Allowed to Birth: The Journey of a Global Midwife (2026)

Midwife Kristine Lauria travels across continents — from the Netherlands to Brazil, Kenya to the United States — documenting how institutional protocols, economic pressures, and cultural shifts have transformed childbirth into a managed medical event rather than a physiological process. The film observes births in hospitals, homes, and clinics, juxtaposing outcomes and interviewing families, providers, and policymakers.

Through Lauria’s eyes, the documentary maps a pattern: rising intervention rates, eroding midwifery autonomy, and a crisis of maternal mortality and morbidity that crosses borders. It does not propose a single solution but argues that reclaiming agency in birth requires systemic change.