I saw an unassisted birth on foxtel on the home & health channel a few weeks back and oh my gosh, I couldn't take my eyes off the screen! I thought "how is that woman doing that alone?" and she was standing up too and caught the baby in her hands as it slipped out and it did literally "slip" out! She was so calm too, i'm sure in lots of pain also. The husband was filming it on the video camera and she wasn't letting him touch her or help out. Fair enough... each to their own I believe too... I don't think I would be able to do that unless I had no choice (if didn't make it to the hospital in time!). I would be so worried about something going wrong though....
I thought it was quite "beautiful" to watch though and did not scare me off from giving birth whatsoever.... it's just such an amazing thing...