To ask if you free birthed?

I think this poster meant that if there was a reason she couldn't get to hospital or a midwife to her, she wouldn't be completely in the dark.

I think that is very sensible, hope for the best, plan for the worst

Nothing about the birth process?

It's insane.
4 of my 5 children would have died if I hadn't been in hospital and I would have died with 2 of them.
Why on earth would you take the chance?

And how would you "manage" a massive haemorrhage, like Naomi James in Ireland?

There is a reason women have generally always had someone with them during birthing.

Even before official midwives there was always an experienced woman in the village or town who was called upon to be there. DH’s Granny, now 101, told the story of her and her sister running in opposite directions when they were 7 and 8 to the two places they were most likely to find Mrs Maxwell when their mother went into labour.

Giving birth completely solo may work fine if your body does exactly as it should and the baby does exactly as it should and all the instincts kick in exactly as they should. However, at the point you find out one of those necessities is not in perfect alignment is not the point to start organising help. It’s the point the person with you uses their experience to give the help you need right then.

Your friends a basic idiot to consider a free birth.

She'll be happy to leave her 4 children motherless? With a dead sibling, because that's what can happen. Why on earth would you not do everything in your power to have a healthy baby

I’m also pregnant with my first and am I remotely tempted by a free birth? Fuck no.

In my mind it’s the same as sky diving. Also something that I’ve never done and has a high degree of risk. Would I do it for the first time on my own without the right equipment and experienced professionals? Also fuck no.

I’m always bemused by people saying they’re ’aiming for as little intervention as possible’. Unless you’re booked in for an elective C-section, who does aim for intervention?

I'm in the emergency freebirth group on fb, and did all the courses and studied everything I needed to learn how to deal with most emergencies, should there be no midwives available OR they were being negligent and my husband and I could call the shots.

Best thing I ever did. I was able to make proper informed and final choices, advocate for myself and not be bullied by maternity services. I recommend every mother takes the course. You'd be surprised

No they invented hospitals for a reason

From google ….
The neonatal mortality rate per 10,000 births was 3.27 for hospital births, 13.66 for planned home births, and 27.98 for unintended/unplanned home births. These differences increased even further when patients were stratified for recognized risk factors.

either my child, me, or both of us would be dead without hospital help

It was suggested to me in lockdown when my home birth was cancelled. I considered it briefly but not for me. Why not consider a home birth rather than a free birth?

I had an unintentional unattended birth and it was terrifying. I can't actually remember most of it, its blocked out. I remember saying tonDH the baby was coming, I remember the doctors rushing in a couple minutes later... but that's it for the next few hours.

DD2 was a planned homebirth. It was so much calmer with someone there to help!

I disagree with this, though. Nothing about the birth process requires the presence of another person. That's not to say it's not preferable to have a care-giver present, but it's certainly not needed/required/essential for a baby to be born.

Talk to the midwife at your next appointment about your specific concerns. She’ll probably be able to put your mind at ease.

You may find that your friend is misinformed. If something has happened at the hospital, they may have taken steps to address it, and that sort of detail doesn’t tend to carry in the stories you hear.

I had a free birth with my third. Was to be a home birth but the midwife and my birth support people didn't make it in time. Just me, on my own (no partner) and my baby.
Terrible treatment by a male OB during labor with my second baby led me to the home birth pathway then everything happened fairly quickly.
I felt so powerful afterwards. Everything was quick but so incredible; to feel my baby move down the birth canal as I was on my knees in the kitchen was amazing. Three pushes and she was in my arms.
I didn't understand at the time why the midwives needed a debrief after at the time. Then read some horrendous outcomes for mother and baby and realized just how lucky I was.
Being 45 mins from a hospital and on a farm with no neighbors and ambulance 25 mins away in rural Australia, in hindsight, was very high risk.

Another one that very likely would be dead if I had, and 100% my son would have been. 2.5 day labour and they hit the dreaded red button on the wall and I was rushed to surgery, he was out in minutes. They saved our lives.

Didn't put me off for what it's worth, I have three beautiful children. All c sections mind. I would never have guessed it. Turns out I can deliver babies the "normal" route 🤷🏼

"I am 36 weeks pregnant and planning on a hospital birth I am hoping for as natural as possible with as little intervention as possible."

If that is the kind of birth you're hoping for, OP, I'd suggest you plan for a home birth instead.

I have had an unintended free birth (or, more accurately, my 5th baby was born before the arrival of my midwives - their fault, not mine!)

It was actually my favourite birth; I was totally calm, baby was born (in the bath) so calm that she didn't even start breathing until I rubbed her down a bit - that part did freak my husband out slightly tbf.

I wouldn't consider a free birth with my first baby tho, OP. A home birth, yes.

I had a dream pregnancy, all prepped for the birth pool. I'd packed my TENS machine and aromatherapy oils. Birth went completely sideways and we're both lucky to be here, I needed all the help I could get. The people that helped me were incredible

Sorry should have read YANBU to ask!

It’s definitely not lovely I did it by accident with my 4th I was in shock for days

“No, because I would value the life of my baby more than the need to have some wanky free birth.”

This. In spades.

Do those deliberately choosing a free birth do it for the benefit of the baby? I don’t bloody think so. Selfish beyond belief.

YABU to ask but you'd be damm stupid to go ahead and do.
Both me and my DD would be dead if we didn't have help. I had a healthy uncomplicated pregnancy, labour started naturally and baby was a perfect weight but birth would have killed us both.
Just don't.

a free birth sound really quite lovely

Darwinism in action I guess.