I’m going to start this post off with saying that I do not tell women to birth unassisted. I do not ‘promote it’ or recommend it as it’s not for most women. It is a very personal decision and one both mother and father need to educate themselves on, be united on and take responsibility for.
Once in a while, I receive an email asking about resources or more information about unassisted pregnancy and unassisted childbirth, also referred to as freebirth. This post is for mothers that are already considering birthing their child with just their family and support they choose present. Once again, this is a personal decision and I am not telling anyone to do so.
I remember when I first read about unassisted birth on the Mothering.com forums. I was shocked. A woman birthing without a doctor or midwife present?! That’s nuts! As I read more about UP/UC, I was intrigued. Here was an idea that women can birth on their own, without intervention, just as they were intended to do. Wait, is that so crazy? A healthy pregnancy, mom and baby. Educated and prepared parents. Willingness to get help/transfer if needed. Maybe not for everyone, but maybe for some.
I will admit it. I get nervous when women say they are going to birth unassisted. That’s right, I’ve had two unassisted births, but worry about other women who birth unassisted. Why? I don’t know them, if they are truly prepared, if they feel it’s the best and safest way for them to birth or if they are stuck on the ‘idea’ of UC. So, if you are thinking of having an unassisted birth, consider the following resources. Prepare yourself, take responsibility and be willing to get help or change course if needed. Also, every pregnancy, birth and baby are different, so even if UC is for one of your births, it may not be for another.
I support a woman’s right to choose a repeat cesarean, a hospital birth, a homebirth and everything in between. I also support her right to choose to birth unassisted. With ANY of these choices though, education and support are a must.
Consider the following when thinking about or preparing for an unassisted childbirth:
You can still have prenatal care with an OB or midwife or do your own prenatal care
Emergency Childbirth: A Manual by Gregory J. White, M.D.
Neonatal Resuscitation for yourself, partner and labor/birth support (this is good even if not planning an UC as it can still accidentally happen!)
Ultrasounds can be a good tool to check on baby’s position, fluids and to make sure there are no abnormalities or concerns you need to address or that would make unassisted birth unsafe
Read. There are birth stories, forums and books you can read to learn what will help and even what not to do!
Pray/meditate/instincts…do and listen often. If at anytime you feel something is off during pregnancy or labor, get help.
Unassisted birth can be one of the most raw and empowering experiences of a woman’s life if that is her choice…
Recommended Reading
Birth Story of Ace {Homebirth Transfer to Cesarean}
First a Hospital Breech Birth and then an Unplanned Unassisted Birth Story
2 Videos of Twins and Triplets Born Naturally!
The Freebirth of Poppy
A Natural Hospital Birth, A Peaceful Miscarriage at Home, and A Future Homebirth Coming Soon
A Healing Home Birth After a Fourth Degree Tear: Part Two
The Birth of Luna Pearl: A VBAC Story from Home to Hospital
One Woman’s Successful Frank Breech Vaginal Hospital Birth
Hospital Birth turned Emergency C-Section
Wyatt’s Birth Story {Fast Birth Story}
58 Comments
Brittany A.
I love love love the look on dads face! 🙂 So beautiful!
Brittany
Thank you thank you!!! After my free birth I had so many people think I felt like I was “better” than them because I chose it, or that I felt it was the only way. I’ve tried so hard to explain that it was best for me, for this birth. We were educated, prepared, and ready to transfer if necessary. I will never tell a mama to free birth, but I will help her educate and prepare if that’s the path she chooses.
You summed it up beautifully!
Monique
I would like some pointers on unassited birth
Caroleena Kay
I’ve had 4 unassisted homebirths so far, and the biggest thing that helped me was reading the birth stories from this website and more! Really helped me to pinpoint things I needed to read up on and prepare for. I’m currently blogging ( http://www.fitnfancy2.blogspot.com ) about my postpartum recovery from my 4th unassisted homebirth, but I also have my last 2 unassisted birth stories and my pregnancy from my 4th there as well. Reading is the biggest thing! God bless.
Gina
Well said I couldn’t agree more!
Kelly Graham
That picture is so moving…I want to blow it up frame it and put it in my office!!!!
