Abstract
The care of so-called "normal" childbirth is often associated with the profession of midwife. Promoting normal physiological birth is also one of the values that define midwives' professional identity.
We know from socio-cultural anthropology that the image of childbirth and the care of childbirth is culturally determined everywhere in the world. The ways of giving birth vary historically and geographically.
What exactly does a so-called "normal", "physiological" or "natural" birth look like? Is it important to clarify its definition? The appearance of childbirth is largely influenced by the "normalized" form of its care. Norms change over time and according to location, resources and opportunities, as do care patterns.
There is no doubt that obstetric interventions allow us to save the lives of women and babies. At the same time, we are also increasingly facing criticism of the overuse of interventions in the context of so-called "normal" birth.
What perspectives of criticism are we encountering and how do the different levels of criticism relate to what we consider "normal", "physiological" or "natural" in obstetrics?