In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker and Dr. Sara Ailshire examine the available evidence on planned unassisted birth, also known as freebirth, defined as intentionally giving birth without a qualified midwife or physician present.

They explore why some people choose a planned unassisted birth, including previous trauma, distrust of the medical system, barriers to preferred care, and a desire for greater autonomy. Dr. Dekker and Dr. Ailshire also explain how freebirth differs from midwife-attended home birth, what research shows about planned community birth, and the safeguards a trained birth attendant can provide during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the newborn period. Finally, they discuss investigative reporting concerning the Free Birth Society, including allegations of misinformation and preventable harm associated with its community.

Content Note: This episode includes discussions of stillbirth, maternal death, newborn death, birth trauma, and serious complications related to planned unassisted birth.

(00:03:20) What Is Freebirth?
(00:07:41) Prenatal Care, Wild Pregnancy, and Freebirth
(00:10:30) How Common Is Freebirth?
(00:14:27) The History and Origins of Freebirth
(00:22:16) Why Do Some People Choose Freebirth?
(00:26:14) What Do We Know About the Risks of Freebirth?
(00:34:42) The Role of Skilled Midwives in Home Birth Safety
(00:42:28) Free Birth Society Controversy
(00:53:49) Lessons from the Free Birth Society
(00:55:44) Warning Signs of Controlling Group Dynamics and Influencer Manipulation
(01:01:50) Final Takeaways on Freebirth, Safety, and Informed Decision-Making

View the full transcript for this episode at evidencebasedbirth.com.

Resources
EBB 23 – Home Birth Midwives

EBB 110 – Inside an Unplanned, Unassisted Home Birth with Parent Sabrina Tran

EBB 122 – Home birth during the pandemic with Vicki Penwell

EBB 292 – Confronting the Unknowns in Childbirth with Liesel Teen of the Mommy Labor Nurse

EBB 130 – Home Birth in the Black Community with Isis Rose

Count the Kicks: https://countthekicks.org/

PUSH Pregnancy: https://www.pushpregnancy.org/

Star Legacy Foundation: https://starlegacyfoundation.org/

Healthy Birth Day: https://healthybirthday.org/

CDC Stillbirth resources: https://www.cdc.gov/stillbirth/communication-resources/index.html

Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support: https://nationalshare.org/

Stillbirth and infant loss support communities: https://postpartum.net/group/stillbirth-and-infant-loss-support-for-parents/

Works Cited

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