Freebirthing
freebirthing - means giving birth at home without the aid of doctors or midwives / giving birth without medical intervention
Giving birth without any medical help would terrify most women. However there are women out there who believe it's the only way."ONE HOT afternoon in August 1977, heavily pregnant Laura Shanley felt the early twinges of her first labour. Instead of calling a midwife, she called over some friends. When her waters broke, she didn't dash for the hospital, just the bedroom. On hands and knees she gave birth to her son, John, in one swift push. Ready to catch him was the only other person in the room, her husband, David. Over the next few years Shanley, who lives in Boulder, Colorado, went on to have four more babies in the same way. Giving birth at home instead of hospital is not all that unusual. What sets Shanley apart is choosing to go it alone without any professional help. She is part of a movement that advocates unassisted childbirth, or "freebirthing". The backlash against the perceived overmedicalisation of childbirth in the west has already seen some women reject hospitals..."
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This is part of an article about Freebirthing which appeared in New Scientist 6th January 2007
Freebirthers believe that woman in labour who wish to avoid the more traditional methods of pain-relief might prefer to 'sound-off' a little.
It is said that specific sounds/noises evoke particular responses.
 Ahhh - immediately evokes a relaxation response,
Ee or Ay - is the most stimulating of vowel sounds, helps with concentration, releasing pain and anger,
Oh or Om - considered the richest of sounds, can warm skin temperature and relax muscle tension.
A UC or unassisted childbirth means any type of birth without a "professional" in attendance. In its most basic sense, unassisted childbirth or freebirthing means giving birth at home without the aid of doctors or midwives. However, for many women who choose this route, UC, implies much more.
In an unassisted childbirth no one in particular acts as a midwife. Instead, the birthing woman herself determines the course of her labor. Partners, friends or relatives can participate to varying degrees, but no one instructs the woman as to how to give birth, when to push, what position to be in, etc. Occasionally suggestions may be offered but it is assumed that the woman giving birth is the true expert on her own body.
Advocates of Unassisted Childirth (Freebirthing) believe that timing contractions and checking dilation is not necessary. If a woman is in touch with her body, she will know when to push. Checking dilation can not only be painful and invasive, it can also be distracting. The presence of fingers in her vagina can actually cause a woman to tense her vaginal muscles at a time when relaxation is essential.
A woman in labour needs to be supported emotionally, or simply left alone. All the knowledge she needs to birth her baby is already within her. Her job is simply to relax, trust her body, and allow her baby to enter the world.
Take a look at......Unassisted Childbirth
Having given birth 3 times myself, I can't help but think....if only things really were that simple......
KC
January 18 2007
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