Unassisted Birth: What Do You Think? This kind of post can give way to lots of controversy and criticism. That a mother is careless, selfish, or straight-up crazy. But here are the facts, and here are some things to consider. Is unassisted birth a safe option? More or less?-yes. There are risks associated with an unassisted birth. But then, there are risks associated with ANY birth. Homebirth, hospital birth, natural, medicated, vaginal or cesarean-all come with risks. Me personally? I find there to be more risks in having major abdominal surgery, but that is strictly my opinion. Studies are showing that for low-risk mothers, an intervention-free home birth is a safer option than a hospital birth! Does that surprise you? For most women, your body will know exactly what to do, and the birth will be rather uneventful as far as problems are concerned. I have honestly thought many times about an unassisted birth, although the word “fantasized” fits better than “thought.” It can be an empowering, warm, and comfortable way to bring your baby into the world. But you should also take a lot of consideration into that kind of decision. To birth without a skilled OB or midwife can in some cases be catastrophic, to mother and/or baby. The risk of something going wrong is actually very low. But-the risk is there and that is something to think about. In a way, I feel that a mother would need to be prepared for anything in an unassisted birth. In a hospital, there are skilled caregivers and instruments capable of controlling/stopping a hemorrhage, performing CPR, or anything else of that nature. Even a midwife usually carries pitocin or knows how to perform such life-saving maneuvers until paramedics arrive. Planning an unassisted birth means knowing all of the risks and being comfortable with them. It means trusting your body (and depending on your beliefs, trusting in God), that your baby will come out healthy and you will both be well. While I am very FOR unassisted or “free” birthing, I can not suggest that a client go this route, nor would I likely attend a planned unassisted birth for liability reasons. But I DO wish to put the option out there. It is a very real option and as a mother I caution you to use your best judgment and go with your gut. Unassisted birth is becoming more common as women feel less comfortable in a hospital setting and cannot afford to (or legally cannot) hire a midwife. Unassisted birth is NOT for everyone, and it is something that should be given a LOT of thought. I encourage every client to hire a skilled OB or midwife to attend their birth, for safety purposes. But to each their own. Know your options, and make the best choice for you and your family.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 05:44:10 +0000
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