Free birthing

[Fruit Tingles]

I'm hoping this is in the right section.

What are things a woman needs to know about free birthing? Obviously obvious things like infant resuscitation etc for in case it is needed.
What happens after a free birth has occurred? Do you call an ambulance if it was not planned? Do they admit you to hospital if it was not planned?
If it was planned, what do you do with the cord, do you HAVE to keep the baby attached to the placenta til the umbilical cord falls off (Lotus?)?

I'm in the middle of deciding what I want birth-wise, and need these questions answered.

[Alan]

Hi Fruit Tingles
First I need to say that I do not recommend free birthing. In most cases there are no problems but things can and do go wrong.
So here are a few things that you need to know.
Resuscitation is very important but you need to do this with caution. It is very easy to burst a newborns lungs.
What to do if the baby gets stuck. (Shoulder distocia). You only have a few minutes to free the baby.
What to do if you bleed heavily. Post Partum haemorrhage/Ante Partum Haemorrhage.
What to do if the cord comes before the baby. (Cord prolapsed)
How to recognise Bandl’s rings. Quite rare but a client of mine had this late last year.
These are just a few problems that you may come across. There are many more.
You do not need to keep the cord attached.
You do not need to call an ambulance.
You may have difficulty submitting the paperwork. Some states are more difficult than others.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Well done you on wanting a freebirth! I'm having one of those next time. I have a friend who had a planned one and she said it was the best thing ever. I have had other friends give birth with no bullies around and their babies are fine, the bullies just couldn't be bothered to turn up when called so arrived too late to see the birth.

I reckon hospital births are riskier than free births. You know your body and if anything feels wrong then you can call an ambuance and be admitted to hospital. If things are going well, you don't have people walking up to you and saying they want to slice you up while you're birthing. Or give you a hysterectomy.

OK, so free births aren't all plain sailing. But I'm sick of midwives and doctors trying to bully me out of the idea, when it was their bullying that has led me to this choice.

[Floweryfields]

There is a huge difference between having a home birth with a qualified midwife and a freebirth. Free birthing is very risky and you seriously need to consider whether the possibility of the death of your baby or even yourself outways what you might deem to be bullying.

Thing is you may well know your body and when something is going wrong (though I think there's a fair possibility that you won't either) - and if you do, often it can be far too late to do anything about it if you are unassisted. How long would an ambulance take to arrive if, you have a cord prolapse or a heamorrage- and how fair is it to expect an ambulance person to have to save lives when you;ve made the choice to birth that way to begin with?

I know it's all about choice, but I strongly believe choice must be responsible.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I am not sure if the birth of my DD1 is classed as a free birth or not, i was home alone on the bathroom floor on the phone to 000.
It was an interesting experience and although she was breach we were extremely lucky to have NO complications, that said i would never have planned to be home alone.

I made it to hospital with DD2 and like the comfort of knowing that support is there if i need it, i was quite lucky in the fact the midwives were happy to let me do my own thing and i only called them in whilst pushing.

I think it is amazing that some women want to and can do this but it's not for me, i would be way to stressed about what is or is not happening and don't think it would help.

GL with it all and i hope you get the answers you need.

[Smoke Jaguar]

I've gotta say I'm in favour of having someone around. Not necessarily a midwife, but then you'd want to know the credentials of the person attending. So this, technically, makes it not a freebirth. Just that I really like the idea of the village 'midwife' (doula) who attends births, like in my grandma's village in Central America, who birthed all 9 of my aunts, uncles and my mum. I love middies, too, don't get me wrong, but with the current situation, and me birthing in the country next time (though I hear of a IM in the next big town), I've been considering my non-MW options. It's a way off, but toying with it anyway. After DS's birth I started to get involved in the HB community early on, after using a birth centre, so that by the time the next one was cooking I was well-versed and very confident with my journey. There are forums that have lots of members who freebirth, and these kinds of forums can be a bit full on in their opinions of IM's at births, even!! However, the people I know personally who have freebirthed are lovely and DON'T eat their placentas

[meow]

I can't really help you sorry fruit tingles but I wanted to subscribe as I find the topic interesting. I considered a freebirth this time around as I'm having a homebirth and it's pretty pricey, but I've decided to pay for midwife support.

I can't imagine any decent independent midwife 'bullying' a woman in labour- maybe hospital midwives as I've heard of so many who don't seem to "get" birth even though they work around birthing women all day.

Good luck with your decision and let us know how you get on

[Little Chicken]

If you are going to freebirth why not homebirth with a good IM you can trust and get along with? If things go wrong they go wrong quickly and it can be good to have someone there who wont have the adrenaline flowing and with a level head and who knows what to do. Is it really fair to put that pressure on your partner? Mind you a true freebirth is birthing completely by yourself with no-one else there. By all means learn infant resuscitation, but the resuscitation techniques on a newborn are slightly different (as in different breathing rates and heart rates) but any resuscitation is better then none. Just factor in how long it would take for an ambulance to reach you if something went wrong, sometimes you only have 2 -3 minutes.

