option to choose. I wasn't worried, like some others, about the title. I don't understand how we can have 4 hour erections thrust at us on the TV and yet we giggle and sputter when the word orgasm comes up. Is erection more male and orgasm more female? The expectant parents who have seen the 3 births I choose to show don't have any problems with the births or the title. They immerse themselves in the beauty of the births.

I really REALLY appreciate the narrative in between the births. The speakers say to the parents so eloquently everything I want them to know about birth. The speakers are so passionate and knowledgeable that their messages come through loud and clear.

Orgasmic Birth is a treasure. It allows me to plant seeds of humanistic birth in the minds of my class participants. It empowers them to choose normal, undisturbed birth. It gives me hope for our future generations of attached, loving families. I thank all the parents who so generously allowed their births to be filmed, and to the creative genius that conceived (yes, a pun) the idea to really put orgasmic birth into the culture. I'm excited about the change this film will produce in people's lives, their births, and society in general. From my heart, thank you.

In summary, this film needs to be promoted so that everyone has a chance to see the beauty of birth.
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10/10
A must-see documentary for expectant mothers.
sonya900283 January 2010
The main point of this documentary, is that if a woman gives birth naturally without medical intervention, she can indeed experience orgasm during the birthing process. It's explained that an orgasmic birth experience is possible, if nothing (such as drugs given to mothers in labor at hospitals) impedes the flow of a woman's hormones, that her body produces when she goes into labor. And these hormones, can produce powerful feelings of euphoria, which can lead to orgasms during labor and delivery.

Several women are shown going through natural childbirth at home, and at birthing centers. When they were interviewed, they gave glowing testimonials about their ecstatic birthing experiences, which included orgasms. Other women were interviewed, who had given birth in hospitals. None of these women who gave birth in hospitals, spoke of their birthing processes as being euphoric in any way.

Midwives were interviewed as well. And they emphasized that women should take back their right to give birth naturally, instead of having to do so in a hospital. The midwives also explained that the explosive increase of cesarean births, have been a direct result of induced expedited labor, which is customary when a woman has a baby at a hospital. And it's a fact that cesarean births, often result in serious complications, including the death of the mother, and/or child.

I think that all expectant mothers, should see this superlative documentary. Then they'll know that their childbearing experiences, can include ecstasy, instead of only pain.
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Change how you view childbirth - watch Orgasmic Birth
raedavies2 January 2009
This excellent film demonstrates what women can do. Women can give birth without excessive medical intervention including the epidural, IV, and episiotomy. In the film you see women in comfortable surroundings supported and cared for by skilled midwives that respect and trust the normal birth process and allow the women to birth in an undisturbed, safe environment. Are they all "orgasmic births"? No, but the message in the film is not about orgasms, but about reframing how we view birth. I applaud the film maker, Debra Pascali-Bonaro, for being so bold in giving the film this title - it could be why "Orgasmic Birth" is going to be featured on 20/20. Many women that I have told about the film Orgasmic Birth have stated that "they want one too"! A must see film.
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3/10
Presents an uncomfortably intimate perspective into the lives of new mothers
Ebonyks24 March 2010
Let me preface this review by giving my background.

I'm a 23 year old male nurse who has a fair amount of experience with the process of childbirth and labor. I've sat through actual births before and given support to new mothers. I am by no means bothered or queasy about the process of birth.

And yet, this was one of the most disturbing movies i've seen in my life. It's not the process of child birth, it's the eerie level of intimacy which surrounds the entire movie. There's lots of footage of cuddly couples to be which in the context presented, comes off to me as voyeuristic. It's being given an uncomfortably close look at the lives of new mothers.

There's plenty of educational value to this film, and i'd have no qualms with recommending this movie to the intended audience. But for every male in my age demographic who has their girlfriend present this movie to them, expect a night of awkward cuddling without any real satisfaction.
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10/10
Fantastic - A Must See for All!
phoebelain3 January 2009
Most people think that the words, Orgasmic and Birth, are words that can never go together. But, this movie makes people see the amazing possibilities that are available to women in birth - and how given the right situation, those words, Orgasmic Birth are words that fit together perfectly.

This movie also does an amazing job to show how important it is for women to be offered more options in birthing to ensure a more positive, healthy experience.

