The Business of Being Born, a documentary about childbirth produced by and featuring Ricki Lake, has been acquired for theatrical release by Netflix's Red Envelope and for DVD by New Line, according to Variety.

The film offers harsh criticisms of the way babies are born in hospitals in America, spotlighting the high rate of Caesarian section and the health care industry's marginalization of midwives and doulas.

Several "water births," said to be the most stress-free solution for mother and child, are shown in the film. Most of the births shown -- including Lake's and director Abby Epstein's -- also highlight the mothers' decision to spurn conventional pain remedies, especially epidurals.

Red Envelope will release the film in New York, L.A. and San Francisco in October. New Line will follow with the DVD in the first quarter of 2008.