free birthing (please don't post if you don't like the idea)

[workstostaysane]

anyone done it, interested in it, read the books?
i'm only just pregnant for the 2nd time - had a totally drug free wonderful home birth first time around and now keep thinking i'd love to do it without a midwife this time. just interested to know if there is anyone else really.

To each their own. I'm glad though that it wasn't dh who got to do the stitching. Or I'd have looked a right mess down below.

a good midwife would do those things - unfortunately not all of us get the privilige of having a good midwife attend our births - the one that attended my labour did not respect my privacy or my wishes - and i feel she contributed to my slow labour as i wasn't comfortable labouring with her around.

i say go for it - i would love to birth freely, and like pp has said - it's not illegal, and birth shouldn't be a medical event - we are just conditioned to think that way!

hannah x

My Cousin went into labour with her second so quickly that she didn't have any time to get to the hospital or to alert the midwife - she gave birth in the lift on the way to the car!

I quite like the idea myself as long as I can keep a cylinder of gas on hand. I could imagine I was in the Amazon forest doing it like a native

thanks karewins. i love ina may gaskin's books. i read them at least twice each last time. and already have Spiritual Midwifery by my bed again this time.

BTW, does anyone have a copy of the sarah j
buckley book that they would like to pass on? or Michel Odent for that matter..?

I've done it by accident! That was the cutest poo ever to be had!

I did end up being taken to hospital afterwards, though, as my placenta refused to shift. The irony was that I ended up having a spinal so it could be removed manually. I also ended up needing 3 pints of the good red stuff.

I'm all for a hands off birth where a midwife is there for support, but the idea of going it totally alone scares me, somewhat. I still have moments, almost 21 months later where I still think a bit too hard about the what ifs surrounding my own birth.

someone on this thread talked about a book that discussing childbirth practices around the world - can't find the post or remember the title.
does anyone know the book i mean?

Not sure which book you are referring to WTTS, but you might also be interested in Birth: A History by Tina Cassidy

I found it fascinating and helped a lot to understand why and how we've arrived at the maternity systems we have today.

Thanks Klaw,
Its a book I remember hearing about but looking back it was not on this thread.
Thanks for your recommendation though - it looks interesting. I've also just ordered the Sarah Bucklely book (as well as 'How to deliver your placenta' and 'Vitamin K and the newborn'!)