Ref Clarabelle's post - for those who haven't read Dr Crippen's post - he is of the opinion that all babies should be delivered by a Doctor and not a midwife. He particularly dislikes independent midwives. Ref the Northwick Park report into the maternal deaths - as a 'lay person' reading the report I felt for these poor women, their families and the children they leave behind who were badly failed by 'the system'. Childbirth is not without its risks.