Mrs BWF I love you and everything that you stand for….I think that if I had the choice….Im not sure that I would have chosen to become a Traditional Midwife…but as you know we are chosen by a larger power to empower women and babies…you are an amazing inspiration!!!! xoxoxo
Kristen
THANK YOU for this! I had an accidental freebirth on my bathroom floor. It was the easiest and most amazing birth I had but it really can happen to anyone and its GREAT to be prepared.
Shea
My Freebirth was an amazing and empowering experience almost 5 months ago. We came to the decision together after over a year of research before getting pregnant. It was my easiest birth and I am so glad that I felt it was the right decision for me. I try my best to raise awareness for home birth by sharing my story often. I do not recommend other women birth without an attendant unless that is their desire. It was the right decision for me, and for this baby, and my husband… but I’m not certain it would be right for our next birth if we choose to have another.
Venus
We chose to have an unassisted homebirth with our 2nd child. For years after our 1st I had planned having our next child in a birthing center. A homebirth of any type had never crossed my mind, despite the fact I was born at home, in a UA birth. Once I got pregnant, I had this constant nagging feeling, something inside me screaming that the hospitals & birthing centers were not right for us. And I just felt lost, I didn’t know what to do.
One night, it came to me. What I wanted was to be left alone. Was to give birth completely naturally with no distractions and no interventions. I wanted just my husband & son there. I wanted to just give birth at home. And it was like a weight was lifted. Like I knew that this was the solution for us. I was 4 months pregnant at the time, and my husband & I spent the rest of the pregnancy preparing to have a “do whatever we feel is best at the time” birth, with a preference to stay home and let my body do it’s job.
Cera
I completely feel the same way. I have a great support group around me, but sometimes I’m not sure they “get it”… I’m glad I’m not the only one who just knows this is the right choice 🙂
Kristie
Why is it so bizzare that a woman would want to be left alone to birth? I had to fight for my right to birth in privacy and peace. I won the battle and my unassisted birth was a sacred moment, an ordinary miracle, less than an hour, powerful and joyful, and it will never be taken away from me.
Denise
If my husband an I decide to have more children we are faced with having a free birth due to the lack of home birth midwives in our area. Post like this really help me be informed about it. I love that picture also its amazing!
ulrike
this photo is amazing.
Christy
We have four sons, and have had a gradual progression of less interference at our births. I wanted a homebirth with our first, but didn’t know any homebirth midwives and never even thought of UC. So, I went to a birth center instead, and do have a few complaints about the experience, but it was certainly far less interfered with than a hospital birth would be. Next, I had a homebirth with a very hands-off wonderful midwife, and my husband caught our baby. Next, I encountered UC online and was very drawn to it. I had the same midwife as before and told her I might wait until after the birth to call her. As it turned out, we did call her during labor, but birth was imminent and so she arrived maybe 45 minutes after the birth. She laughed when my husband called her when I was in transition and said she didn’t think she’d be there in time, but we knew what to do. It was fantastic, and our last birth was a planned UC and I also did my own prenatal care. I studied a lot about what to do in the rare event of a complication. None occurred, but I wanted to be prepared just in case. I feel the same way in that I think only those really drawn to UC should do so, and hopefully they prepare as well and are low risk. I am low risk and felt very safe to UC. Other than my interfered with first birth, I’ve had no complications, and my babies are always born very quickly as my body pushes them out. In our society which teaches a fear of birth, I really feel that most women benefit in many ways from having a midwife present, and I firmly believe women and babies would be far better off if our hospitals used a midwifery model of care. For some though, UC is a wonderful way to birth and I’m very thankful to have been able to do so.
Melissa
Amazing photo. Love all the love and expression captured. I had a homebirth with my second, such an amazing experience. 🙂
Sherry
I had a dream last night that I had an unassisted birth and gave birth to triplets, 2 boys and a girl… I didn’t want the dream to end!
I don’t know if I’ll have any more children, but if I did, I would consider this. I’m surprised that everyone does not at least consider it! I’ve used midwives in the past, but midwives can be few and far between… Finding one can be a near impossible task.
Beautiful photo, by the way!! 🙂
Melissa
I am a doula and heard of UC when I was pregnant with my son, before becoming a doula. I have to say at the time I thought that was nuts. Now, having a cesarean that I feel I was bullied into, and seeing how the “birth machine” works on a regular basis. I totally get it and am about 95% there myself. Maybe not for the next, as I would hope it would be a HBAC, but maybe for the one after? My main draw to it is that you don’t have anyone in the room who is bound by regulation to interfere with the process. I totally understand the healthcare providers side of things, but, for me, I think it would be my only way to truly “birth without fear”.
