Unfree after a free birth
04 December 2024
A new mother in Upper Austria was sentenced to six months in prison after she opted for “free-birthing”, meaning giving birth to her child without any medical assistance, thereby causing the newborn to have physical and mental deficiencies. Medical professionals warn against giving birth outside of hospitals and without the assistance of a midwife or doctor, particularly in cases of high-risk pregnancies.
The "free-birthing" scene has gained popularity in the past years, especially from the offset of the Covid pandemic. Women who are unhappy with their first pregnancy care or lack options outside of the classic hospital-scenario are more likely to choose a free birth the next time a baby is on its way
 | Theresa Adelmann Home births, assisted or not, are not too popular in the EU. The rate of home births lies between 0.1% to 1.4% in most countries, whereas in the Netherlands, home births account for 16.3%. Scientific data on the share of free-births is lacking, however. The little scientific evidence relating to free birthing shows that it comes with high risks for both mother and child. It will take a lot of research to figure out how we can mitigate those risks while leaving mothers-to-be the choice of giving birth within the institutionalised medical system or outside. |
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