There is a secret war going on in Australia. It is a war of technology versus nature; of 'mechanics' against 'organics'. On one side is the traditional medical establishment and the obstetricians; on the other are midwives and natural birth practitioners. Besieged by options and conflicting opinions, mothers-to-be are caught in the middle and seeking to make the best decision for one of the most important experiences in their lives. Mary-Rose MacColl navigates the difficult and ethically charged path between the 'mechanic' and 'organic' approaches and proposes that a solution might be somewhere in between. Based on extensive national research and interviews with mothers and maternity care clinicians, The Birth Wars looks at the last century of birth in Australia and considers the current highly contentious climate around pregnancy and birth. It is essential reading for everyone who is or who may one day be a mother.