470: "Allowed" To Birth with Documentary Filmmaker, Jacinta Lagos

The documentary *Allowed to Birth* explores the global landscape of childbirth, focusing on the intersection of physiological birth, medical autonomy, and the impact of restrictive hospital policies. Jacinta Lagos, a birth documentarian, highlights how the title reflects the coercive nature of modern obstetrics, where women often feel they must seek permission for natural processes. The film features midwife Kristine Lauria as a global example of respectful, skilled care that challenges the medicalized, high-intervention model. The discussion emphasizes that institutional regulations often erode provider competency, particularly in breech deliveries, creating the very dangers they claim to prevent. By showcasing diverse international perspectives, the film empowers families to question institutional norms and reclaim their rights, demonstrating that birth remains a transformative human experience that persists despite systemic barriers and the erosion of traditional midwifery skills.