Has anyone had a free birth?

Question

I am currently 34 weeks and everything I’m me is telling me to do a free birth. My husband is on board for a home-birth with a midwife but doesn’t feel comfortable with an unassisted birth. 
This would be my 2nd vbac. Giving birth in a hospital was not a good experience for me for either one. The first one was an emergency C-section and the second one was way too many interruptions and I was constantly being pressured to have another csection because my labor was “taking too long.”
What are you guys experience with a free birth? How did you prepare?

Answer

I wouldn’t do a free birth, I would do a home birth with a trained midwife.

Answer

With your history, nope I wouldn’t do a free birth. 
Midwife, sure.

Answer

Agree with above comment. Being a vbac, even though you’ve had a successful one before, is high risk. Best compromise is home birth with a certified nurse midwife!

Answer

If you’re considering the free birth route there are a few good resources out there to understand the true statistics, physiological birth and emergency scenarios.
BOOKS
• Home birth on your own terms by Heather Baker 
• Gentle birth, gentle mothering by Dr Sarah J. Buckley
• Birth after caesarean by Hazel Keedle, PhD
COURSES 
• Childbirth Physiology by Rachel Reed
PODCASTS
• Holy wild birth
• Normal boring freebirth 
• The midwives cauldron
• VBAC Homebirth Stories
• Freebirth Society 
Education over fear and manipulation goes a long way! 🥰

Answer

Still have a midwife present. You could inform her you want to birth mostly left alone though, and she will probably be more hands off to honor that. But then there is someone there for safety.

Answer

No you should not do a free birth with vbac, especially since your husband is uncomfortable with the idea. Get a midwife, and when the time comes, I think youll be glad that you did

Answer

2 homebirths. I hemoraged both times and without the experience of my midwives i would have bled out either time. If you want a homebirth there are some midwives who will take you this late, you just have to call and ask. But free birth is a no for me.

Answer

I haven’t free birthed, but I’ve had two home births with midwives and absolutely loved the experience both times. We also had a doula who was wonderful. With my second birth especially, my midwife was super hands off, she basically didn’t do anything but observe until baby was born, and then after the initial quick exam, I was able to quietly sit in the pool with my newborn for over an hour before they did her full check. It was really lovely, they took all my wishes into account. I would try to find a midwife who you can talk through a detailed birth plan with. It would be a good compromise between a hospital birth and a free birth considering your history.

Answer

Please do not attempt a free birth, especially with your medical history. You don’t have to give birth in a hospital, but not having any trained medical personnel present is unnecessarily risky.

Answer

I would have a midwife to be safe

Has anyone had a free birth?

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