How much influence does the process of birth have on our emotional stabilitv in later life? Dr Prudence Tunnadine examines the ideas of Frederick Leboyer , Dr R. D. Laing , Dr Frank Lake and other psychiatrists, therapists and obstetricians who believe that birth is a violent. painful and psychologically damaging experience for many babies, and a major contribution to adult unhappiness. They also discuss one of the remedies - therapy in which adults may be encouraged to relive their own birth to help them understand and erase the original suffering. Producer JENNY DE YONG BBC Birmingham