The Minnesota Premier of Orgasmic Birth was truly ecstatic. Debra Pascali-Bonaro, director and producer of the Orgasmic Birth documentary called the night "a huge success." This was the biggest screening of the new, full length documentary so far, among many US cities and 19 countries. Why the title? Read on...

The Riverview Theater was filled with about 500 couples and birth activists, midwives, doulas and interested people.

Several Minnesota childbirth organizations brought Debra and her film to the Twin Cities. Meeting since March 2008, the excitement gathered toward a cluster of September events to celebrate the hope this film represents. Each of these groups have worked hard in the years preceding to improve the maternity experience of Minnesota families. This film, with its provocative name, clearly shouts the message that birth can be positive, hormonal and is physiological in nature.

Debra's storytelling got ooos and ahhhs as she told how the title got its name. She and her film-doula made the application for a film makers panel review in New York City. Two hundred new filmakers were trying for ten minutes exposure to a panel of experts for feedback on their film titles and topics. Debra stood and said her film's title was An Ordinary Miracle. Immediately she was told to sit down. "Don't I get my ten minutes?"she asked.

"Not with that title," she was told. Boldy she asserted, "Ecstatic Birth!" But again she was yelled down. Astounded and deflated she sat on her metal folding chair. Her friend had heard Debra talk of the hormonal pathways of birth being the same as for sexual pleasure. Debra has asserted, like Christiane Northrup, Ina May Gaskin, Shiela Kitzinger, Penny Simkin, Niles Newton and Michel Odent that birth is part of a woman's sexual life.

Her friend nudged her and said, "Stand up and say, Orgasmic Birth."

Debra wasn't sure. Her friend said, "Its now or never!" 

So Debra stood back up and shouted, "Orgasmic Birth!"
The peppery panelist retorted, "Is that possible?"

 Debra went into doula trainer mode and described the hormonal processes and the positive feelings, both physical and emotional, that are possible when childbirth is approached without fear and without numbing narcotics. The panel of filmmakers were impressed and the title was born.

 

Several Minnesota leaders in the childbirth movement brought this film forward. Monica Matos of Ten Moons Rising Holistic Parenting had been a host of The Business of Being Born film by Rickie Lake last February. The Board of the local chapter of the International Cesarean Awareness Network had also hosted a screening of The Business of Being Born. When ICAN's Sarah Shannon gave birth, Heather Deatrick stepped in, taking on treasurer duties and general enthusiasm. These three had a lot of experience to share to bring Orgasmic Birth here.

The Childbirth Collective was represented by Teri Pier, of  Baby Steps.  Susan Lane is our state's DONA International representative and coordinates the Minnesota doulas who are also DONA members. Susan is well known at the state's Capitol for her tenatious work on behalf of families through doula care. Susan reveals that birth is at the core of womens' rights and dignity and without safe maternity care practices women, babies and their entire families are at risk. Debbie Prudhomme and Mary Williams are two women that work endlessly to meet the needs of low-income birthing families with doula care and practical support, such as car seats and breast pumps. They run Everyday-Miracles, a non-profit organization serving hundreds of birthing mothers with 28 doulas, speaking several languages.

Gail Tully, of Spinning Babies, contacted Debra Pascali-Bonaro and invited her to Minnesota before the film was complete. She knew once the screenings began that Debra would be traveling the world and would find it hard to fit Minneapolis/St. Paul on her schedule. We had our screening booked first, only following the booking of the World Premier in Prague! Meanwhile some cities and conferences got to see the film  first, though they booked later, but that didn't detract from the enthusiastic throng that filled the Riverview. 

The community response was excellent. Jeanette Schwartz of Woodwinds Health Campus eagerly accepted Gail's request to have Debra speak on the afternoon before the film. Several Health East nurses attended, including Diana Mancino who first introduced Gail to Debra Pascali-Bonaro's presence in the 1990s. Diana was first a doula with Debra at Debra's Mother Love, Inc Doula Services in New Jersey. When Diana came to Minnesota, she became a labor and delivery nurse maintaining those hands-on and heart expressing skills she learned as a doula.

The Sisters of St. Joseph invited us into the Carondelet Center in St. Paul for Friday morning's Become a Birth Activist Brunch. The setting was lovely and the breakfast nutritious. Debra showed her grace and ease in the global community as she spoke of world wide efforts

Heather Deatrick was so moved by the