It is not clear whether Natalie Morris’s labour began spontaneously or was induced (By day five of my labour, I didn’t want an ‘ideal birth’. Nevertheless, what is described is not a debate about “ideal birth”, but an account of undiagnosed labour dystocia. It is also important to be precise about what “ideal birth” means. Molly O’BrienMidwife and founder of Biomechanics for BirthYvette Cooper is right (Women must not be put under pressure to have ‘ideal birth’, says Yvette Cooper, 5 August). However, if we are serious about improving maternity care, we must look beyond NHS services and address the wider culture surrounding childbirth.