Women don't give birth as mere bodies, but as whole people. Their emotions, beliefs, values, fears, dreams and sexuality are deeply involved in the birth process. Childbirth education should address all facets of the experience. Childbirth is as safe as life gets. Good prenatal education emphasizes the normal, safe process of birth while acknowledging the occasional variations from that norm.
Every birthing woman has a unique set of circumstances and personal beliefs.
She needs accurate information and the freedom to act upon it in ways that reflect her own individuality. Her birth should be the conclusion of her own informed choices. Good childbirth education supports that decision-making process. A full understanding of the birth process is possible only when the rituals and institutional routines are peeled away and the central role of the women themselves is examined. Childbearing families need to know the facts about the options available to them, including alternative birth sites and care givers.