anyone heard of FREE BIRTHING?

[nickytwotimes]

read about it in guardian today. never heard of it. not for me, but interesting all the same. not sure what i think of it ...
have i been living in a box or is this really new in the uk?

[hairymclary]

yes, I have heard of it.
the woman they mention there, laura someone, who they say has had 5 unassisted births- well one of hers died- funny how they don';t mention that.

I can sort of see the appeal, but I do think it is dangerous. there is a site somewhere about it and an awful story on there of one lady who had no idea she was having twins and had an unassisted birth and one very, very nearly died.

[nickytwotimes]

going to try a link...tah dah

[nickytwotimes]

hairy, i thought it sounded a bit scary, i mean i wanted to be alone during most of labour but was glad to see midwife when i did!! on the other hand i can see why someone might want to do it if they have had bad experiences in hospital-i was lucky to be with great hospital staff

[belgo]

Yes I've heard of this. There's an independent male midwife in Belgium who specialises in this. I've met one of the women who gave birth with him in attendence - or rather without him in attendence. He stood outside the door with her dh and they both listened as she gave birth in a birthing pool on her own. The baby had the cord around her neck and the mother took the cord off, and both mother and baby were fine.

She is totally convinced that she had the best birth possible.

I, on the other hand, can't imagine a scarier way of giving birth.

[hairymclary]

hmm I am not sure that really counts if you have a professional midwife ready to rush in and help. still, i suppose it's just a variation on the general theme

[belgo]

The midwife didn't do any checks. Just stood outside and listened.

[pinkspottywellies]

hairy, they do mention that one of Laura Shanley's sons died. It says that it was a congenital heart defect and medical intervention would have made no difference. This bit was right near the end of the article.

[hairymclary]

oh no, now you all know that i didn't bother reading to the end! lol

[whomovedmychocolate]

She has a THREE HOUR LABOUR - bet she'd have changed her mind after a few days

[hannahsaunt]

I read this with interest this morning. Not something I would particularly choose but OTOH it's essentially how ds2 was born albeit in hospital. I was in my own lovely room, lights were dimmed, dp sat in the corner twiddling his thumbs, fabulous m/w sat in the other corner doing obs every so often and I got on with it - all very quiet and very calm. Did have morphine and labour was 3 hours start to finish. M/w only stepped in to catch ds2 as he came out (or he would have landed on his head as I was upright). Would love this to be repeated in Sept with #3.

[lulumama]

i have heard and read about it, especially Laura Shanley

not long after i joined mumsnet, there was a poster who was talking about unassisted birth as she was so scared of going into hospital, and having a hideous and disempowering birth...she was absolutely terrified...she did end up with a hospital birth, and it was fine..but i can see what would drive some women to do this

[penmack]

i read this and it sounds a bit like a kind of childbirth one up manship, i think that sometimes there is too much medical intervention but i think absolutely no intervention could be dangerous in many cases (mine included)

[liath]

I had a good compromise - laboured at home, midwife only there for the last hour and she was very happy to go along with my birth plan of no internal examinations. I delivered the baby's head myself and my mum helped. Incredible experience .