[Arcadia]

Perhaps you could speak to an IM and line one up, but just decide on the day if you want someone to attend the birth. It is nice to have the midwives come check on you after the birth too and be on call for breastfeeding or other issues. In short an IM offers so much more than birth attendance, and I think they're invaluable.

There are midwives who are very hands off too...perhaps you could chat with a few and find one that suits your needs.

birth is so precious...I hope you get the one you're hoping for.

[Fruit Tingles]

Thank you every one for your replies.
I don't really know what I want for this birth. I am currently under GP care for this pregnancy, and have nothing to do with the hospital or midwives. I have no choice in this. This really scares me.
With DD I birthed in a hospital, but the midwives pretty much just sat in the corner and left DP and I to ourselves, they just checked me every so often. They kept the OBs off my back wanting to get me prepared for surgery because they were not happy with how I was progressing.
My birth was absolutely amazing, no complications, pretty straight forward and text book.

This time around though, everything is up in the air. I'm under a doctors care, I have nothing to do with the hospital, or midwives, and I would rather be under midwife care than have anything to do with doctors.
On top of that, DP and I will be moving a large distance from where we are living currently, so to hire a IM is out of the question, because who knows where we will be when I give birth? If we have moved before I go into labour, I have FILs sister who has worked as a midwife and is quite high up in that area, who I can call and she has offered to come assist me should I need it. We discussed a homebirth with her but at the time it was not a option for myself, let alone DP.
All I know though, is that I will not be in a rush to go to hospital if I were in labour. I will do a lot of labouring at home, for literally as long as I feel I can.
I also have this instinct that I will be giving birth alone, without medical supervision or assistance, and I am completely at ease with this. I am not scared by it, it feels natural to me, and I am inclined to say that that is what I want.
I don't think I can say it will be planned, just that it is most likely what will happen considering I plan to stay home as long as I possibly can.
Does that all sound pretty crazy? In my head it makes sense, but I'm not sure if maybe I'm coming across as some crazy minded person.

I'm 28 weeks pregnant and the only non-scary option to give birth is free-birthing. Hospital birthing with a doctor, in a hospital I know nothing about and have no association with, and midwives I don't even know I can trust, is so daunting and scary.

[Kazbah]

Fruit Tingles - wow, how scary a situation that you're in. I would love a homebirth, but my DH would freak. Have you done a first aid course? And just wondering, what are your plans with DD1 during the birth? Must say that you've made a very logical decision. With the hospital, is it possible to do a tour and meet the midwives - would that put your mind at ease somewhat?

Good luck.

[Mildez]

Must say I agree with Alan. Obviously its your body and your baby and your decision but if something does go wrong can you take responsibility for your actions? And have a DOCS notification reporting you for not having the best interests of your baby at heart. Not been cruel just stating the facts that if something did go wrong and you did end up in hospital with complications then that would probably be one of the consequences. And for your older child? That tiny tiny risk of you (not including your unborn baby) leaving your older child with a compromised mother! Yeah it happens in hospital and intervention does increase that chance where as your reducing it at home but you have trained medical staff dealing with any problems that arises (and thus the responsibility is on them not you) Can you throw that responsibility on your family memeber that is a midwife and let her take responsibility and possible look at de-registration if something did go wrong and an inquest showed her to be at fault? Why not home birth? I am sure you could find an IM at a later stage depending on what area you were settled in. That gives you the option of staying at home and not having the interference of others except your IM hiding in the background (or participating how you want them to) and still having the security that a trained professional is there is the instance that something did happen that need fixing (such as a cord around the neck etc.

I am all for home birth definately but free birthing can be dangerous. Google what happened to one of the largest advocates of free birthing in Australia Janet Fraser.

As for the paper work that can be difficult. Not sure how you get your birth certificate and medicare forms etc as the midwife at your babies birth is the one to sign it and not sure how you go about proving you birthed your bub etc. I know a friend who had an unintentional birth at home and it took her months to get her money for bub as she was alone.

[HotI]

Obviously its your body and your baby and your decision but if something does go wrong can you take responsibility for your actions? And have a DOCS notification reporting you for not having the best interests of your baby at heart. Not been cruel just stating the facts that if something did go wrong and you did end up in hospital with complications then that would probably be one of the consequences. And for your older child? That tiny tiny risk of you (not including your unborn baby) leaving your older child with a compromised mother!

