Ideal opportunities exist to offer women information during routine antenatal and postnatal care. Within the present antenatal system the midwife may not be using her teaching skills, or those skills may be out of date with modern developments. Education about childbirth could begin in schools. The midwife could also fulfil another valuable role, as mediator, providing parents with links with each other. Midwives should remember that parents have a lot to offer them as a resource.
