Most of us don’t plan a medical induction. Most of us know that doing so sends us flying down the slippery slope of birth interventions and increases the likelihood of complications. You spent months envisioning the natural childbirth you wanted. You took the classes, drafted a birth plan, and had your vision for the way birth would unfold. Your due...

The January 11, 2012 Slate.com article “The Truth About Epidurals: Are they really so bad?” by Melinda Wenner Moyer concludes with this paragraph: “Women shouldn’t cave to pressure from either side.” [Of the 'mommy wars' between natural birth advocates and pro-epidural advocates] “They should make informed decisions based on their goals and priorities. I aspired to have a comfortable birth...