To ask if you free birthed?

I would advise again it. I had 2 easy pregnancies, no complications, however needed assistance at the last moment for delivery, one was vacuum delivery, one by forceps. It was quite scary and any delay could have been disastrous for the babies.

The free-birthing movement just seems like a massive slap in the face to women in developing countries who’d probably give their right arms to have access to a doctor or midwife during labour. We’ve come so far we’ve gone backwards and lost sight of how risky childbirth can be.

Also, your friend may have had 4 straightforward births, that doesn't mean that the 5th will be. My 5th was far and away my worst and according to my consultant, after 4, giving birth becomes progressively harder and often more complicated.
I would have left 4 young kids motherless and with a dead baby sibling if I'd even opted for a home birth, never mind a ridiculous free birth.

More women and babies die in unassisted births than when women receive appropriate assistance. It sounds like you think survival isn't technically necessary?

I had 2 normal births including an unassisted homebirth with a MW present but my dc 3 had to be resuscitated at birth and I had a massive PPH this happened at home and was extremely traumatic for us and the midwives involved. Just because your friend has given birth safely before doesn’t mean she will again!

This post absolutely nailed it.

Absolutely not I wanted an alive and well baby, I also wanted to live.
Midwifes are damn helpful when giving birth. Why on earth would you take the risk when it's literally yours and your babies life I. the line. 🤔

Probably a lot of crossover with people who ‘hate needles’, I mean who the fuck likes them?

Maybe controversial but if you seriously want a free birth and that’s your plan I don’t think you’re mature enough to have a baby. Why?; unforeseen medical complications for you and baby even small can be deadly- are you going to deliver the baby if it needs forceps? I needed them and I sure as hell wouldn’t have been able to put them in me and yank my baby out or your partner with no medical training?! . if you lose blood- which I did - I got very tired and needed a lot of stitches and someone to look after baby while that happened- non of this for seen . If death of the baby or you is something you think is easy to gloss or “ as you’ve been told yours is an uncomplicated birth so things like this would never happen to you then m please look back at the History books at women giving birth at home with no medical practitioners with them- see how that went for thrm and most importantly the baby ! It’s mainly the baby I feel sorry for- they have no say, and if they could speak I reckon they would want the safest delivery possible so they can experience life.

Wtf is a free birth? Googles

Oh FFS. I’ve lost 2 babies to miscarriage while some people are playing it fast and loose with their babies’ lives to jump on a ridiculousy wanky, hippy-dippy (not to mention dangerous) bandwagon.

People do realise scientific progress and medical advancements and care are GOOD things right? That we’re all generally doing better because of them? Crucially, a bit less dead?

Once your baby is hopefully safely here, please take it for its vaccinations too, just in case that was another idiotic flight of fancy you were contemplating.

@Wishitsnows a solid and thought provoking response right her

Bah ha ha, nothing lovely about childbirth. Especially your 1st....... the pain. I can see you screaming "this is lovely" on your kitchen floor having your free birth!!

@CrystalSoup you tell me: which part of the normal physiological process of giving birth necessitates the assistance of another person?

I made it clear I thought it a good idea to have someone to help you, but it's not technically necessary. (V literal person with autism here...)

Depends what's more important - your ~ experience ~ or your baby's life?

I knew someone who did this. She bled to death alone in her house and her baby died too.
I'm no fan of medical intervention for its own sake, but access to medical help is essential.

Sorry but the clue is in the title "free birth" just screams of fad and I honestly think the idea behind it is for the mother to have some sense of achievement and being able to say afterward no medical help / I'm strong enough to go alone etc. agree as above that it's really selfish as not thinking about all of the risks to baby obviously

Jesus wept. Is this for Instagram?

My baby would have died if I'd 'free birthed' her as the cord was round her neck.

Think on.

I kind of did in that I had a hb planned but mW didn’t get there until last minute and 2nd midwife didn’t make it at all. My dd was born while the MW was frantically trying to get set up. I got in the pool and dd was born while mw had her back turned, I caught her and then dropped her in the pool where she was rescued by the MW. It was absolute chaos in one way but there was a couple of second of amazing calm when she was actually being born and I was the only one who noticed!

my 2nd hb went badly wrong though both MW were thankfully there that time around as ds needed resuscitation and I had a massive pph so I have experienced both outcomes and wouldn’t ever think about deliberately giving birth without a trained professional there.

Absolute stupidity, the risk to mother and baby is very high. If the mother wants to make that choice for herself fair enough, but it should absolutely warrant a social services referral if you're so blasé with your child's wellbeing. I have no faith anyone choosing to do this is a decent parent, or intelligent enough to be one without support.

A friend had an unplanned unassisted birth with her partner being guided over the phone by the emergency services. It is not worth the consequences if you plan to go it alone

Exact same situation here. I was ultimately glad for my hospital births after we all arrived home.

First births are tough. 15 hours of hell ( ish) . My first had meconium aspiration ( drank his own poo) was a crash section and needed special care baby unit. Thank god for the experienced midwife who monitored me closely and raised the alarm. I have a perfect son thanks to her.

No thank goodness. When things went wrong at the end they did so very quickly and I might have survived but dd wouldn't have. I was unaware. The monitoring in hospital and very quick action from the team saved her. I'm very grateful to them.

I wanted to have as close to a free birth at home as possible. My midwife was lovely, happy to be present but minimally involved. She said she would only intervene if necessary.
It turns out it was necessary. Dd was stuck with her shoulder, back to back and became distressed. Her heart rate began to dip. I had to be rushed to hospital. DD was fine, I had to have surgery.
I’m going extremely thankful to my wonderful understanding midwife, and to everyone at the hospital who saved our lives.
People who free birth are irresponsible.