BIRTH WITHOUT VIOLENCE

The newest neonatal wrinkle, from France -- Dr. Leboyer has excited attention all over the continent and there has been some earlier commentary here -- childbirth without pain for the child. In photographs (40 full page) and short sentences of ultrasimplicity, Dr. Leboyer indicates how to reduce birth trauma -- the sensitivity to light, to noise, the yanking and spanking. Speak to your child (almost as you would your plants) with ""tenderness."" Touch the baby gently. Put him back in a small bath of warm water -- the equivalent of his former habitat. Ease his way into the world. Dr. Leboyer's tone is tantamount to a caress and a wide audience is expected to respond. Love, listen, understand -- DOUCEMENT.