Dr. Marsden Wagner was interviewed recently on the NPR radio program Living on Earth.

 He spoke about the ways in which childbirth in the United States is treated by Obstetricians as a surgical event, to the detriment of the health of mothers and babies in this country.

 The United States has one of the worst newborn mortality rates in the developed world.  In the year 2006, we ranked 43rd world-wide in infant mortality - behind Singpore, Sweden, Cuba, South Korea and many others.

We are one of the only countries in the world where the vast majority of the babies are delivered by doctors - Obstetricians -  not midwives.  This does not make the birthing experience safer for healthy, uncomplicated pregnancies.  It only results in normal birth being medicalized and interfered with.

Listen to Dr. Wagner's interview here .  It is about a 9 minute audio file.  The transcript is also available, if you prefer.