There are many things to be discovered about the anatomy and physiology of pregnancy and birth. It is, in my opinion, unfortunate that the baseline of normalcy is so poorly understood. For example, we do not know for sure what initiates labor. Likely, it is a complex of factors, but until we know more, the incidence of preterm birth cannot radically change. We are beginning to understand the importance of childbearing to the emotional and parenting health of women and families. Dr. Lucy Johnson has hypothesized about childbirth as an important developmental milestone. More and more, there is understanding on the part of professionals that the physical and emotional health of children begins before they are born and even before they are conceived. I have seen this change in my lifetime and I am heartened by the move to assist women to give birth, rather than to be delivered because it is in this successful act that self-confidence and parenting begins. Giving birth entails enabling the mother rather than the persons in attendance to be central to the arrival of her child, even when the arrival, as is sometimes true, must be effected surgically. Parenting is an awesome task. It is my job as a professional to be sure that mothers, fathers and entire families see it also as the most rewarding one they have ever undertaken.