I think that this is on topic because the childbirth revolution
is a big part of establishing in women the strength to stand up
for what they believe is right for themselves and their children.

I think that the revolution is less an issue of whom attends the
birth, doctor, medwife or midwife, or of where the birth takes
place, hospital, birthcenter or home, than it is of empowering
women to demand their rights.

I have had 2 births, both in hospitals, attended by OBs.  My
first started as a normal risk and ended up high risk and I wound
up with a hospital birth with almost "all the trimmings", the
only reason I didn't have all the trimmings was because my
medical problems prohibited it.  My second, I insisted that it be
different than the first, I found an OB that respected me as an
intelligent human being and was open to trying things my way.  I
still had a hospital birth, I still had Pitocin, and i had an
episiostomy.  BUT, the important thing was that my doctor saw me
as a part of the team that was involved in making the medical
decisions, and that *I was the leader fo that team*, I will say
that again to bring home the importance of that, I was the leader
of that team.
I think that women need to be given the strength to demand what
they know is right, and the right to be *fully* informed of
everything, then their decisions be respected.  I think that
women need to be helped to strengthen themselves with knowledge
of what their decisions will bring and where they can go to learn
more about those decisions.  I think that medicos need to step
down from on high and be treated as normal human beings, that are
falable just as everyone else is.  It drives me up the wall to
hear someone tell me that they aren't going to beleve soemthing
because their doctor told them something different, even if what
the doc said makes no sense at all.  Women have to learn to
question everything.
I am sadder when I talk to a mom who takes what I say as from the
mouth of Goddess, than a mom who questions every word I utter and
insists on proof.  The former is very likely to be swayed by
every difering opinion that passes her way, the latter, once
convinced, will stand strong in her beliefs.  I think that in
this revolution, it must be endeavored to make all women the
latter.
I think that what ahs to happen is that women are strengthened
and educated to stand up for what they know is right for their
own individual selves.  Women need to know that they need not be
ashamed of their bodies, or their minds or their spirits.  Until
this happens, it is all, from childbirth through breastfeeding
and beyond is all going to be an uphill battle.
Vickie