Natural Body Function

Pregnancy and childbirth are a natural function of the woman's body. Other natural body functions involve breathing, bowel movements, eating etc and we can consciously control them or do them without thought or control.

We do not think about breathing all the time, we just do it. We don't concern ourselves over whether or not we will successfully be able to eliminate our wastes, we just do it as we need to do it.

We expect our bodies to work as they were meant to. We expect our bodily functions to be successful as a matter of course. We don't "hope" for success, we just expect it. And for the majority of time, we don't have any issues.

Childbirth is no different. When it is time, we will give birth. There is all there is to it. We trust that childbirth is a natural body function. We trust that it will be fine, and if it is one of those rare times where it isn't, we will seek assistance just like we would if we ran into trouble with one of our other body functions.

Mother is the Primary Expert & Authority

Without other sources of authority or qualified experts present, the mother beomes the primary expert where her body, birth and child are concerned. This is how it should be - women need to know they can look to themselves and do the necessary things as becomes necessary. No more, no less.

For some this is a leap of faith. For others this is simply freedom to access their intuitive powers and knowledge without having to fight for it, explain or justify their decisions or actions.

Many freebirthers want and demand to be the sole authority present at their births and the full responsibility and accountability that comes with this freedom. To most this is preferable over the illusion of shared responsibility with a caregiver that will never suffer the real consequences of a bad decision.

True Natural Physiological Birth

To have a truly natural and physiological childbirth, a woman must be truly unhindered, unhibited and free to go with the flow of her birthing energies. It is next to impossible to have a birth that has no interventions or influences (internal or external) in the medical model of childbirth - and that includes homebirth with a midwife.

Freebirthers believe in natural physiological birth and that birth was designed to work. If childbirth was so fraught with risk and complications that nature could not resolve in the natural process of birth then reproduction would come to a screaming halt. Humans as a species would have died out by now if our reproduction was intrinstically flawed.

Interference with the physiological process of childbirth is what causes so many complications seen in childbirth in the Westernised world. Is it really a wonder why so many people are ingrained with the sense that childbirth is risky and a "what if" is most likely to occur? Luck has nothing to do with a body function being successful.

Safest Birthing Option

Most freebirthers believe that unassisted childbirth is the safest possible option for birth. Homebirth has consistently been proven to be safer than hospital or birth centre birth. It is not much more of a stretch to see how freebirth can be safer than homebirth with a midwife as the mother will look to herself for information about what is happening first, rather than rely on a midwife that only has external signs to go by.

Positive & Most Responsible Option

Free pregnancies and births are usually very positive experiences as the mindset of freebirthers tend towards the confidently positive rather than negativity or doubt. This strongly and positively influences women's birthing experiences.

As for responsibility, it is the most responsible thing a woman can do. Every pregnant woman should be prepared for the chance of freebirth. She may not make it to hospital in time. Her midwife may not make it to her home in time. She may be stuck somewhere without assistance to birth. Freebirth preparation is the ultimate birth preparation and responsibility regardless of which choice women end up taking for their birth.