ABSTRACT
In the United Kingdom, the Royal College of Midwives has defined its vision for the future of childbearing and the maternity services as follows:
The College believes that a policy of maximizing normal birth in the context of maternal choice is safe, and, further, that it offers short and long-term health and social benefits to mothers, children, families, and communities. Such a policy is more likely to succeed if childbirth is placed within a social and family context.
