…sends warning
Women must be warned about the risks of the trend of ‘freebirthing’ – where a woman gives birth without any help from a medic or midwife, doctors say.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) said women should be supported to have the birth they choose, but ‘safety is paramount’ and families need to be aware of the risks of going it alone.
‘Freebirths’, also called unassisted births, are thought to be on the rise since the Covid pandemic, when many people were worried about attending hospitals over fear of catching the virus.
The practice is legal as women have the right to decline any care during their pregnancy and delivery.
But medics warn that some women are unaware of just how risky ‘freebirthing’ can be.
Medics have warned about the rise of the ‘freebirthing’ trend, where woman give birth without any help from a medic or midwife, saying many are unaware of the risks going tit alone poses (stock image)
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has said it is in the early stages of collaboration with the Chief Midwifery Officer’s teams, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the Department of Health to better understand professional concerns about freebirthing and what organisations may need to do.
The RCM also confirmed it is looking at the issue.
Its statement on unassisted births supports women’s choice but notes that ‘midwives are understandably concerned about women giving birth at home without assistance, as it brings with it increased risks to both the mother and baby’.
It also states that women need to be informed that a midwife may not be available to be sent out to their home during labour if they change their mind and wish to have help.
Professor Asma Khalil, vice president of the RCOG, added: ‘Women and people should have the right to give birth in an environment in which they feel comfortable, and should be supported in their birth choice.
However, safety is paramount and, while most births are uncomplicated, advising women about the potential risks is crucial for informed decision-making.
‘Women opting for unassisted births need awareness of the potential challenges and delays in accessing medical assistance if complications arise, as emergency intervention may be
Home births, supported by a midwife, may be suitable for healthy, low-risk women who are having a second or subsequent child and have had a straightforward pregnancy.
‘However, for women having their first baby, evidence shows a home birth slightly increases the risk of a poor outcome for the baby.
‘Some degree of anxiety about giving birth is common in many expectant mothers.
‘Women should be given the opportunity to address their fears and past traumas via open discussions with their midwife or obstetrician.”
The Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust has recently reviewed its policy on unassisted birth and tells women they will need to go to hospital if they find they need help with an unassisted delivery.
A spokesperson for the Trust said: ‘While we fully respect women’s rights to decline maternity care throughout pregnancy, as healthcare professionals we have a duty to provide information about the associated risks and offer them the opportunity to engage with care at any point in their pregnancy journey.
‘If we are contacted to help a woman in labour who is not booked for care with us, we will assess the best way for her to come to the hospital and support the process to achieve safe transfer.
‘We will provide all care required to the best of our abilities within our maternity service on arrival, ensuring the safest care for mothers and babies.’
According to the trust, any woman who contacts it in an emergency situation during labour who has not received routine maternity care will be advised to go to hospital, where staff and equipment are available to manage any difficulties.
A story published earlier this week in the Health Service Journal suggested other NHS trusts have also raised concerns about a rise in freebirths.
The Birthrights charity has been contacted for comment.
A rise in ‘freebirthing’ comes as data shows an alarming spike in women dying in childbirth in the UK.
Data published just last month shows British women are drying in childbirth at the same rates as two decades ago.
The review recorded a total 293 women died during pregnancy and within six weeks of giving birth between 2020 and 2022.
This equates 14 in every 100,000 women died during or in the weeks following childbirth in 2022, roughly the same rates as in 2004, the data shows.
The data is still preliminary, so it is not known what proportion of women died in hospital or at home, or how each of the UK countries compare.
Experts said the upward trend is the most compelling evidence yet that failures in care now span ‘across the entire maternity system’.
They blamed NHS pressures alongside public health factors including rising obesity levels and poorer overall health of mothers, for reversing progress made over the last two decades.
Blood clots were the leading cause of deaths among new mothers, followed by Covid, heart disease and mental health issues.
The data also showed stark inequalities with women in deprived areas twice as likely to die than those in wealthy areas, and black women three times more likely to die than white women.
Britian has been rocked by a series of maternity scandals in the NHS in recent years that revealed hundreds of babies and mothers suffered shocking failures in care that have resulted in deaths and lifelong injuries.
(Mail Online)