Pregnant in America

Pregnant in America is a compelling and thought-provoking documentary released in 2008. The film centers around Steve Buonaugurio and his wife Mandy during the course of their first pregnancy. The documentary is thoughtfully engineered by first-time director Steve Buonaugurio, who also takes on the central role in the film alongside Mandy Buonaugurio and Angela Buonaugurio.

The film starts when the happy couple — Steve and Mandy — discover they are expecting their first child. Overflowing with excitement and enthusiasm, the couple decides to share their journey of bringing a new life into this world. The film is an intriguing fusion of personal journey and investigative documentary, which offers the viewers an intimate connection with the filmmaking duo as well as a critical examination of the maternal healthcare system in America.

Steve, being a first-time filmmaker, decides to bring his camera along for the journey, capturing intimate and raw details of the couple’s first pregnancy. Simultaneously, he delves into the intricate and often controversial childbirth industry in the United States, revealing realities and challenges that most expectant parents rarely get to witness prior to their own journey into parenthood.

As the course of Mandy's pregnancy unfolds, the couple grapples with questions and decisions faced by many parents-to-be. A significant part of the story revolves around their struggle to decide whether to deliver their baby at a hospital, with medical intervention that arguably makes childbirth more convenient and less painful, or to opt for a natural childbirth at home, in a more comfortable and familiar environment.

These thoughts propel Steve into investigating childbirth practices in America, leading him to a plethora of eye-opening conversations with various healthcare professionals such as physicians, midwives, healthcare advocates, and more. The interviews offer both stirring truths about the maternity care system and important insights into different philosophies of childbirth, helping viewers understand the implications and risks associated with these two vastly different modes of delivery.

What makes this documentary particularly gripping is the couple's daring choice to keep the cameras rolling, regardless of where their journey takes them, offering a raw and honest portrayal of the full spectrum of becoming a parent. From the joys of hearing their baby's heartbeat for the first time to the anxiety of navigating the confusing health care system, Pregnant in America covers all aspects of the pregnancy journey from an engaging and personal viewpoint.

In Pregnant in America, the Buonaugurio family invites viewers into their intimate life, exploring personal struggles, fears, excitement, and the beautiful anticipation of welcoming a new life. At the same time, it carries a compelling societal commentary on the country's approach to childbirth, bringing into focus critical questions around patient rights, medical interventions, and the commercialization of childbirth. The documentary does not abstractly pontificate on these complex topics but uses the personal story of Steve and Mandy as a relatable and engaging exploratory vehicle.

Moreover, there are moments of light and laughter, creating a perfect blend of the emotional highs and lows that pregnancy brings with it. Viewers are invited to relish the excitement of seeing the ultrasound image of their baby for the first time or hearing the delightful sounds of their baby's heartbeat, experiences many expectant parents will relate to.

All these elements come together impeccably in Steve Buonaugurio's directorial debut in Pregnant in America, creating an insightful and heartwarming documentary on one of nature's most beautiful processes — childbirth. It's a film that inspires thought, encourages informed decision-making, induces emotion, and ultimately gives a voice to an extremely significant, yet often controversial, aspect of life that impacts every one of us — the birth process.

While the documentary is centered on the premise of childbirth in America, it is a must-watch for anyone connected to or intrigued by the process of childbirth, irrespective of where they are from, due to its universal appeal and candid exploration of the realities of pregnancy. It is a story of love, courage, and the incredible journey that brings a new life into this world.

Pregnant in America is more than just a film — it is a call to action for better birth practices, a tribute to the strength of parenthood, an intimate insider's look at pregnancy, and a heartwarming narrative of a family's exciting journey into parenthood. For expectant parents or anyone interested in an honest, Enlightenment documentary, this film is worth exploring.