Watch Chicago Maternity Center Story

Chicago Maternity Center Story is a documentary film that follows the journey of the Chicago Maternity Center, a home birth center which provided midwifery care to women living in the city. The center was founded in 1931 by Mary Breckinridge, a nurse-midwife who wanted to offer healthcare services to women who couldn't access it easily.

The film takes us back to the early days of the center and the challenges it faced in its early years. The center had to continuously fight against discrimination from the medical establishment, which saw it as a threat to its authority. However, the center was able to build a strong reputation for itself, as it provided a model of care that was more compassionate and centered around the birthing mother.

The documentary features interviews with many of the center's staff members, clients, and supporters, who share their experiences of working and birthing at the center. We also see archived footage of Mary Breckinridge and other midwives at work in the center, which provides an intimate look into their daily routines and practices.

One of the most unique aspects of the center was its approach to birthing, which prioritized the mother's needs and preferences over those of medical professionals. The center offered a range of services, including prenatal and postnatal care, childbirth education, and breastfeeding support. Women were encouraged to actively participate in their birthing experience and were given the freedom to give birth in whichever position they felt most comfortable in.

The film also explores the ways in which the center was able to provide affordable care to women who could not afford the high costs of medical care at hospitals. Despite being a nonprofit organization, the center was able to provide high-quality care to women from low-income communities through donations and other means of community support.

As the film progresses, we see how the center continued to thrive and grow in the following decades. It became a model of care for midwifery and home birth centers across the country and around the world. The film also delves into the challenges the center faced as it struggled to maintain its independence in the midst of changing healthcare policies and regulations.

Overall, Chicago Maternity Center Story is an inspiring and informative documentary that sheds light on the history and legacy of the Chicago Maternity Center. It provides a unique perspective on midwifery and home birth in the United States and highlights the importance of compassionate and patient-centered care.

Chicago Maternity Center Story is a 1976 documentary with a runtime of 58 minutes.