Contact: Abigail Davidson, Publicist, WinePress Publishing, 360-802-9758, abigail@winepressgroup.com  

ENUMCLAW, Wash., July 13 /Christian Newswire/ -- Embedded in heated discussions on healthcare reform lies the booming "business" of childbirth. According to the LA Times (May 2009), current childbirth practices indicate that the "intensive and expensive U.S. brand of medicine may be doing more harm than good." Increased interventions lead to increased risks such as premature births, maternal deaths and intensive care admissions. Now the most common operation in the U.S., the cesarean is performed in 31% of births, up from 4.5% in 1965. With its soaring popularity comes a great price. A price some have been willing to pay, while others become victims of big business and convenience.

When birth is scheduled and induced with medication, a cascade of interventions usually follows. Often the result is a failed progress of labor or fetal distress. Birth moves to the operating room in a climate of fear.

Frustrated with the high occurrence of interventions at the hospital, including heavy use of pitocin, delivery nurse Carol Van Der Woude began assisting a group of doctors with home births. It opened her eyes to the truth. "God designed the female hormonal system, the anatomy of a woman's body and the labor process. It's easy to lose sight of that when labor is aggressively managed in the hospital," she said. "A woman's faith in God and appreciation for her body give her confidence in mothering."

In her upcoming book, "Aliisa's Letter" [2010, WinePress Publishing], Carol addresses these issues. Wrapped in Finnish tradition, her story of a young delivery nurse's journey of faith confronts our culture's approach to sexuality and childbirth while revealing a healthy perspective on birth and dying.

A former Lamaze teacher and contributor to various magazines, Carol carries a deep passion to honor women who have come before her, connecting them to the current generation by weaving together their stories of courage and faith. Her passion and work converge as she comes alongside women in their time of greatest vulnerability, helping them to discover their untapped inner strength.

For more information, to request a review copy of "Aliisa's Letter," or to schedule an interview, please contact Abigail Davidson by phone at 360-802-9758, by email at abigail@winepressgroup.com, or by fax at 360-802-9992.