Birth and the Dialogue of Love

This book explores the history of birth practices and presents the benefits and problems of childbirth techniques during the past 100 years. Presentation of the physiology of birth, birth as a sexual event, importance of the father being face to face during birth. Shows birth as much more than just a medical event and the importance of giving birth consciously and joyfully, why people give birth at home and the benefits and safety of intimate husband/wife homebirth.

Discusses the husband and wife "dyad," mother/infant bonding, attachment parenting, why the hospital environment isn't the best place for birth, and why husbands need a more central role during birth. Section on how to create peace and harmony in marriage and practical advice on breastfeeding and general pro-family/mothering encouragement. Provides how-to tips and helps alleviate fears and anxieties about birthing without medical professionals. Several birth stories by couples who purposely choose to birth at home alone.

Main thesis of the book: that birth is a normal, womanly, physiological function and that women are not biologically incompetent. Since birth is uncomplicated, there need not be third parties interfering in what should be a private event among lovers.

"What has robbed sex of its dynamism? It is man's failure to realize that childbirth is as much a part of the marital encounter as is coitus. Because of his ignorance, man has created a corporeal communication gap which prevents married couples from attaining the level of development that is their due." (p. 104)