ABSTRACT
In this chapter we explore birth in Eastern Europe and Russia from the perspective of a consumer, an obstetrician and, finally, from two Russian midwives. Daniela Drandic, who lives in Croatia, tells the story of her four birth experiences in Croatia. She had two caesarean sections followed by a miscarriage and, finally, a homebirth. She experienced misinformation, coercion and finally a redemptive birth that has motivated her to be an even greater advocate for women. Nicholas Rubashkin is an obstetrician who tells the story of his own birth, and his experiences and research in Hungary where birth remains controlled by obstetrics. Finally, Tamara Sadovaya and Svetlana Illarionova give us a brief insight into childbirth in Russia.
