I'm about 3/4 of the way done.

I think this book should be bundled with Tina Cassidy's "Birth: The
Surprising History of How We Are Born" and should become required
reading for all women :-)

Cassidy's book provides the history lesson, and Wagner gives a hard-
core look at where we're at today, which isn't pretty, is it? (Amazon
is bundling Born in the USA with Birth Crisis by Shelia Kitzinger,
which I haven't read but also looks good.)

I think the change in our culture has to come both from women demanding
change, no longer hiring OB's to provide their prenatal and birth care,
and change in the educational system for doctors. All those OBs-in-
training are seeing are dysfunctional births, and that's the cycle they
are perpetuating. Of course if we'd stop hiring them, the later part
wouldn't be as necessary.

We're bred to trust doctors. And it's a cycle I'm trying to stop with
my children. I've caught myself a few times when my DS was taking
medicine that it was because "the doctor said you needed to" and was
sorry as soon as those words were out of my mouth. I immediately
revised what I've said and make it clear that's it's what Mommy and
Daddy think it will help you feel better. As they get older (only 3
1/2 and 1 right now) we will encourage them to understand that you're
paying a doctor/other care provider for an *opinion* and it's your
responsibility to research and decide whether that's the best choice
for you. And that you're always entitled to a 2nd, 3rd, or
4th....*opinion*.

Cathleen