'Free birthing' AIBU to think this woman should not be encouraging people to do this

[WilliowGreen]

In this guardian article this woman boasts about her wonderful birth experience by rejecting all care including scans because "it was not empowering".
Before I had my baby (she is 2 weeks old) I would probably have thought her lack of self awareness was funny. Now it quite irrationally fills me with rage.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/apr/28/experience-i-had-a-free-birth.

It hurts SO much. Why would anyone bother pretending otherwise

Why not let people describe how they wish? I found it really bloody hurt when I was in an uncomfortable position or I couldn't zone out a bit (unneeded near darkness). But once I found a way to shut things out and concentrate on my breathing, then actually yes it hurt but I could cope with it. I can see why she would use the word sensation - it helps to deal with the pain. That's how I read it.

Trifle I agree. There is a lot wrong with care of pregnant and birthing women in the UK. Currently pregnant and having to resist the temptation to free birth because I don't fucking trust (hardly) any of them. Third baby, so I have experience.

I think its a typical example of people not appreciating what they have. The whole argument that women give birth in fields without medical intervention is terrible. With dd3 i was a perfect candidate for a home birth. My blood pressure went through the roof, she had shouldet dysocia and was 9lb compared to my previous 6lbers. I haemorrhaged and ended up in intensive care. I was that women that possibly would have died in the 1960s. And it would have been questionable now bearing in mind the min 30 minute drive to the hospital.

Batteriesallgone:

I remember my HCPs being brilliant. I was 'offered' every procedure. But lots of pregnant women report being made to feel as if they have no choices. I think that is counterproductive. Other mums are often the worst offenders, with comments like 'It's not about you, it's about the baby.' Helpful. Not.

I think free birthing is a bad idea but I had a really positive experience of hcps during my pregnancy and birth. I can see how people end up feeling they are trapped in a corner and are too frightened to seek medical help.

Yep. Like it's impossible to imagine an environment where both mother and baby are cared for. Nope it's all 'shut your mouth and be grateful selfish women'.

Glad you had a good experience. Holding out hope I'll get lucky!

If they've had previous bad experiences I mean

I like this from the comments, in relation to her complaint that the GP wasn't "empowering":

I guess Nye Bevan and William Beveridge missed that bit. Should have been "the six 'Giant Evils' of Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor, Idleness and Not Empowering Middle-Class Yoga Teachers".

Just why would you even take the risk? Why would you not want to take every precaution necessary to ensure you deliver your baby alive? Christ. I've had two simple easy births, one complicated birth and the fourth had complications after an easy birth - she was rushed to NICU. I was wracked with guilt - even though I had done absolutely nothing to cause the situation. I don't know how they can do these ridiculous things, have the worst happen and still be patting themselves on the back. It makes me feel sick.

What she has is rich white privilege

Great posts Agatha

As Apes, we have paid a heavy price for going upright and if we can use our newly-acquired 'better' brains (resulting in scientific methods) to ease up on mother nature's selective methods, we are empowered to so do.

Millions of women in countries with no access to health care would think she's nuts. How up your own backside and privileged do you have to be to think free birthing is such an 'empowering' idea.

She's going to be a PITA at toddler groups, is she goes.

if she goes.

She'll probably go to a wanky hipster toddler group won't she.

I chose not to have heart tracing of baby when in labour. I didn't want to hear her heart fade away if she died in utero which was the most likely possibility. I chose not to have a c section either and would not consent to one at that gestation unless it was to save my life.
I felt I was better cared for when I had a home birth as I had two midwifes watching me.

I had a home birth it was great and I'd definitely recommend it. I wouldn't have done a free birth.

Bet she doesn't vaccinate little Fox either, so she can be "empowered" by diphtheria.

She's going to be a PITA at toddler groups, is she goes.

She won't as she won't want her precious wee snowflake to be exposed to other children or refined sugar.

YANBU

It's all very well to have her freestyle birth or whatever it's called, but to encourage others is not right.

Each to their own and all that, but seriously, having no medical care/input is quite frankly batshit crazy.

Each to their own I suppose but I think she's stupid and deluded.
It's the smugness of these and wording they use that bothers me

I have only praise and thanks for my two births, highly medicalised and involving lots of people. Sometimes the health care staff were short with me due to being under huge amounts of pressure, and I had a few curt consultants but my children were delivered alive and well, and that's the most important thing to me.

Clickbait article, seems to me.

Something to purposely get people really wound up.
Same tactics as the Mail.

I am a bit of a control freak and absolutely hate being told what I can and cannot do so I hired independent midwives for each of my births. I still had scans, and blood tests, and I arranged to have a top obstetrician as backup in case we needed a hospital. DC1 was a month late, which was a bit stressful, but we worked as a team to minimise the risks.

I love how in the article she was all sad about the 'lack of joy' the midwife had in her pregnancy. What a poor dear.

I knew of someone who wanted to “free birth” She had no ante natal appointments, no scans, nothing. She went into labour early and had the sense to go to hospital. After the baby was born the midwife said “hang on a minute there is another one in here”. They were incredulous that the mother hadn’t had any scans and didn’t know she was carrying twins.

I think she was hugely irresponsible. I completely understand women wanting a less medicalised birth, knowing that they were having a straightforward pregnancy and going for a home birth. But I cannot understand turning down basic, routine, uninvasive monitoring throughout her pregnancy that could have saved her and her baby's life if there had been complications, purely on the basis of them not celebrating her bloody joy enough!!

I had an EMCS and 100 years ago DD (and probably me) would have died in childbirth. We are so bloody lucky to live in the times we do with good access to medical care! I had the least natural birth going, am terrified of needles and having a CS was my worst nightmare - but it was necessary my DD is healthy and perfect. Birth wasn't all about my experience, it was about bringing my daughter into this world safely.

Also, Fox?