BELFAST, MAINE. “At Home in Maine,” an online documentary film series about homebirth and midwifery care is currently the featured media on Mothering.com, a popular web publication about Natural Parenting and Living.
The film series presents eleven authentic, artistic and intimate portraits of the homebirth experience, representing the diversity of families who are choosing homebirth, the midwives who serve them, the different locations in Maine where homebirths are happening and a variety of homebirth experiences.
“At Home in Maine” is featured on both the Mothering.com homepage and as separate blog post. The blog post features a trailer from one of the new releases in the series, “At Home in Morrill, Maine.”
Mothering.com has a “large and passionate” readership both in the United States and internationally, as described on the website.
“At Home in Maine” is the creation of Nicolle Littrell, a Belfast-based filmmaker, educator and activist. The film series was inspired by Littrell’s own homebirth experience in 2004 where she gave birth to her son in a farmhouse in rural Montville, Maine, assisted by two Certified Professional Midwives.
“Given the publication’s focus on natural parenting and lifestyle choices, I’d say ‘At Home in Maine’ is right at home on Mothering.com,” says Littrell. “When I was pregnant, I looked to Mothering magazine to learn about my choices in childbirth. It’s really exciting to now share a film series I created–that was inspired by my own positive homebirth experience–with Mothering.com’s vibrant online community.”
Homebirth is on the increase in the United States, up by 20% between 2004-2008, states a recent report from the National Centers for Disease Control. Littrell credits the vibrant Natural/Normal Birth Movement on the Internet as to why this increase is occurring. “The Internet has become the prime venue for women to learn about their choices in childbirth. Access to information is key. Through the Internet, women are learning about birth, sharing their wisdom and resources–and creating their own web-based communities. It’s pretty amazing. To me, it feels like a revolution.”
The film series can be viewed through Video on Demand (VOD) for rental or digital download.
“‘At Home in Maine’ is a great resource for women and their partners to learn about homebirth, as well as seeing what normal, natural childbirth looks like, which unfortunately, most people in America do not have a picture of. The films are also an excellent educational tool for birth professionals and schools,” says Littrell.
On Tuesday, October 11th, Littrell will screen “At Home in Waldo, Maine,” one of the recent releases from the series, at the Camden Public Library, 6:30-8pm. Refreshments and a discussion with Littrell and the film participants will follow the film.
For more info about “At Home in Maine” visit: mainehomebirth.wordpress.com or contact Nicolle Littrell at Woman in the Moon Films.
womaninthemoonfilms.com 