Outlaw Births

[thanka2]

I watched this the other day and thought it was really interesting.

Extraordinary People, Outlaw Births

 

[thanka2]

Additional Video

Claire on This Morning 1

Claire on This Morning 2

 

[Shenzhennifer]

Thanka2 - I only watched a bit, but it was enough. I voted the first one. I went through the vast majority of my pregnancy worrying about this and that. I know this is how is was done many years ago and still is in some underdeveloped places, but I think we all have a good idea of the mortality rate back then and in those sections of the world.
I can`t imagine why people would want to put their unborn baby into potential harm. Ugh.

 

[Nashua852]

Frankly I think it's ridiculous. A dangerous fad.

 

[prone_to_wander]

I think it is fantastic! We should be encouraged to do what we are most comfortable with. Thanks for the link.

 

[Shenzhennifer]

But how can one be comfortable with the knowledge that the baby has a lesser (doesn`t matter the percentage) chance of survival if something goes wrong or unplanned. It`s one thing to put one`s own life into jeopardy but an unborn child`s?. I think it`s selfish and immature.

 

[thanka2]

All, I have to say is watch the entire thing because she does give extra information.

I would never do a freebirth, personally--ever.

 

[brooke]

I would never do it, but understand why people do. From what little I know about they are not going in unprepared at all.

 

[yonge]

Up until fairly recently, childbirth was the most dangerous thing a woman could do. Given the fantastic public maternal and child health resources Hong Kong has to offer, freebirth just seems unnecessary to mother and child.

 

[thanka2]

In the past 100+ years, maternal death rates (dying while in childbirth) have decreased dramatically--thanks to things like the understanding of germs and sanitation (washing your hands, sterilizing equipment etc.) as well as breakthroughs in modern science (blood typing, blood transfusions, respirators etc.) and a basic rise in the quality of life and nutrition of people as well as access to medical care. However, the maternal death rate has gone up in countries with a high c-section rate recently Obesity is also a factor in maternal death rate. I think the act of giving birth to a child can be viewed in different ways and much of how things go depends on perception as well. So, I think the act of giving birth to a child is fairly "safe", but giving birth to a child when you yourself are malnourished, have no access to clean water or medical services and in unsanitary conditions definitely made childbirth risky in the past--and in many countries today still.

Pregnancy & Childbirth | Maternal Mortality Rate in U.S. Highest in Decades, Experts Say - Kaisernetwork.org

Isn't unassisted birth dangerous? ~ Empowered Childbirth