I just watched a show that aired last night at 8pm EST on I think Discovery Health. It was called "Freebirthing" and was about three women who were pregnant, had little to no prenatal care, and gave birth to their children in their homes with no midwives or doulas present.

Their beliefs were that medical intervention is pointless and inhibits the natural birthing process. That the people who know how to best give birth is the mother, and everyone else just gets in the way of this natural, personal, emotional time. Two of the ladies had bad experiences in hospitals, and wanted to avoid them during their future deliveries.

All three babies and mothers were healthy (to their knowledge, of course they didn't have any post-birthing tests done). All three women only had their partners present, two allowed their partner to kind of "guide" the baby out (they didn't want them to pull), and one woman didn't let her partner touch her at all during the delivery.

Two of the women were in England, one in Colorado, USA. I guess in England it is illegal for anyone to aid a woman who does a Freebirth, I guess the women's partners could have been fined and the hospitals refused to give them a home-birthing kit (with sterile scissors, etc etc).

I guess in the USA, it is legal.

Anyways, I guess I just found it interesting and will share my thoughts on the next post. What do you all think of it? If I didn't share enough information for you all to comment on it, feel free to ask and I'll try to share more if I know the answer.

Here were my thoughts:: I think it is a great concept, doing it naturally. BUT I think these women are idiots. Do they not realize how high infant mortality was before medical intervention and still is in 3rd world countries where these kinds of natural births still take place?

I do not believe in putting the baby at such a high risk just so the mother can fulfill some sort of fantasy "in the rain forest surrounded by parrots and big flowers" birth. There are so many things that could go wrong for both baby and mother. Infant mortality rate used to be sky-high, with mother-mortality rate close behind. Can you imagine if something went wrong, and it took the paramedics 30 minutes to get out to the middle of no where? Both mom and baby would be dead, which could have been avoided.

I believe, if one has the means to have as safe a birth as possible, they should do it. I am all for home births with the help of midwives and family members, at least the midwives know what to do in the case of an emergency......the general public does not.

I question if maybe the documentary filmed more than the 3 women, and some of the women's babies died? It is quite possible.

Emily_G wrote:

QUOTE:
Here were my thoughts:: I think it is a great concept, doing it naturally. BUT I think these women are idiots. Do they not realize how high infant mortality was before medical intervention and still is in 3rd world countries where these kinds of natural births still take place?

I do not believe in putting the baby at such a high risk just so the mother can fulfill some sort of fantasy "in the rain forest surrounded by parrots and big flowers" birth. There are so many things that could go wrong for both baby and mother. Infant mortality rate used to be sky-high, with mother-mortality rate close behind. Can you imagine if something went wrong, and it took the paramedics 30 minutes to get out to the middle of no where? Both mom and baby would be dead, which could have been avoided.

I believe, if one has the means to have as safe a birth as possible, they should do it. I am all for home births with the help of midwives and family members, at least the midwives know what to do in the case of an emergency......the general public does not.

I question if maybe the documentary filmed more than the 3 women, and some of the women's babies died? It is quite possible.

my sentiments EXACTLY!!!! women and babies STILL die in childbirth its a dangerous thing to go thru...
not to mention like u sed, the post natal testing.. what if the mother needs an anti D shot?? she will never know untill she starts to miscarry her next babies.. what if she has a post partem heamorrage ? what if he has uterine tearing? what if the cord gets wrapped around the baies neck? how woud they moniter fetal distress? what if they get shoulder dystocia((baby gets stuck at the shoulders))?
there are too many "what if's" in my opinion to not only risk ur babies life but ur own..
u sedit beautifully when u sed

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I think these women are idiots.

freakin hippies

I completely agree with the women above. I saw a similar show last week too. Here are my thoughts:

I like the concept of doing things the natural way but childbirth can be very dangerous. I can see where these women are coming from but I think they are being very naive and selfish. They are putting their lives and their babies lives at risk because they like the "idea of freebirthing." Stupid. I believe that you should embrace the evolving medical world. Yes, there have been some nightmare stories but there are millions upon millions of successful and healthy births in a hospital.

One question I would ask them is what happens if something goes wrong? They are blamed for risking the baby's life. There is no excuse.

Seaason wrote_

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freakin hippies

haha exactly!

i applaud women who wants to give birth the natural way....but doing it without nurses, doctors or midwives around is, in my opinion, not right as there are so many things that can go wrong!