Even though I'm an obstetrician, I have often felt that if we had good national back up system, and/or a situation where birth centers were the norm, we would see fewer complications and cesarean births. Many years ago, I knowingly gave prenatal care to women who I knew were going to be delivered by a certain midwife at home. I don't particularly favor lay midwives, but this one was amazingly well-read, education, and experienced. Although, I never participated in a home delivery, I readily accepted these patients if they had to be transferred to the hospital. You know, of the thirty or so that had to come in, none required a cesarean birth. Childbirth is a natural process. Intervention should occur only when something abnormal is happening. That's why I was only in the hospital for 20 minutes before my third and last child was born. I stayed home as long as possible. I agree with you, Kathleen.......V. Nichols-Johnson, MD