The idea that birth could be a calm, gentle, even transcendental experience is seductive; it was very seductive to me. Assuming an upright position for labor, rather than being stuck on my back, made sense. Claiming agency in the birthing room, rather than passively awaiting interventions, was attractive. But there was more to it than that. An uncritical embrace of “natural childbirth” has led birth discourse too far into the realms of myth and misinformation, and birthing women into a place of silence and shame. The understandable aim of giving women and birthing people choice, autonomy and
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