Warning issued over 'free births' as parents choose to do it despite risks

After a trend saw women give birth without any qualified medical support, experts have weighed in on the dangers of hopping on the popular method.

Known as 'free births', the process describes giving birth to a baby, usually at home, with very minimal or no medical intervention.

More specifically, experts at Birthrights refer to these unassisted births as being when a person decides 'to give birth at home or somewhere else without the attendance of a maternity healthcare professional such as a midwife'.

In these cases, the pregnant woman can plan a home birth in advance with a midwife, but they will not be present at the time of delivery. If another person attends, such as a doula, this is completely fine, but if the untrained individual assists in the birth, they could be prosecuted.

In recent years, an increasing number of people are choosing to welcome their children in this way.

Despite this, however, experts have issued a stark warning that these free births could be 'reversing [care] to the middle ages,' as per the BBC.

Some mums might choose to avoid medical intervention (Getty Stock Image)

The warning comes after some reports found a worrying amount of doulas had been attempting to persuade women to opt out of receiving medical advice, even though they should only be there for 'advocacy and support', Trudi Dawon, Director of Doula UK, told the BBC.

As a reminder, doulas providing any variation of medical intervention is breaking the law - this includes practising birthing techniques.

"It's really more about comfort measures, advocacy, support, hand-holding, encouraging," Dawson continued.

She went on to say the doulas are not there to help women make choices, stating: "We would signpost them to the evidence. So research might say, for example, if you have a twin, a home birth, you may be more likely to experience X, Y and Z, and that would still be their choice.

"It might also be that with a twin birth, if you're going to hospital, you may be more likely to receive interventions that you don't want.

"So it would be evidence based, but it would be the whole picture from both sides should they want it as well."

Experts are emphasising that free births might not all be as simple as they look (Getty Stock Image)

According to the website, having a home birth without the help of medics is totally legal in the UK, but if a health care provider thinks you’re putting your unborn baby at risk or going against a treatment plan that’s in the best interest of you and the baby, they might refer your case to social services for investigation.

"Obviously we can’t be the doula police," Dawson continued. "But we are trying to make sure that there is kind of a gold standard by having a register of doulas who have done specific training, who've had a mentored period, and who stand by the philosophy and a code of conduct."

One person who agrees that parents-to-be should be fully warned of the risks of free-birthing before making their decision is Sara Holt - a certified nurse midwife, who also owns the company Byenveni Baby.

"Unassisted birth is sometimes portrayed as easy or glamorous when it is seen through a softly lit Instagram post or reel," she told her Instagram followers recently.

"The truth is that birth is beautiful, powerful and a physiologic process that most times unfolds best without intervention."

Holt continued: "However, birth can be unpredictable, deeply vulnerable, and complications can arise quickly."