Is having a free birth right for you?
Having a free birth means managing any complications to you and your baby yourself. Women who have a free birth, may choose to use a doula for support. Doulas can give you emotional and practical support, but they haven’t had medical training. If you have any complications, you may have to make medical decisions that impact you and your baby’s health.
Why you might choose a free birth
Some women choose to have a free birth because they believe they’ll have more control over their birth.
Things to consider
Having a free birth may increase your risks, even with a healthy pregnancy. If anything unexpected happens during your labour or birth, you and your baby won’t have immediate access to the urgent care you may need.
Without having a midwife who’s trained to support home birth, you may not be able to notice changes, such as:
- your baby's heart rate showing signs of distress
- your blood pressure being too high or too low
- the position of your baby making birth difficult or not possible
- internal bleeding not easily seen.
This may lead to complications and impact you or your baby’s wellbeing.
Read more about freebirth on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.
How can I make my freebirth as safe as possible?
If you’re planning on a free birth, you can talk safely with a health professional. They won’t judge you for your choices and may be able to give you more information. They’ll help you understand any personal health risks. It’s important to get as much information as possible. Talking to your family or support people can also help you decide what’s best for you and your baby.
Having antenatal screening may also help identify any complications you may not know about and may be able to better plan for.
Having an overall plan for emergencies is also important, so you can act quickly and get help if you need it.
Last updated: November 2024