Frequently Asked Questions About Unassisted Childbirth

When I tell others that my son was born at home, unassisted, they are usually astonished. Most people haven't heard of unassisted childbirth, as even homebirth with a midwife is uncommon in our society. Many people can't even imagine giving birth outside of the hospital without doctors, much less midwives. People all tend to have the same questions about freebirth. Here are the answers to some of the questions I am asked most frequently about unattended birth and unassisted pregnancy.

What if something goes wrong?

This is the big one that I hear most often when discussing unassisted childbirth. The simple answer is that the mother learns how to recognize labor, pregnancy, and birth complications and handle them at home. She also learns when it is necessary to go to the hospital for medical attention from a doctor.

What about prenatal care?

I am asked this a lot about unassisted pregnancy. The answer is different for each woman. I did my own prenatal care. I paid attention to my pulse, blood pressure, weight, fundal height, and fetal heart rate. Some women receive no prenatal care; they just pay attention to how they feel. Others see a doctor or midwife for prenatal care. The amount of testing done varies by mother.

How do you know your due date?

Add 40 weeks to the first day of your last menstrual period, and that's your estimated date of delivery.

How do you know something won't go wrong?

You don't. You hope and trust that things will go well with the pregnancy, labor, and birth, but you learn how to deal with complications. Basically, hope for the best, and plan for the worst.

How do you know when you're in labor?

This is something nearly every pregnant woman asks at some point. The answer is: you'll know! The labor contractions will increase in strength and frequency. Usually they feel like a dull pain that radiates from your lower back to your abdomen and back again. They come in waves, and they keep coming no matter what.

How do you deal with the pain?

My baby Orin's first meal after his unassisted birth at home in our bed!

Credit: Heather B. (That's ME)

Copyright: Heather B. (That's ME)