Unassisted childbirth (UC) refers to the process of intentionally giving birth without the assistance of a medical birth attendant. It may also be known as freebirth,[1]DIY (do-it-yourself) birth,[2]unhindered birth,[3] and unassisted home birth.[4] Unassisted childbirth is by definition a planned process, and is thus distinct from unassisted birth due to reasons of emergency, lack of access to a skilled birth attendant, or other. It is also different from homebirth, although most UCs also happen within the home.
Vital Statistics Canada defines an "unassisted/unattended" birth as one that takes place without a registered medical attendant, regardless of what other birth professionals may have been in attendance (doulas, non-medical or traditional birth attendants, etc.). Many "unassisted" births involve the attendance of a non-medical birth attendant, though the definition of unassisted birth sometimes means there is only family or peers in attendance and no professional support whatsoever. Approximately 0.25% of births in the United States are unassisted.[5]
Unassisted childbirth comes with risks. Numerous national medical societies, as well as midwives' associations, have cautioned against unassisted childbirth. Twenty percent of all previously normal pregnancies turn into complications and high-risk situations during labor, which could necessitate assistance from trained medical professionals.[6] OB-GYNs do not recommend home births, even when attended by a medical professional, if the mother has hypertension or when a breech birth is expected.[5] A 2010 meta-analysis of existing research concluded that planned home births had a three times higher mortality rate for babies.[7][8]
^Moorhead, Joanna (14 September 2013). "Freebirthing: is giving birth without medical support safe?". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
^Boodman, Sandra G. (31 Jul 2007). "Do-It-Yourself Delivery". The Washington Post. pp. HE01. Retrieved 15 Apr 2009.
^McGuire, Tara L. "Birth Unhindered". Retrieved 8 November 2013.
^Griesemer, Lynn M. (1998). Unassisted Homebirth: An Act of Love. SC: Terra Publishing. ISBN 978-0966106602.
^ ab"Infant's Death Sparks A Heated Debate Around The "Free Birth" Movement". BuzzFeed News. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
^Cite error: The named reference nytimes1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Wax, Joseph R.; Lucas, F. Lee; Lamont, Maryanne; Pinette, Michael G.; Cartin, Angelina; Blackstone, Jacquelyn (2010). "Maternal and newborn outcomes in planned home birth vs planned hospital births: a metaanalysis". American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 203 (3): 243.e1–8. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2010.05.028. ISSN 1097-6868. PMID 20598284.
^News; Canada (2018-11-22). "Rise of the 'free birthers': These women are choosing to give birth without medical help — and at least one baby has died | National Post". Retrieved 2020-02-22. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
and 28 Related for: Unassisted childbirth information
Unassistedchildbirth (UC) refers to the process of intentionally giving birth without the assistance of a medical birth attendant. It may also be known...
sections. Natural childbirth may occur during a physician or midwife attended hospital birth, a midwife attended homebirth, or an unassisted birth. The term...
ultrasonography. Adding the estimated gestational age at childbirth to the above time point. Childbirth on average occurs at a gestational age of 280 days (40...
in a live birth, a miscarriage, an induced abortion, or a stillbirth. Childbirth typically occurs around 40 weeks from the start of the last menstrual...
the menstrual cycle. Uterine contractions are a vital part of natural childbirth, which occur during the process of labour and delivery, (typically this...
The Bradley method of natural childbirth (also known as "husband-coached childbirth") is a method of natural childbirth developed in 1947 by Robert A...
ranked countries is over 750 times more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth, compared to a mother in the top ten ranked countries, and a mother in...
this starts the typical 9-month gestation period that is followed by childbirth. The fertilization of the ovum may be achieved by artificial insemination...
Childbirth positions (or maternal birthing positions) are the physical postures that the pregnant mother may assume during the process of childbirth. They...
link with the child, they have a physical link through pregnancy and childbirth. Even after menopause, the uterus is fully capable of carrying out a pregnancy...
simply Lamaze, began as a prepared childbirth technique. As an alternative to medical intervention during childbirth, it was popularized in the 1950s by...
tissue. Lochia discharge typically continues for four to eight weeks after childbirth, a time known as the postpartum period or puerperium. A 2016 review ties...
accorded the treatment usually shown to women during pregnancy or after childbirth. Similarly, in Papua New Guinea, fathers built a hut outside the village...
encompasses the two subspecialties of obstetrics (covering pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period) and gynaecology (covering the health of the...
Ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease Umbilical cord Unassistedchildbirth, birth without the aid of professional birth attendants UC Browser...
Global Information