MODEL RELEASED. Natural childbirth. A naked woman in labour is comforted by her midwife during a natural home birth. The woman is kneeling on the floor on top of a plastic sheet and paper towels, ready for birth. A hand-held monitor for listening to foetal heartbeat is seen in the foreground. Natural childbirth involves the use of relaxation techniques to cope with pain and thereby minimise the use of drugs during labour. Couples attend classes some months before the birth to learn these techniques. Photographed in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.