Why Do People Chose Unassisted Childbirth?

A Discussion About the Many Reasons People Have for Refusing Medical Care Unless It's Necessary

Women chose a variety of different reasons to birth without a medical attendant. It can be a need for independance or a desire to have a private birth experience. Sometimes it's accidental or because a midwife is too expensive. Some women do it to be in control. Others want to be put in touch with their innervoice. Birthing unassisted can be religious and spiritual. Maybe a person simply feels birth is too ordinary--or to profound--to include medics. For whatever the reason, the movement is on the rise, and more women are discovering the freedom of birthing unhindered, with just their closest loved ones present.

There are women who birth unassisted purely by accident, which is the most dangerous form of childbirth. Women who chose to birth unassisted spend months planning and preparing so that they can handle anything that may come up. When an unassisted birth is accidental, usually the woman is not ready to take full responsibility and be in control of the situation. This can happen when labor is too quick. Either the mother didn't make it to the hospital or the midwife didn't arrive on time. In these cases, the risks are slightly higher. Birthing unassisted, however, is not as dangerous as it seems, as usually the outcome of even accidental births is good once medical attention is received.

Other women simply cannot afford a midwife and know that birthing at home is safer than at the hospital. In some states, midwives are not allowed to attend homebirths, and doctors often refuse as well. Some places don't even have any practicing midwives there, so there are some people who must birth unassisted because their only other option is hospital birth. Some women simply live too far away from a hospital or birthing center. Many women begin their journey to freebirthing because of this, but upon closer examination, discover that it was the right choice for them all along. Maybe it's destiny.