I’m making a new film (the first one is “Laboring Under An Illusion: Mass Media Childbirth vs. The Real Thing,” www.birth-media.com). I’m looking for widely diverse interviewees — diverse not just in nationality, ethnicity, and class, but in experiences. Moms who used every trick they learned in childbirth education class, and moms who made up their own coping methods spontaneously. Moms who loved/hated their epidural/cesarean/induction/analgesic. Moms who got great/lousy care/support/respect. Moms who had unnecessary interventions, necessary interventions, not enough interventions. Moms who survived traumatic experiences or difficult outcomes. Ecstatic moms. Moms who learned something about themselves that they can carry throughout their lives. Teenagers, great-great-grandmas. Births in hospitals, homes, birth centers, Volkswagens, gardens, refugee camps, elevators.
I’ve already filmed a mom of 6 boys, a homebirth mom of an 11-pounder, and a hilarious actress. There are 100 survey responses so far. This is fun! I think the finished products (film plus website, maybe a book) will be extremely useful.
Please feel free to send interesting mamas (including yourself!) to my online/mail-in survey. Go to www.birth-media.com, and click on “Be part of the next film.” Thanks!
Vicki Elson, MA, CCE
www.birth-media.com