Women who desire ‘natural childbirth’ in hospitals in a highly medicalized birth care system

'Natural childbirth' continues to matter to women in today's world. Building on qualitative research informed by constructivist grounded theory, I aim to bring insight into the birth experiences of women who demanded 'natural childbirth' in Czech hospitals in the context of a highly medicalized birth care system. I explore four themes: (1) the requirements of birth care, (2) strategies to achieve 'natural childbirth', (3) women's views of the hospital environment, (4) that of healthcare providers. These themes address prospective and retrospective aspects of the core process of <i>negotiating good and respectful care</i>.