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COPYRIGHT 2006 Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
My main problem with the answer on natural childbirth in the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER (March/April 2006) is that in his zeal to debunk the New Age adoration of "natural" (a noble effort of which I thoroughly approve), Benjamin Radford has not been fair to natural childbirth. Natural childbirth isn't some New Age hype and is not "antiscience" but is a very mainstream medical practice. Virtually every pregnant woman regularly seeing an obstetrician is requested to attend the birthing classes provided by the hospital. These classes provide training in the techniques of "natural childbirth." These techniques are simply ways to increase physical comfort and reduce anxiety during birth, which, in turn, keeps the perception of pain to a minimum. They are some of the same techniques used in cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety. It's just common sense to desire the minimum in medical interventions that come with a price.
The quotes of Shelly Gerard unfairly give the impression that most people who are proponents of natural childbirth are as extreme as her. The reality is that the techniques of natural childbirth are incorporated in current medical practice along with pain medication and epidurals in order to provide the best outcome for mother...
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