Those who consider homebirth: Would you go underground?

[BellyBelly]

I wanted to put this poll up to those who have had a homebirth or want a homebirth, if the proposed laws are passed and homebirth is illegal, would you still try to find a way to birth at home, even if t's illegal?

Also:

If you are from Australia and would go underground to birth should homebirth become illegal, could you please email me at my first name, @bellybelly.com.au with your comments and thoughts on this - it will remain anonymous if you wish or just first name (make sure you let me know). I want to try and get a media release going - we need to attack this on every level, and we need to let them know that we will do everything to find a way to birth at home, to have our choice honoured. Being one of the biggest independent family sites in Australia as well as being considered "mainstream" I think this could send a powerful message.

[mamaof4]

I have birthed all of my four beautiful children at home, and am devastated with the decision made by the government this past week. The ignorance and fear surrounding homebirth defies belief!

[The[cookie]Doctor]

I voted for consider...

My stance on the new law is so much more about choice than homebirth.

As much as I want one - my last hospital birth was not traumatic, it was just the kind of birth where I may as well have been at home... and I wanted to for further births so it was about my family. I didn't need to take up room in a hospital and I think it's horrendous that a father can't stay with his newborn child as well.

Anyway, aside that - I would consider because I don't know if I would have the determination to go underground. Maybe if I had even minimal birth trauma it would more highly influence me.

I am impressed by any woman's dedication to take homebirth underground if that is what they so deeply desire. Good on you.

[Visitor8]

I have thought a lot about birthing my next baby at home, my first 3 were in hospital and 2 were ones I would rather forget.
If it is made illegal I would have no choice but to birth in hopspital. I wouldn't and couldn't birth at home without a midwife and risk my childs life. Where to birth is a choice we SHOULD have...

[Tegam]

I wrote i would consider....why well its very hard. I have to take into consideration my DH feelings on freebirth.... As our last homebirth turned into an ooops freebirth which did scare him with the responsibility of it all....

My first 2 hospital births were perfect hospital births! But IT SCARES the living daylights having the thought to have to go back to one. We have moved and the intervention rate is SO high at our local hospital! like 70% c/s, ahhhhhhh

I would 100% birth at home if it was illegal IF there was a midwife willing to be there! But that wasnt an option on the poll.

[Indadhanu]

For me, I chose consider... And there'd be a heck of a lot to consider... I wouldn't freebirth, i would have to have someone qualified there, so I guess it would come down to that... but then I would also feel a huge sense of responsibility to the midwife... if we had to transfer to a hospital, the midwife would be outed, and that would play on my mind and cause so much guilt I think... I dunno...

I chose consider, because I would, but ultimately i think I'd end up in a hospital, because so many maybes, mostly at the midwife getting in trouble.

If I couldn't have a homebirth I'd go to hospital with a BAZILLION doulas around me bearing arms against the hospital staff LOL!

[AngelPunks]

we were discussing this last night, I'm going to be in my 40s when I give birth for the first time, so I am a little bit scared about risks etc. I'd love to be able to give birth in a totally natural environment, where I felt relaxed, calm and surrounded by loved ones.

[skybie]

i voted consider it.
would have homebirthed this time, but the cost is what held us back, which im now kicking myself about because now i may never get the opportunity.
my hospital birth with DD was a very very relaxed one compaired to some of the stories ive heard on bb. there was no intervention and i was told to follow my bodies lead, no directed pushing, which i believe helped my walk away without even a paper cut.
i know that this most likely has alot to do with the beautiful midwife i got on the night and if it had of been another it could be a completely different story.
rambling sorry, but just wanted to let u know that even tho i love the idea of homebirthing, sometimes hospital births arent that bad

[MamaK]

I want to have my next baby at home. I wanted my DD to be born at home, but health issues made this impossible.

If we take away the right and the legality to birth at home, more women will have unassisted births, which in turn may increase the mortality and complication rate, therefore, making all the bigwigs who want to abolish it happy.

We NEED to stop this insane pressure to make it illegal NOW!

[tk1999]

My stance on the new law is so much more about choice than homebirth.

I am the same - my stance on the new laws is more about people having the option and the choice rather than the actual homebirth (if that makes sense at all)

I am not sure that I would homebirth but I want to have the choice to do that if I decide to at the time.

[HotI]

As i understand it, the laws won't make it illegal to birth at home, they will just make it illegal to have the support of a midwife to birth at home.

If you want to birth at home (without the support of a midwife) you don't need to go underground, you just don't go to hospital and have your baby at home.

If you want to birth at home with the support of a midwife, you need to find a midwife who is prepared to go 'underground', ie to assist you without legal backing.

[Indadhanu]

If you want to birth at home with the support of a midwife, you need to find a midwife who is prepared to go 'underground', ie to assist you without legal backing

I think thats the point of the question - going 'underground' by finding a midwife who'll support you.
I'm not sure there are too many woman willing to freebirth!

[HotI]

Freebirth is just a new term. Homebirth did not use to require a health care provider to be there.

I think using correct terminology is important. Giving birth at home is not becoming illegal, just the health care providers are no longer being covered to assist women to do this.

I am really against the laws that they want to bring in. But also don't want people who would like to freebirth believe that what they are doing is potentially to become illegal

I will PM cos don't want to go off topic here.

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

After my last hospital birth I just couldn't face it again. Hospital is just not an option for me, even though it was modelled as a birth centre. I will birth at home no matter what, if the need arose I would call an ambulance to assist me towards the end of labour.

[Inertia]

I am not 100% sure how one goes underground properly in the current system. I mean, you need the forms and thus need to present at a hospital to get them one way or another. So obviously you'd be going in saying you freebirthed or accidental home birthed. Just would be fair obvious you are telling porkies I guess.

I would go to a hospital. As much as I hate the environment, I would not ask anyone to put their career - and possibly freedom - on the line for me.

[Visitor8]

free birthing is birthing without any professionals, no MW or doctors, a lot of freebirthers also don't have any medical checkups during pregnancy.

Homebirthing is birthing at home with a midwife or doula.

Or at least that is what I thought???

By making it illegal to practice homebirth without insurance (the midwife) and no one will insure them, thus making it illegal to homebirth.

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

A homebirth with a doula is also a freebirth because doulas are just a support person and aren't responsible for any of the medical aspects of childbirth.

[Visitor8]

ahh ok cool I thought they were training MW's lol

Shows what I know (or don't :P)