I am all for home birth definately but free birthing can be dangerous. Google what happened to one of the largest advocates of free birthing in Australia Janet Fraser.

Free birthing is very risky and you seriously need to consider whether the possibility of the death of your baby or even yourself outways what you might deem to be bullying.

Thing is you may well know your body and when something is going wrong (though I think there's a fair possibility that you won't either) - and if you do, often it can be far too late to do anything about it if you are unassisted. How long would an ambulance take to arrive if, you have a cord prolapse or a heamorrage- and how fair is it to expect an ambulance person to have to save lives when you;ve made the choice to birth that way to begin with?

Why use the same techniques (threats on the life of the baby) that Obs (medical profession) use to dissuade women from homebirthing to a woman investigating freebirthing?

The original poster was looking for info- not a lecture. Alan and others were able to provide this whilst still noting that he doesn't reccomend freebirths.

[Mildez]

Kate I thought my post did answer some of Fruit Tingles questions. She asked what she needs to know. It can be dangerous. I wouldn't class that as bullying or trying to convince someone into hospital birthing. Its a fact that without someone experienced in childbirth or the early postnatal period if problems arise potentially it can have detrimental effects on the health of mum or bub. I also stated a fact that in the eyes of the medical professionals in a hospital setting that choosing to free birth could potentially lead to a notification to department of community services. This is fact based on past incidences where this has happened. Not to say anything has come of it but if a mandatory reporter does believe free birthing is putting the life of an unborn baby at risk and other children then it could be reported. I did not say I agree with this but it could happen. Again stating the facts that fruit tingle should be aware that potentially she would have a finger pointed at her at putting her baby at risk even if she has made an informed choice to give birth at home without assistance from a midwife, doula etc with the knowledge that this is the best option for her.

Again to me Ausgirl was stating facts. Fruit Tingle asked for advice and I wasn't about to beat around the bush as I am sure a few others weren't by their posts and make it out what a good idea free birthing is for her. I never said don't do it just know the risks and weather the benefits of free birthing outway the risks that potential could happen not necessarily happen.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Kaz - a chat with an IM about HB can really help partners understand what HB is. Men are just as inculcated in the idea that a hospital with men who 'know what they're doing' is the safest place to birth. Men also respond very well to facts and figures "Safer Childbirth" by Marjorie Tew is a good one for throwing open the lid on the monopoly hospitals have on birth despite their not so great comparable record.
I also agree with Kate, not appreciating the way Janet's outcome is used as an argument - that can happen and DOES happen quite a bit more often in hospitals than at home ALthough DOCS can become involved, so that IS a good heads up.

[HotI]

Kate I thought my post did answer some of Fruit Tingles questions. She asked what she needs to know. It can be dangerous.

Birth can be 'dangerous'

I also stated a fact that in the eyes of the medical professionals in a hospital setting that choosing to free birth could potentially lead to a notification to department of community services. This is fact based on past incidences where this has happened.

DOCS have also been notified of women who have planned homebirths, but this argument is not brought up when discussing homebirths using an IM.

I read Ausgirl's post as opinion, not fact.

[Fruit Tingles]

DD will be looked after by MIL at MILs house, who will be in which ever town/city we are living at the time.
I don't plan on a free birth. I just want to know what I need to know IF I were to have one as a result of staying at home for as long as possible, as I believe giving birth before arriving at hospital is a possibility when staying at home for as long as possible. I only intend on doing this because I want to be where I am most comfortable, rather than go to hospital and have my labour go backwards because I am uncomfortable and stressed, so will be labouring at home for as long as possible, which I believe a lot of women do.

I don't think I am being irresponsible and putting myself and my child at risk. I am having a uncomplaicated, text book pregnancy so far, and as long as everything is looking fine, I see no reason why I can not labour at home for as long as I feel necessary.
As for first aid courses, both DP and I have done them, and I have even done specifics in infant and child resusitation and first aid. I keep updated with my first aid and am more than comfortable with my ability to act in an emergency.

[meow]

I am all for home birth definately but free birthing can be dangerous. Google what happened to one of the largest advocates of free birthing in Australia Janet Fraser.

As for the paper work that can be difficult. Not sure how you get your birth certificate and medicare forms etc as the midwife at your babies birth is the one to sign it and not sure how you go about proving you birthed your bub etc. I know a friend who had an unintentional birth at home and it took her months to get her money for bub as she was alone.

Hmm... so you know of a friend personally who had a freebirth with no problems yet you suggest googling a person who it didn't go so well for? I could also suggest googling all the women who have lost their babies in hospital. Death is sometimes a very unfortunate fact of birth.

As Alan mentioned, there is a lot more a birthing baby may need than is covered in a first aid course. Hence why midwives have all that training. Perhaps you could call the ambulance for medical backup once you are getting close?