This is a must see for pregnant women, partners and anyone else who cares about a mother and baby!
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9/10
excellent film about birth
judy-3495 January 2009
Given the misinformation and many distortions that most Americans carry around in their heads about pregnancy and birth, it is crucial that more people see films like this one. It educates while absorbing the viewer in a wonderful maze of commentary and experiences about birth WITHOUT unnecessary medical interventions. Not only has medicalized birth created a "climate of doubt" that serves no one well, it has produced worsening outcomes from a purely medical standpoint. THis film will help viewers understand why bringing back physiologic birth is so important to enhancing such a life-changing moment as well as to improving the outcomes of births in this country (where we have a rather dismal track record in comparison to other countries in Europe, for ex.).
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10/10
Transformative, Informative, Phenomenal!
halleylynnwatson30 December 2008
Warning: Spoilers
It's not very often that a book or movie comes out that has the potential to directly change people's lives, but "Orgasmic Birth" is such a movie. Debra Pascali-Bonaro's film is monumental in it's message for women everywhere: birth can be empowering, transformative, and even pleasurable! The film chronicles the pregnancies, labors, and births of about 10 families, and does an awesome job of depicting the diversity of an empowering experience: homebirths, birth center births, hospital births, water births, and families of different races, religions, and customs. Additionally the film includes the story of a mother who was sexually abused as a child and a young adult, and she shares that "My birth became the most powerful thing that's happened to my body...and I was transformed." The women's stories also depict that birth can be spiritually orgasmic, emotionally orgasmic, or even physically orgasmic -- but the point being that regardless of the orgasmic element itself, it can be orgasmic period! What a crucial message for the young women of our society! We've been raised to believe that childbirth is the most painful thing a woman will ever endure -- how much healthier and how much more hopeful is it to instead believe that birth is something to be treasured and ENJOYED?! I recently hosted a screening of "Orgasmic Birth" at my school, the University of Missouri. It was WILDLY successful, with over 100 people in attendance -- everyone from the local midwives, to professors to feminists, to mothers, to college women, to freshmen boys! Following the film, I hosted a panel of mothers and professional midwives to answer audience questions -- the questions poured in for 45 minutes! I've been hearing rumoring about a new campus organization: Med Students for Home Birth! One woman stood up and announced to the auditorium that this movie had changed her life forever -- "I know what I want now -- I want to have my babies at home with a midwife!" Another woman wrote a paper about the film, and still another created a project about the film for her Psychology of Women class. I just heard that someone else bought the film online after seeing it and is giving it out as Christmas presents! Do yourself a huge favor -- SEE THIS MOVIE. Especially if you are a woman of childbearing age! KNOW your options before you get pregnant! Find out what's right for YOU! I'm sure many people reading this review have seen "The Business of Being Born," which is also incredible. I would distinguish the two by simply saying this: BOBB shows birth they way it is. Orgasmic Birth shows it the way it COULD BE. My cousin put it this way: "BOBB was eye-opening. Orgasmic Birth was heart-opening."
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10/10
Finally - a film that tells the truth about birth!
laurashanley29 December 2008
As a supporter of undisturbed birth, I've waited a long time for a film like this! Orgasmic Birth is much more than a film about how to experience pleasure in birth. It's about viewing birth as a natural bodily function, rather than an inherently dangerous, painful medical event that needs to be managed, controlled and medicated. It's about tapping into our own natural resources, instead of turning ourselves over to the medical establishment to "save" us from ourselves. Any natural bodily function proceeds best when it's done in privacy, and this is what the women in the film advocate. Unfortunately, most members of the medical profession pretend that birth isn't sexual, yet it involves the same hormones, organs and emotions as sex. When we recognize the inherent sexuality of childbirth, overcome our fears and inhibitions, and keep strangers away as much as possible, birth CAN be ecstatic if not orgasmic. It certainly was for me. I highly recommend this film, and know it is destined to change the way society views our most intimate act of creation. We do NOT have to choose between a medicated, medically managed birth and a painful, difficult "natural" one. There is a third choice and Debra Pascali-Bonaro has found it!
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10/10
A most important film about the joys of birthing!
jill-42731 December 2008
I first viewed Orgasmic Birth last June at a screening for professionals in Portland Oregon. I watched it as a doula, a mother and a mentor and it both overjoyed me and saddened me. The missing piece of our modern birth practice is pleasure, and mention the word...eyes roll and the sarcasm starts. Orgasmic Birth shows real birth settings, real women and men, and it serves to encourage, enlighten and educate in a positive way...to counter the negatives we see in popular culture and in the news so frequently. I ask all my clients to watch Orgasmic Birth, even, and especially, the ones who are birthing in a hospital setting, so they can see the organic process take place and balance their fears with the truth...birth can be beautiful, peaceful and fulfilling. Thank you for this beautifully made film.
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10/10
Insight into true nature of birth
doulavicki5 January 2009
Orgasmic Birth takes a provocative look into the possibilities of what birth can be, not typical medical-model birthing, but normal, natural, even blissful birth. First-time filmmaker Debra Pascali-Bonaro has captured on film intimate and tender moments which offer us insight into the true nature of birth, and the creating of mothers, fathers, and families. As a midwife, doula, childbirth educator and the mother of five children myself, I highly encourage everyone to buy this film - and show it to your daughters! It will truly open your heart to what birth can and should be like - sensual, beautiful, empowering, and ecstatic.
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