ST. GEORGE – Dixie State College’s Psychology Department is hosting a special evening discussion on “Dispelling the Myths of Childbirth” this Friday, Oct. 7, from 6-9 p.m. The discussion will be held at the Browning Resource Center Dunford Auditorium on the DSC campus. Admission is free for all.

A screening of the film “The Business of Being Born,” by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, will be shown.  The film explores the history of obstetrics, the history and functions of midwives, and how common medical practices may be doing new mothers more harm than good, including Caesarean sections and umbilical cord cutting, among other myths and procedures.

Following the film, a question and answer session with local midwife Christine Fiscer will be held. 
Dr. Dannelle Larsen-Rife, DSC assistant professor of psychology, will serve as host of the event. Larsen-Rife has worked personally and professionally with medical professionals in labor and delivery. She said that Fiscer would provide those in attendance the latest information and research in labor and delivery practices.

“I have found, while teaching about childbirth in my Developmental Psychology courses, that students believed in many myths about labor and delivery,” Larsen-Rife said. “For instance, many students are surprised to learn that it isn’t in the baby’s best interest to cut the umbilical cord as soon as the baby is born.”

For more information, please contact Dr. Larsen-Rife at 435-652-7823 or by email at [email protected].