Is Unassisted birth safe?
By dpacjones
@dpacjones (39)
Canada
May 4, 2009 10:04pm CST
I have a friend who recently had a baby on her own at home with just her partner there. There is quite a movement behind these unassisted births, also called Freebirths, some doctors and doulas even promote it. It sounds amazing really. She had no complications, felt secure and safe and had a healthy baby.
Is this safe though? She argues that it is and that it is way better than having a birth at the hospital. She says she probably would have had a C-section if she had been at the hospital because she had a long prelabour and that nowadays over 30% of births are done by C-sections. Doesn't that percentage semm high?
I think she's amazing for having her baby on her own.
I should mention that she herself is a doula and her partner was very educated too.
Should people be promoting "Freebirths"?
1 person likes this
1 response
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
5 May 09
I saw a program on television about free birthing and it did look like the ladies were having wonderful birthing experiences. They had to buy all the necessary equipment because the hospitals wouldn't give it to them. I have had two home births with midwifes present. At 37 weeks pregnancy a home birth box arrives and I have found that convenient. I know at home things are more relaxed and there isn't a worry about timing. The worry is something might go wrong. I like a hands off approach during stage one that is the contractions but I need help from the midwife for stage two that is the birth and stage 3 that is delivering the placenta. The lady you describe is a doula so that was fine she did free birthing. Most other people wouldn't have the same excellent knowledge like her.
I have heard about some awful births in hospitals and better births in birthing centers. However home birth is even nicer and far more relaxing. I think that a 30% C-section rate is shocking. That is close to one in three ladies and more that one in four ladies. I think that a birth plan should state exactly what the pregnant lady wants. I like a natural labor at home with two midwifes.
