Unassisted Childbirth: Dispelling Myths About Freebirth

People mistakenly believe many things about freebirth. Some of the myths are understandable, and some are completely ridiculous. Freebirth is also called purebirth and unassisted birth. It usually occurs at home but shouldn't be confused with midwife-attended homebirth, which is what is usually meant by the term 'homebirth.' Many people don't understand the amount of preparation that goes into planning a freebirth, nor do people seem to realize that planning an unassisted birth doesn't mean you can't decide to go to the hospital at some point. Put aside what you think you know about freebirth for just a moment, and let me fill you in on the facts.

Freebirthers birth completely alone without including friends, family, partners, or other children. Only the mother is present. An unassisted birth is one that occurs without the presence of a medical professional, such as a doctor or midwife. Most unassisted births do include persons other than the mother, such as close friends, other family members, or their husbands. An unassisted birth that occurs when the mother is completely alone is a solo or autonomous birth.

Freebirthers never receive any medical intervention whatsoever; they do not seek medical attention at all. Most unassisted birthers prepare themselves to handle any and all situations that could arise and to recognize emergencies that would require professional treatment. Most will go to the emergency room or at the very least call a midwife if necessary. We simply chose to include professionals only when truly necessary. An unassisted birth where the mother refuses to see a professional or interfere for any reason whatsoever is called a Zion birth.

Freebirthers fear, hate, or have no respect for medical professionals. We have the utmost respect for people who provide care to those in need. We just don't believe in asking for their help unless it's really needed. We want as natural an experience as possible, but we do also want to be safe. We feel that the high rate of intervention in the hospital is unsafe for the average patient. Because of the risks, we want to avoid unnecessary intervention.

Only low-risk patients chose freebirth or can have a safe freebirth. While most unassisted birthers are low-risk, there are many with medium or high risk who chose freebirth and have a very positive outcome.

Freebirthers don't receive prenatal care. We're all different. Some see an ob/gyn or midwife, and some do their own prenatal care. Some have an ultrasound or other testing, and some decline. Some follow the recommended check-up schedule, and some only have one or two checkups per trimester. Others will just take good care of themselves physically, nutritionally, etc. while paying close attention to how they are feeling in order to detect any problems.

Freebirthers care more about the birth experience than their child's safety. We actually see unassisted birth as the healthiest and safest choice, as we can avoid unnecessary and dangerous intervention from medical professionals by birthing this way. We feel natural birth is far more safe than an interventionist one.

Freebirth is a fad, phenomenon, trend, act of rebellion, political statement... It has actually been practiced for centuries, since the age of man began. Midwives and doctors didn't always exist. In many cultures women birth alone or assisted only by family, friends, even young girls just entering puberty or their younger children. Freebirth has been around in America for quite a while as well; it's just gaining in popularity as more people turn away from interventionist hospital births. Moreover, it's getting more publicity now, as more and more people have the courage to speak up about it.

The reason freebirthers chose this path is ___. Freebirthers all believe ___. There are a wide variety of reasons for which people chose to birth unassisted. Most of us have multiple reasons. We may share some reasons in common with others, but every freebirther has her own reasons for her choice. Likewise, we all have our own beliefs about birth.

Freebirthers don't have access to medical interventions such as C-section, drugs, pitocin, or forceps. For one, these things aren't necessary in most births and can be dangerous. Moreover, items such as forceps can be ordered online but are rarely needed. While some freebirthers do live quite far away from the hospital, most live close enough that they can simply call an ambulance if necessary and arrive quite in time for treatment to be successful. Choosing to birth unassisted doesn't mean you can't or won't go to the hospital if you need to or that you can't have intervention if you want or need it. (A hospital with an excellent birthing center is less than ten minutes drive from my home, and I could easily get in the car and go there if I wanted an epidural!)

