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.

[cory]

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.

[funkyhan]

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

[woodyrocks]

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

[workstostaysane]

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..?

[ouryve]

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.

[workstostaysane]

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?

[Klaw]

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.

[workstostaysane]

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'!)