'But I'd love to know how many proponents of "natural" childbirth have "natural" - drug free - dentistry, or are willing to face a "natural" unmedicated death from something painful' In that one sentance you have encapsulated the whole concept of the medicalisation of childbirth. Childbirth is not an illness. It does not need treating. It is a normal process. It is not an infection, it is not the bodily systems slowly failing or an abnormal growth. The pain of childbirth has never killed anyone. However, an an epidural does affect the normal course of labour and birth. FACT. It leads to more assisted deliveries and more use of drugs in labour to improve progress. This is not to dismiss the fact that sometimes a labour is dysfuntional and therefore will need help which could then necessitate the use of an epidural. Then childbirth has become abnormal. Before the widespread use of epidurals the normal birthrate in the UK averaged out at around 70 - 75%. Since the increased use of epidurals it is now around 50%. That whole figure cannot be blamed on the epidural but it plays a large part. Has the use of epidurals been of benefit in helping women have painfree births? Yes. Has it improved birth outcomes? No. I know which I think is more important.