Tracy Lockwood
My name is Tracy. I am currently 34 weeks pregnant with baby #4. My previous 3 births have all been unassisted home births with only myself, my husband and our children present. Personally wouldnt have it any other way. Immense research involved and a true confidence in yourself, your partner, your body and your unborn baby are essential 🙂 I also only had prenatal care from midwives for my first, did my own prenatal and had two ultrasounds (20weeks and 38 weeks) with my second, only had a 20week ultrasound with my third (where they gave away babys gender when I didnt want to know!) and this time I have decided to forego any prenatals, as long as I feel good I trust my body. My first labour was ten hours total, my second about two and my third was only 15minutes!!!!! I am really looking forward to my labour this time as I woukd love a waterbirth that I didnt manage to get with my other babes, also really looking forward to meeting my newest sweet babe as the gender is a surprise (obviously since I havent had an ultrasound!) and I have three boys!!! 🙂
Bethanne
Thanks you times a million for sharing your stories! Did you have a boy or girl!!? I’m so grateful to hear about your (and everyone’s here) unassisted birth. And 15 mins! I’d love to know what you attribute that to. Many blessings, xx
Kathryn
I’m all done having children, but love anything to do with babies. I’m not sure that I would have ever have had the courage to do UC, but it’s good to know that there is support out there for women who choose to do this. I remember when I was young, my parent’s next door neighbor’s daughter, had 2 unassisted home births, neither one was intentional! I’m not sure her husband ever got over the shock, lol
Michelle
I appreciate these resources. I am not planning a UC, though I like the idea of it, I’m not sure it’s for us, at this time. However, my first homebirth was only a 4.5 hour labor. With a second (planning on TTC within the year) I am concerned about a MW getting there in time (especially since I have moved and am now much farther than my previous mw was). I want to be fully prepared and confident in the event that it happens to be a UC. Just seems like a wise thing to do.
Kimberlee
After the birth of my 4th baby almost 3 years ago, I decided on going unassisted next time! I have easy pregnancies, and even easier births. My last home water birth was after only 2.5 hours of labor! Although we’re not expecting yet, both hubby and I are prepared to bring our baby earthside UA when the time comes. I know it will be a truly amazing, empowering experience that I’ll be honored to have 🙂
Martha
I had two unassisted births without a trained midwife there, and I had complications that resulted from simple errors, that could have been different if I had known or if I had had a trained person there to deal with the complications. Instead, I had a very hard recovery and long term issues because of it. I think that if you truly desire privacy and free birthing, use wisdom and education. Please don’t feel bad if you need help, things that are simple can become complicated when we don’t know what we are doing sometimes. We can trust our bodies, but there are times that they betray us as well.
Sarah
Hi Martha,
Thank you so much for sharing. I am researching the possibility of have an unassisted birth myself and am still not sure if it is the right choice for me.
May I ask what complications you had and how that affected your recovery? You can use my personal email to reply if you feel up for it.
thank you again for sharing! Blessings to you.
Sarah
Sherene
Could one of you gals perhaps let me know what the complications were? I am thinking of doing this and this info would be very helpful to know in making my decision and or preparation. I would sincerely appreciate it. Thank you
Angie
Hey, the amazing woman in that photo was my doula for my first three births and is now my midwife for my current pregnancy. So excited to have her at our birth, any day now! BWF thanks for this post and all you do. I have learned so much from you and the BWF community over this past year. I feel very blessed to have such a wealth of knowledge and support so accessible.
christie
i had a very short labour with my recent VBAC so ive told my husband that i would like to be prepared for a home birth/unassisted birth next time around just in case. if i hadnt had a brief moment of loss of control when i did we could have had one this time, but when that happened i thought i have to go, my waters broke about 5 minutes after walking into hospital and he was born an hour later, i had no idea my baby was so close! i did love my midwives though and the OB (public hospital in AUS) was the one who signed off on my birthplan and was excellent, she never touched me despite being a VBAC and having mec staining in the waters 2 things that would normally mean interventions. im hoping next time i can catch my own baby even if it is in hospital i can imagine anything more amazing 🙂
Shannon Duffey
What a wonderful post! As a doula and someone who has attended Holistic Midwifery training, I do have some recommendations for resources for those considering a UC or free birth. As far as neonatal resuscitation classes go, I HIGHLY recommend Karen Strange as a teacher. She teaches the entire curriculum, as well as teaching that birth is set up to happen as if nobody is around. She puts a very level headed spin on this class, and teaches her students to remain calm, grounded and connected if help is needed. She teaches about the experience from the baby’s perspective as well, which I find compassionate and helpful. Reading resources are Holistic Midwifery volume 1 and 2 by Anne Frye. These are large volumes, full of a lot of knowledge and backed by extensive research. Volume 1 is about Pregnancy care, Volume 2 is about Birth and Postpartum.
