pHumanity, argues Michel Odent, stands at a crossroads in the history of childbirth--and the direction we choose to take will have critical consequences. Until recently a woman could not have had a baby without releasing a complex cocktail of love hormones. In many societies today, most women give birth without relying on the release of such a flow of hormones. Some give birth via cesarean section, while others use drugs that not only block the release of these natural substances, but also do not have their beneficial behavioral effects. This unprecedented situation must be considered in terms of civilization, says Odent. It gives us urgent new reasons to rediscover the basic needs of women in labor. ppAt a time when pleas for the humanization of childbirth are fashionable, the author suggests, rather, that we should first accept our 'mammalian' condition and give priority to the woman's need for privacy and to feel secure. The activity of the intellect, the use of language, and many c