Explores the historical, social, and cultural customs responsible for the Dutch way of birth. This book documents the way culture shapes the organization of health care, showing how the unique maternity care system of the Netherlands is the result of Dutch ideas about home, the family, women, the body and pain, thriftiness, heroes, and solidarity.

"A Pleasing Birth" breaks new ground and closes gaps in our knowledge of the social and cultural foundations of health care. Offering a view into the Dutch notion of maternity care, De Vries also offers a chance of imagining how Dutch practices can reform health care in the U.S. not just for mothers and babies, but for all Americans. Raymond De Vries is Professor of Sociology at St. Olaf College and Visiting Professor at the Center for Bioethics, University of Minnesota. He is the author or editor of seven previous books, including, "Birth by Design: Pregnancy, Maternity Care, and Midwifery in North America and Europe".