But i also do believe that care providers need to play a vital role in achieving a natural birth as well if that is what the mother desires. Not once has the labour and birth of my child been discussed with my midwife. I really think this is something that needs to change.
.
I agree with you, that the nurses/midwives/ob's should be prepared and able to help a woman have a natural birth, but I guess what the article is saying is that the reality right now is that they aren't. So you've got to line up your own resources (doula, birth classes, etc.) if you really want to succeed. When I had my first, our local hospital did not do epidurals. Those nurses knew how to support a labouring mother! They helped me make it through. But, now that epidurals are available, I think it's going to be easier and easier to just say "here, have the drugs, we'll check on you again in a few hours" and go back to whatever they were doing.
And, in a busy hospital, there simply might not be enough staff to give proper support to all the women in labour!
So while things should change, and we should advocate for change, if you want to succeed NOW, you'll have to prepare yourself well.