I think there are ways to have a successful empowering birth, but you have to bring your own decisions & support with you in the public system. My first child was an emergency c/s and my second a VBAC. I had to fight for the VBAC very hard in the public system, but I know with a private OB I wouldn't have even had the option. I had to make sure I had birth support and make decisions well before labour.