Have you heard of Freebirths?

That method worked for centuries, but I would feel too risky doing it.

People have always known childbirth can go badly, but had no choice.
In today's world, we have choices, and I would not take a chance on ending my life or the life of my baby.

I think that giving birth has become more of a medical procedure than is always needed. I think is sad that shortages of midwives has meant that homebirths happen less and less here. I would of loved a homebirths, but I had a tricky time first time so I wasn't allowed. But with my hospital births I was left alone with my partner for most of the labour and only had two midwives in the room for the actual delivery. But all my labour's slowed down as soon as I got to hospital so I get that being more relaxed in a less medical environment can be good.
But giving birth with no assistance I think is a bad idea, it's good to have a clear head with medical training in the room.

Medical births have become ridiculous.

Freebirths are a response to that.

Birth rape is a real issue. Doctors and nurses feeling like they do not need informed consent from a woman just because she is in labor is a real issue. The attitude of hospitals toward birthing women is a real issue.

These issues have become ingrained in our society and the way we think and talk about childbirth (how many times have you heads a woman say "my doctor wouldn't let me" or "the hospital wouldn't allow").

Freebirth is desperate and extreme, but the origin of the movement - a reaction against how controlling and demoralizing medical births have become - is something I understand and can get behind.

I can't fathom having to see a doctor who wasn't on the same page as me for birth. I understand that limitations on insurance options is probably to blame for some of this as well. Sad that is has to swing so far backwards.

No way would I have done it voluntarily. I had two hospital births and they were quick, 8 hours and 4 hours from start to finish. I also felt incredibly supported and empowered by my nurses and doctors, they informed me of my options but I made the choices. Fortunately everything went good with both of them but if things had gone south, I would have given my trust and body over to medical professionals. I didn't have an expectation of a "perfect birth" or even a birth plan, I didn't feel like I had to be 100% in control 100% of the time in order to have a great birth experience. It just isn't possible in any birth, whether assisted or alone.

I hadn't heard of it until this thread.

I'm finished having children now, but I would never have attempted it when I was having babies. I feel that it is a privilege to have the medical personnel and equipment at my disposal while birthing.



I mean, gosh, they used to amputate limbs without *modern medical intervention, but it surely doesn't mean that that's the way I would want it done nowadays.

Having babies is clearly a medical issue. While it's true that there are doctors and hospitals that intervene far too much and make a bad habit of performing procedures without consent, freebirth is way too much the other direction. Yes, women have been having babies since the dawn of time. It doesn't mean the survived the experience or their babies did either. Death in childbirth was much more common.

I think the best response to over interfering medical professionals is to interview thoroughly before you choose your doctor or midwife. You can tour birthing facilities and ask for a copy of all documents patients are asked to sign ahead of time. Talk to your friends about their experience and find someone compatible with the amount of intervention you want.

Our society as a whole is way too fond of treating decisions like a pendulum. Just because you don't want A doesn't mean you need to choose the extreme exact opposite of A.

Over my dead (and very much younger) body.

Way too many unplanned C-sections and other birthing emergencies in my family to ever go that way.

If I were a "free birth" I would not be alive today. In fact, in the hospital, I was given last rites because they didn't think I'd live very long. I fooled them!

My mom just recently told me a story about her birth. I think she had told me about it before, but I'd forgotten it. I had asked her if she was born in New York City, because an article on Ancestry.com said so. She said, no. She was born at home...my childhood home...during a blizzard. The doctor (made house calls back then) almost didn't make it in time. Although he did have a car, he had to come by horse and buggy! So she was home birthed, but had a medical doctor there.

My sister had a homebirth, more recently. But she had a midwife and a good friend of the family who was a PA.

My other sister would have died along with her daughter if she weren't in a hospital.

I understand the high costs of birth would make some families want to go this route. But you never know, and the chance of something going wrong is just too high. Fine, you don't want to pay a hospital/doctors/etc, have a home birth. But please have someone present who would know what to do in case of emergency!

Birth #1, high risk due to hyperemesis (sp?), 24 hour labor and hemorrhaging in the delivery room. I was in recovery for 8 hours until they got the bleeding stopped. DH kept saying, "the birthing classes said it wouldn't be very bloody."

Birth #2, spent the first 2 1/2 months in high risk ob with a central line due to hyperemesis again. Easyish delivery, but DS swallowed meconium.

I am forever grateful for my medical care. My doctors always listened to my input, but in the end, they made the decisions that were best for my babies and me. I chose them because I trusted them.

I'd never heard of Freebirths. My thoughts, after a quick google search, are confirmed that it is a really, really small percent (1/6th of 1%) of women that are choosing this option.

I agree with myshelly that it is an extreme response to the negative aspects of medical births. DH came close to delivering our second child on his own, as did my sister and her partner with their third child. For as many women that have extended labors that end in a Csection, there are some of us at the other end of the scale that have quick deliveries that fortunately go very smoothly.

I still remember the look of horror on DH's face when I said a few minutes after delivering DD that I could do that again. I might have been on an adrenaline/hormal high and he was still trying to process what had just happened. 

I wouldn't choose a freebirth, or encourage anyone I know to go with this option. I would choose a homebirth and work with a doula and midwife if I had a third child.

Sounds pretty dumb to me.  But I am in the camp of 'give me my epidural' and professional doctors around me. Right or wrong, that's the way I like it.  I don't want to be home, I don't want to be anywhere else except a hospital.. But I am past that stage in my life I don't have to worry about it anymore.  

Edited to add, in response doctors and/or nurses going against your will or 'birth rape'... that did not happen at any of my births.. 21 years ago, 20 years ago or 8 years ago.  I LOVED my doctors (all three were different that delivered my babies) and never once did we have any problems with them.  

My most difficult birth was my first and there were complications and I believe the doctor was professional and even though my son had a hard time popping into this world, my doctor did a great job.

And your kids are fine today, right?  

I can say the same thing.. except the military part.. I didn't do any of those things and I always had healthy kids.  In fact, probably more healthy than 75% of them.. No allergies, they are never sick except maybe a cold or flu once in a blue moon.  All I can say is that they all had to have dental work.. lol... and I am 100% sure that had nothing to do with their births.  Bad teeth genes..lol

I am a neonatal ICU RN. Enough said.