"A book that questions the practices and achievements of modern obstetrics could be considered premature in our country. Indeed, it has not been many years since the women's movement on one hand, and health advocates on the other, fought hard to convince women to visit the doctor.

The need for prenatal screening and significant postpartum care for women was imperative. Yet, women were often hindered from visiting gynecologists and obstetricians due to shame, a nearly traditional indifference in Greek society towards the physical and mental health of women, and, as absurd as it may sound, a 'traditional' husband who viewed a doctor's visit as unacceptable.

Thus, a book 'against obstetrics' could discourage women. Not this book, however. 'Giving Birth on Nature's Path' does not reject outright the techniques and technological practices of modern obstetrics, nor does it suggest that women ignore science and technology and revert to some previous state of indifference towards their health and the health of their children, based on prejudices and social discrimination.

'Giving Birth on Nature's Path' simply proposes a humanizing of science and technology, so that they fulfill the purpose for which they were created by humans: to serve their needs, improve their living conditions, and facilitate their care."

[Excerpt from the text of the preface]