Simply put, when there is no home birth in a society, or when home birth is driven completely underground, essential knowledge of women’s capacities in birth is lost to the people of that society—to professional caregivers, as well as to the women of childbearing age themselves.

Why do we, then, continue to treat women as if their emotions and comfort, and the postures they might want to assume while in labor, are against the rules?

Ask the woman, she will tell you everything you need to know

Why in the world do the insurance companies get to be the boss of birth? That's what I want to know.

There is no other organ quite like the uterus. If men had such an organ they would brag about it. So should we

I had to learn not to let anyone push me around, to be brave and to say things I knew might make people mad.

When we as a society begin to value mothers as the givers and supporters of life, then we will see social change in ways that matter.