Unassisted Childbirth
Another option becoming more and more popular is Unassisted Childbirth (UC). This means that the birthing woman is at home without paid attendants. She may have friends and/or family present, but no one in an official capacity of being her birth attendant.
Women choose to birth this way for many reasons. Some women may choose unassisted because they cannot find a birth attendant who will honor their choices and autonomy, whether at home or in the hospital. The vast majority of women who choose to birth unassisted do so because they trust birth, they trust their bodies, and they trust their babies. The most important part of making this decision is to eliminate any fears you or anyone who may be with you have around the birth process.
Unassisted birth is a valid choice for birthing women, although many members of the birth community don't agree. Midwives and doctors alike feel as if this is an irresponsible decision on the part of the birthing woman. Thankfully, not all feel that way. Still the ones who do can make women choosing to birth without their services feel judged and conflicted. This is especially hard on a woman who is looking for someone who will provide her with prenatal care and support her decision to UC at the same time.
If you want an unassisted birth, go for it. You can find support through online communities like Mothering and Laura Shanley's website BornFree!. Of course, there are lots out there, so go look. These are just my two favorites.
Of anything I could ever say to you, this is the most important: I am NOT necessary at your birth. And anyone who feels as if they are shouldn't be there. As a birth worker, I have a responsibility to trust birth. I simply cannot say I believe in birth...I trust birth...but only if there is a paid attendant. To quote a friend and mentor Carla Hartley, "No birth story should begin with 'The midwife got there and...'"
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