In a message dated 99-09-17 23:05:35 EDT, you write:

<< Hey -- good thing the men have the birth part under control.  They've
 convinced all the women that "being in control, a la epidurals" is how to
 have The Perfect Birth. >>

No offense, but it seems kind of insulting to infer that women are so easily
convinced (duped?) by men to take one of those horrible epis. A lot of women
have used their scary, awesome, unfathomable power to convince/dupe
themselves and each other--from epidurals (ether, twilight sleep, nitrous,
etc.) to not spoiling a crying baby by picking it up to "you're not a real
women if you stay home with children" vs. working away from home, etc.--
without any help from another sex.

Sure, there may be docs that sell patients on epis, but all in all, the docs
don't need to. Women are sold on epis by other women that have had them. Even
supposing it started with the docs, it wouldn't be possible to continue to
convince so many women of an epidual's "value" without the accolades of so
many "satisfied" customers.

I know several of those villainous OB/Gyns who find they can't convince very
many of their entirely female clientele that they really don't want/need
those epidurals they're insisting upon at the first and subsequent prenatal
visits to be given the moment they enter L&D.

BTW, I'd also think men would be insulted that for centuries other men have
inferred they are gullible enough or so easily manipulated as to believe Eve
convinced/duped Adam to eat that da_n apple.

A devil's advocate(?),

Karen

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