Ricki Lake Talks About Natural Childbirth

For 8 years now, Ricki Lake has been a public voice for natural child birth.

Her documentary The Business of Being Born is a revolutionary film that gives a behind-the-scenes look of women who choose to have midwives and natural births.

Ricki says that every day she is approached by a woman who says the film changed her life, which is why she's been so passionate about getting the word out that there are alternatives to traditional childbirth.

Mz. Lake says:

"I am approached on the street at least once a day by a mother (nickname: BOBB Mom) who tells me how the film changed her life in the way that it influenced her child’s birth. It often catches me by surprise — like actress Michelle Monaghan hugging me in a hotel lobby or Demi Moore describing her natural births at an Oscar party.

have become a behind-the-scenes birth consultant for celebrities seeking doulas or midwives. I knew the film had truly become a grassroots phenomenon when Pink tweeted about it and now the gossip sites are buzzing about Jessica Simpson wanting to follow in my footsteps. Jessica, if that’s true, I know a great doula for you!"

When it comes to the naysayers, Ricki understand where they're coming from. She adds:

"At times, people have tried to turn me into a divisive figure and twist my desire to inform women about their birth options into some fascist agenda for natural birth or home birth — but that’s okay. I do understand that presenting alternatives to the status quo can make people defensive, but for me this has always been about more women having positive birth experiences. If that idea is controversial, then that says something sad about our birth culture."

It's important for pregnant women to know that there ARE other options out there.

Listening, Jess? Ricki's got a great doula for ya!

[Image via WENN.]

Tags: alternative, childbirth, demi moore, documentary, doula, jessica simpson, midwife, natural, pink, ricki lake, the business of being born