Freebirthing – a great idea or courting disaster?

Marijke Durning, RN — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:00:28 +0000

Freebirthing, delivering your child at home without any healthcare professional present, even a midwife, is becoming more popular in some circles. Some women do take advantage of health care for prenatal tests and care, but then they choose to deliver at home with only their partner and/or family and friends present.

If you read this article, Freebirthing: Is it madness or the ideal way to give birth?, the mothers seem to think that if they don’t worry about emergencies, they won’t happen. I’m all for the power of positive thinking, but that seems – to me – to be really playing with fire. Not having any emergency plan or back up could result in disaster.

I’m all for women taking control of their bodies and their deliveries, I just have a huge issue with intentional unattended births.