Both doctors and midwives consider freebirth unsafe. Few doctors are friendly to unassisted birth or homebirth in general, but some are. The majority of midwives are opposed to the practice as well, but there are many who are friendly to it. As time goes by, more professionals are opening their minds to this new practice. What one must keep in mind, though, is that doctors stand to lose money and clients when people turn to homebirth and freebirth. If those practices became the norm, obstetricians would lose most of their income and clients and maybe need to find a new job. Then again, obstetricians don't only exist to assist in birth; they also provide birth control, treat STDs, and help with overall fertility health. Most of their business is from pregnant women, though. While not generally motivated by money it is true that if a person freebirthers rather than paying for a midwife-attended homebirth, midwives lose money and clients. If that became the norm then midwives could go out of business.

Studies have shown that freebirth is dangerous. There is little data available on unassisted birth. One data collection did demonstrate a high neonatal mortality rate of 19. However, this was a Zion birthing community, and the information was collected over two decades ago. Other, more recent sets of data from unassisted birthers--not Zion birthers--suggests that freebirth is quite safe. One set of data about 201 unassisted births has a 0% mortality rate for mother and child; the mothers were of various ages, delivered at various times, were of varying risks, had different approaches to prenatal care, and were carrying babies of many sizes. Another set about 295 births had a neonatal mortality rate of 10 to 1000. One of those 3 deaths occurred because of uterine rupture associated with vaginal birth after C-section,a factor that makes a woman medium to high risk. Therefore, that data suggests a rate of 6.77 per 1000 for a woman with no previous C-sections--about the same number as the national average. There is no guarantee any of those infants would have lived had they been born in a hospital environment because of the circumstances. No controlled studies have actually been done, for who would fund them? (In the freebirth community I participate most, there have been over 40 births and no deaths since November 2006.) A large-scale study of much more than two or three hundred births would provide clearer information about the safety of freebirth.

Children injured in freebirth may be able to sue the mother some day, just like the mother can sue a hospital, doctor, or midwife who causes injury. This is not currently true, and if it ever did become true, it would only be for those children injured by the actions of their mothers. This would mean that the court would have to determine what caused the injury and if the injury would definitely have been prevented by physician-attended hospital birth. Children can't currently sue their parents over parenting decisions that cause harm, such as circumcising or vaccinating them, so it's doubtful they'll ever be able to sue them for freebirthing. The fact that the child would have to prove it was a planned unassisted birth, not an accidental one that was not the parents' fault, makes this even more true.

Freebirthers don't want the best for their children. Oh, please, we love our children just as much as any other parents and want what is best for them. We simply feel that freebirth is a safer, more beneficial option than hospital birth in most situations.

Freebirth is reckless, irresponsible, and dangerous. Most unassisted birthers do immense research to prepare themselves to handle whatever may come up and to know when to go to the hospital. They have to be more educated and more responsible than those who chose hospital birth, because the birth is in their hands--not someone else's. They often take infant CPR and resuscitation classes, rent an oxygen tank, and have various tools available in case needed during the birth. They don't just practice breathing and learn about common interventions; they learn how to midwife themselves in a sense. Unplanned freebirths are very dangerous, because the mother usually has not educated herself as to how to birth without assistance or handle emergencies. Unplanned freebirths happen when the mother is unprepared, and they end badly more often than planned freebirths--but not all the time.

Freebirth is outdated and just as dangerous today as it was centuries ago. Many deaths that occurred back then were due to ignorance. Things are very different now. We know how to detect and treat many more problems. We have better sanitation and hygiene practices. Risk of infection, disease, and illness are low. Our homes are clean. We know to wash our hands. We are capable of recognizing and handling emergencies. People are more educated today than ever. People are less likely to be overworked and malnourished, because we understand nutrition and aren't as poor. The average American woman has a very low risk of her pregnancy ending in sorrow, and its not just due to technology available in hospitals. Birth overall is much safer today, as is life.

Freebirthers are not irresponsible or stupid. They have done a lot of research to educate themselves and are taking full responsibility for their choices. They care as much about their children's safety as any other parent does; they just have a different view on what is the most safe birth choice and environment. Freebirthers aren't trying to impress, shock, or make a statement; they are just doing what they feel is best for their family. Everyone's reasons for choosing this path are different, but they all have one thing in common: the desire for a natural, safe birth for their child.