Omg! This takes natural child birth to a whole new level!!

[Mamabear12]

I am in shock and amazed how this lady could just give birth naturally and by herself without any help!!!!

Watch this video:

I seriously think she is one of the lucky ones who don't have such a painful child birth. My first one, I lasted until 8cm (not intentionally) until I got epidural.

With my second I'm planning epidural again! I just hope I get it by 4cm this time as requested!

[VisualiseAHorse]

I didn't howl during the crowing stage either, although it was immensely painful, and I'd howled for about full 3 hours before that!!

[LeBFG]

OK - why is this woman not howling at the last bit? How is it possible to remain so calm and quiet? And standing up, with nothing to lean on? Incredibly strong woman.

[MummyPig24]

Jesus Christ that terrified me! I would need a professional there just in case something went wrong.

[organiccarrotcake]

Rightly, protecting women from people passing themselves off as midwives when they're not trained is the case in most countries. Sadly, the way that a midwife is classed as a midwife means that in some places, homebirth is not possible (eg they need to be registered and they can only be registered if they work solely in hospitals, that kind of shit).

This is natural childbirth, though. A stunning video showing how it could be for most people (not all, and thank goodness for the maternity services we have in those cases). But our bodies are designed to do this and with the right environment to get the oxytocin and other hormones flowing, rather than having them interfered with with vaginal examinations (sphincter law - cervixes can close as well as open), and hospital bright lights, talking, being in a place where we feel that we are having to ask for things and being a burden, etc etc.

I see this woman's pain - I don't think she's having a low pain birth - but I do think that the right hormone balance is working to ensure that the natural pain relief/management hormones (endorphins) are working well. These, like oxytocin, are "shy" hormones, easily interferred with by a non-mammal birth environment (you know, like cats seek a dark safe corner away from people). Not finding this environment can make childbirth unmanageably painful without pain relief.

[VisualiseAHorse]

In the US, UC is legal in every state except Nebraska where it is a misdemeanor for a father to catch his baby in a non-emergency situation (it doesn?t say anything about the mother catching the baby).

That is a bizarre law. That's taken from unassistedchildbirth.com.

You are right though carrotcake - seems like it's not illegal anywhere!

[organiccarrotcake]

Of course it's not illegal. It IS illegal to pass yourself off as a midwife if you're not, but not to give birth anywhere (your baby, your body, your choice) and it is entirely legal for someone else to support you to do that (eg partner/friend etc). To perform medical care of certain kinds when you're not a registered midwife is illegal - unless it's in an emergency "samaritan" situation and there's no clear definition of that. But again, that's to stop people from passing themselves off as midwives and DOES NOT affect birth partners in general. Anyone who says otherwise is wrong - and I've known midwives telling mums I've supported that to birth alone is illegal and their partners could be arrested which is UTTERLY wrong.

AIMS (www.aims.org.uk) has lots of info on this and supports women who are wanting choices in childbirth.

[VisualiseAHorse]

I'm pretty sure it's illegal somewhere...

[VisualiseAHorse]

That is a lovely story Mean - obviously a bit mad for you though!

[AmandaPayneAteTooMuchChocolate]

Mortified - I think it may be illegal in some US states, although I would bow to the greater knowledge of many on here.

I just watched the actual pushing section but it gave me the heebie jeebies. DD2 shot out like a speeding bullet, and I had no idea she was about to. I had visions of the baby having a bungy entry to the world. Other than that, it was lovely.

[SucksToBeMe]

Amazing video!

[sleepyhead]

Mean, that almost happened with ds2 - midwife sent me to the loo (ensuite in the labour room though) to see if emptying my bladder would get ds to fully engage, had a massive contraction, waters broke and the midwife yelled "back to the bed, baby's coming".

Dh & I thought she was being a drama queen because it was so quick and we'd been told I was only 8cm, but then dh said "bloody hell it's the head!" and a couple of pushes and he was here!

So, although it hurt like hell, I only just had time to remember about the "ring of fire" before it was all over. Fab!

[unluckyfriedkitten]

No it's not illegal to give birth unassisted Mortified - it's only illegal to act as a mw when you're not qualified to do so.

I had my second at home with no pain relief. It did hurt a lot in my back and I suspect the baby was back to back, but being with my family at home was all I needed. I laboured all day pottering about the house and didn't quite believe it would be so fast at the end so DH was on the phone with the mws when I started pushing and it would have been a blissful unassisted birth had some paramedics not turned up. DH did a good job of keeping them out of the way though. We'll be planning another 'accidental' birth before mw arriveal for the third :)

[lynniep]

she does have someone there though (see end of vid). just not assisting her.

[xigris]

Oh well done Mean! That happened to two people I know as well: one at the midwive's desk on labour ward - she went to ask for some paracetamol as she was a bit uncomfortable, the baby just sort of fell out . Luckily she caught her! My other friend had her DD3 in the main reception of her local hospital assisted only by the heavily tattooed and pierced cleaner (it was 4am). She thought she was about 4cm, sneezed and (I kid you not) saw something wriggling in her trackie bottoms. On closer examination it turned out to be a baby

[MortifiedAdams]

I thought it was illegal to have an unassisted birth with no.one around? (I mean plan and have one - of course there are surprise speedy deliveries)

[MeanAndMeaslyMiddleAges]

The moment had already set :) I was grinning like an idiot while they looked like they were going to have panic attacks :)

[Jojobump1986]

How rude of all those midwives to interrupt your perfect moment Mean!

[MeanAndMeaslyMiddleAges]

Nooooo! I was even in the hospital at the time, having been induced, but no one believed I was in full labour, and when my waters broke I immediately needed the loo, ran to the toilet (much to the surprise of the midwife who was about to examine me) and just kinda took it from there. I remember being really worried when his head popped out that I'd be in trouble, lol, but actually delivering him into my own arms and having that moment when it was just me and him - he had such a perfect round head and wrinkly forehead, and these most amazing navy eyes... I had to slip my fingers between his neck and the cord because it was wrapped round, but he was breathing and we just stared at each other and he looked as shocked as me. It was wonderful. And so quiet and peaceful. Then chaos as about a million midwives bundled into the toilet.

[VisualiseAHorse]

Wow Mean! Did you mean to do it alone?

[MeanAndMeaslyMiddleAges]

I actually delivered my own baby completely alone without pain relief. Just two pushes though, although I was in labour for 12 hours. Was really worried I was going to drop him, he was sooooo slippery.

[amothersplaceisinthewrong]

Well I would opted for epidurals both times, and would again.

[5madthings]

Siblings at the birth..

[5madthings]

I have been lucky enough to have good labours, it did hurt but was manageable.

Re having sibli gas at the birth, my ds1 was there when I had dd (no 5) and he cut the cord, magical moment :)

[Mamabear12]

Wow thegreylady, u r lucky! Some women r very lucky and child birth not so painful. For most it is very painful and I guess some inbetween. Mine was unbearable 5cm to 8cm when I finally got epidural. No way could I have slept. I describe my labour as a sea of pain. My contractions were so strong and constant, my reliefs last as long as for instance if u were ducked into the sea of pain for 60 seconds and allowed up for one breath of air before being ducked down again for 60 seconds into the sea of unbearable pain! But once I got the epidural, it was heaven!! I literally said "ah this is heaven!" the second they gave me the spinal tap. The best!!