Please help me understand-how do u know?

**shed** · 13-04-2008 21:18

I doubt that many people would choose to freebirth and just trust that they are some amazing intuitive special woman who will just 'know' that something is wrong by some instinct that the rest of us don't have.

Most women who freebirth have spent hours and hours and hours reading, discussing, researching, studying the normal stages of birth so they would know when its not normal by being educated about it.

They would also ensure that they knew what steps to take to ensure the safe arrival of their baby if anything out of the ordinary did occur.

I think most freebirthing women know more about birth than average. That might not have been true in the old days, when alot of births were unattended but not through choice, just through circumstance, but women these days have access to so much information they go into it as fully informed as you can possibly imagine.

Thats the impression I get anyway.

And my next birthing will be at home with a midwife sitting in another room having cups of tea and reading magazines. I will sing out if I need her. Its totally possible.

ETA: I do think women in labour have incredible instincts that they aren't usually encouraged or allowed to listen to, and freebirthing would make them more prominent.

**MummaBear03** · 13-04-2008 21:20

Originally Posted by ~Emmylou~

I think women who freebirth have a few things in common.

They're very in touch with their instincts, and they trust them implicitly. This is basically their touchstone - it's their vaginal exam, their electronic fetal monitor...it's all the "scientific" things that others rely on giving birth.

They have deep faith in their bodies and their babies.

They have excellent theoretical understanding of the "ins and outs" of normal birth and are extremely well informed. They put in hours and hours researching and talking to others.

They have strong support - the people who are going to be with them as they birth - usually partners - take it as seriously as they do and are very committed and put in the preparation they need to as well (obviously this one doesn't apply to those really rare women who do it 100% alone!)

And finally... they are women who are prepared to take full responsibility for themselves, their babies and their choices and believe that responsibility rightfully belongs with them, as the mother of that baby.

That sounds like a freebirth 101 but my point is that when women have all of those things happening, their instincts - whose purpose IS to tell them when something is wrong (or not) - are optimal and work at their best.

Yep! Everything ^^ she says

It takes someone who is so in touch with themselves that they would just know if something wasn't quite right. Don't think I'd do it, I don't even know when I'm ovulating or when to expect a period

but people who would Freebirth are people who know their bodies really, really well and have strong instincts.

I've been following demeter's story of EC and it's truly amazing. Hopefully she can answer some questions for you

**onemummmy** · 13-04-2008 21:25

Originally Posted by bubs_and_us

freebirth may not be your cup of tea (not mine either), but a homebirth might be? you have the reasssurance of a midwife without the danger* of the hospital

*it is my opinion that hospitals are dangerous places for healthy ladies labouring and delivering babies

yeah I guess I was asking about freebirth cos I dont want someone doing stuff 2 me & touching me etc & I thought if u have a midwife then that will happen. anyway its just this loopy thing in the back of my mind lol

**bubs_and_us** · 13-04-2008 22:00

Originally Posted by onemummmy

yeah I guess I was asking about freebirth cos I dont want someone doing stuff 2 me & touching me etc & I thought if u have a midwife then that will happen. anyway its just this loopy thing in the back of my mind lol

i think they would be more respectful of your wishes than hospital midwives. for example, if you didnt want VE's, i think they would be understanding, instead of saying 'we have to - its hospital policy'.....

also, i think could could find a hands-off midwife... one who will let you do your thing in peace, and only assist if you need it.

definitely a lot better than a hospital

**Rating** · 13-04-2008 22:11

How much does it cost to hire a midwife to assist (or not assist) with delivery at home?

**onemummmy** · 13-04-2008 22:15

Rating I think its approx $4000

**bubs_and_us** · 13-04-2008 22:21

it depends where in OZ you are.... here in wa, we have the community midwifery program, which gives us access to HB midwifes for a fee of $120 only (that includes antenatal care, birth and postnatal care). its funded through the govt.

otherwise, for an IM, you'd be looking at roughly $3000

**onemummmy** · 13-04-2008 22:23

Originally Posted by bubs_and_us

it depends where in OZ you are.... here in wa, we have the community midwifery program, which gives us access to HB midwifes for a fee of $120 only (that includes antenatal care, birth and postnatal care). its funded through the govt.

otherwise, for an IM, you'd be looking at roughly $3000

how do u fond out what its like in other states?

**bubs_and_us** · 13-04-2008 22:32

TBH, im not sure. if you contact your dept of health and ask if they have a govt funded homebirth program, that would be a start. im sure the health dept would know!

as for an indy midwife, i went to www.midwives.org.au

**susmamma** · 14-04-2008 07:10

My grandmother 'free birthed' a couple of times. Of course it wasnt called 'free birthing' then. It was wwII and she was on the kitchen floor all alone with sirens going off in London.

And when she wasnt busy free birthing a breech 4.8 kilo baby, she was busy having regular home births with her other children, asissted by the local doctor. And then after one such home visit after delivering her fifth child the doctor headed off. When another baby appeared, her sixth child, she'd homebirthed twins.

Sometimes I wonder about all these labels for birth. When my grandmother had her 6 children she just had them... and then got up and did a load of washing.

And I can be almost 100% certain she hadn't "read" a single thing.