Ricki Lake's New Documentary About Home Births Is All About Her

Kirsten Dunst Dreams of Family Says Her Stylist

Strollerderby — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:48:43 GMT

Kirsten Dunst's "spiritual stylist" Manny tells Jane magazine that Kiki longs for a family and is positive

re: Ricki Lake's New Documentary About Home Births Is All About Her

Alisyn — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:22:32 GMT

Sarah L,

I think Stefania's point here (if I may) is that Rikki has been ALL OVER the press promoting this film, and talking more about herself, than the actual film. She's been all "me, me, naked, my footage, naked, naked!" Maybe she's using the fact that she's featured in the film prominently - NAKED - to get more people to see it (although that would probably deter a lot people too...), in hopes that homebirth would be something more people would become interested in. Either way, she's talking a lot about herself. it's kind of off putting, and I think that's what Stefania is trying to say. Not that she hates Rikki Lake because she's different from her.

Either way, no need for personal attacks, though. C'mon.

re: Ricki Lake's New Documentary About Home Births Is All About Her

karrie — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:05:24 GMT

I thought midwives and/or doulas usually clean up after a home birth? (Did Lake birth unassisted or something??)

I can't say that I would be thrilled if cleaning up afterbirth fell under my job description, but I also would not expect a mom who just gave birth to clean up after herself either.

I know a little bit about birthin' babies « (bitter)sweet

I know a little bit about birthin' babies « (bitter)sweet — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:22:15 GMT

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re: Ricki Lake's New Documentary About Home Births Is All About Her

Esmeralda — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:12:25 GMT

So, Rikki Lake is bad for talking incessantly about herself (and her physical nakedness)? Really, is she any more self-serving/aggrandizing than, say, Baby Daddy's blog which talks incessantly about himself (and his 'emotional nakedness')? Is this a case of Pot vs Kettle here?

re: Ricki Lake's New Documentary About Home Births Is All About Her

Sarah L. — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:00:18 GMT

I don't get what your problem is with the fact that she was naked. Why would you care about that enough to emphasize it so many times? Lots of women give birth in the nude, and plenty of them record it. One of the nice things about homebirth is the freedom you have to birth in whatever way feels right to you.

Also, I disagree with your take that it's all about her. She talks about empowering women to know their birthing choices as a way to improve care for women. I think she's right on the mark on that one. As someone who had two homebirths with concurrent care with my OB, I can tell you with certainty that the prenatal care provided by my midwives at home was many times better than what I got from my doctor (who's an excellent OB, by the way). I wish more people knew about homebirth and thought of it as something they could consider.

Your take here just strikes me as so petty and snotty, like, "I hate her because she's different than me." Grow up.

re: Ricki Lake's New Documentary About Home Births Is All About Her

Todd — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:21:12 GMT

If I had just given birth in a tub, I would have neither the energy nor the inclination to clean it up afterwards. That would definitely be the job of the midwife/doula/assistant!

re: Ricki Lake's New Documentary About Home Births Is All About Her

Sheri — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 05:55:02 GMT

I only had one epidural free birth.

But I would have cleaned up my own mess if I had been given the opportunity.

re: Ricki Lake's New Documentary About Home Births Is All About Her

Melanie — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 05:11:16 GMT

You can bet that if I were the assistant, I'd be telling them to kiss my ass. I don't enjoy the smell of blood; the idea of being all nuzzled up to a big steaming heap of somebody else's blood and mucus is almost enough to make me barf just thinking about it.

Not enough money in the world.

re: Ricki Lake's New Documentary About Home Births Is All About Her

Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 05:09:52 GMT

I can honestly say that if I had a homebirth and an assistant there is NO WAY IN HELL I would make that person clean it up. Was that written in that person's job description? "Responsibility #439: Clean up Ricki Lake's bloody placenta."

I know myself well enough to know that not only would *I* clean it up, but I know myself after two epidural-free births to know that I *could* clean it up. (But probably my husband would clean it up.)

re: Ricki Lake's New Documentary About Home Births Is All About Her

Cathy — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 04:59:09 GMT

If I had and assistant, and had just given birth, you bet he/she would be a cleanin' up.

re: Ricki Lake's New Documentary About Home Births Is All About Her

Alisyn — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 04:36:02 GMT

Aw, come on. I think homebirting is awesome, and should be talked about more. I love that she is willing to share something as personal as her own waterbirth, because unmedicated birthing is so important to her, and she wants to say 'look, I did it - so can you!"

And YOU KNOW that if you had a homebirth and an assistant, you'd make him/her clean that shit up. Who wouldn't?? Shit, if I had an assistant, that be the LEAST of their complaints.

re: Ricki Lake's New Documentary About Home Births Is All About Her

prescott — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 01:56:40 GMT

My assistant would be ecstatic if the worst thing I made her do was clean up a placenta.

re: Ricki Lake's New Documentary About Home Births Is All About Her

Miss-B — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:15:22 GMT

The article isn't clear: Did she lose 24 pounds while she was pregnant or afterward? I'd like to hope that she wasn't concerned about cottage cheese thighs while she was busy birthin' a baby in the bath. But then with these celebrity types you never can tell.

re: Ricki Lake's New Documentary About Home Births Is All About Her

Rattling the Kettle — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 23:52:04 GMT

I never liked Ricki Lake, until reading the HuffPost article just now and realizing that she had the good taste of using the same midwives as my wife.