Amber
My son’s father and I were the only ones present at my son’s birth. We bought an inflatable kiddie pool and birth supply kit on inhishands.com and really that was it. I did do lots of online reading/research about possible complications during an unassisted birth, so as to be aware of any signs that would indicate needing to go to hospital. As beautiful and amazing as Salvatore’s birth was, it was fairly easy, according to everyone else, lol, and very “uneventful”. My labour was 15 hours and it was started by love-making. He was a week late, born on my brother’s 26th birthday. I just listened to my body and did my best to rest during labour, in between my contractions which were 3 minutes apart and a minute and a half long for quite some time( I kind of lost any sense of time during my labour, I just know what time it really got started and what time my son was born). By the way, YOU and the BWF community are pretty much the biggest reason I decided to stay home and do things the way I did. I actually told myself at one point it would just be more convenient to go to hospital, and made myself physically sick with the thought of it. Once I said NOPE NO HOSPITAL, and I bought my pool and supply kit, I felt 100% better and completely confident about having my son at home!
Kira
Thats beautiful!. We are due to have our baby mid to late July 2013 and want to do a home water birth. I am researching as much as i can to prepare myself for this birth. I want so much to do this with just my husband present and maybe a doula. I have considered a midwife but feel it may not be necessary. reading your story gives me hope 🙂
Emily Jimenez
Thank you for sharing this. My husband and I are very seriously considering a free birth this time around and I have had such a hard time figuring out where to start. I am grateful for today’s post because it helped to motivate me to get started and get educated! 🙂
Faith
Wonderful! I keep reading things about UC and thinking, “I know some fabulous women who have had well-researched and successful UCs, but that’s not for me, personally”… and then I remember that I had one. Always happens, lol. We were very educated and prepared for a slightly assisted homebirth, and I plan to become a CPM one day so I have read a lot of midwifery materials, which is a good thing as I certainly wasn’t up to researching anything mid-labor. Baby just decided he was on his own timetable and FLEW out to meet us before the midwife or her assistants arrived. Feeling educated and comfortable with what happens in most births helped me to remain very calm generally, and he was born without incident, despite being posterior with (as far as I can tell, since no one was looking) a nuchal hand. Whoo-wee. The midwives showed up about 8 minutes later.
Julie
Awesome. My husband and I are taking a be prepared and see what happens approach to our next birth. Our options quickly became very limited until UC was the only thing left we were comfortable with. I am very excited about it! We’ve had midwives for our last 2 births which was wonderful, but I’ve always wanted to just be alone with my hubby. Thanks for the resources!
Marla Davis
Great insight and information. Oh, how I wish I had had access to information like this when I first started having babies. I don’t know if I would have done unassisted, but I sure would have loved the idea and the opportunity to have explored it.
This photo has to be one of the best birth images I’ve ever seen! What a great moment. Amazing.
Valerie
I really enjoyed reading this! I am thankful to see such encouragement for mothers, we NEED it in this Dr. driven world. I love hearing about all these birth stories and it only encourages me to continue my search for a midwife that will be there if I choose to deliver at home (and one that my insurance will pay for would be great). Thank you so much for sharing.
amy
Women are POWERFUL! Sends chills up my spine.
Kelly
I’m expecting my first in February. I was thinking of doing a birth center birth, but I wasn’t quite comfortable with even the limited amount of intervention/limitation that that option presented. Then I was turned down for Medicaid so that settled that! We’re doing a home birth now and are thinking of doing it unassisted. Has anyone here ever had a unassisted birth for their first child? I’d really love to hear about your experiences.
Sarah Morgan
I birthed my first unassisted – i knew from the beginning that it was the right choice for me & my partner was always supportive. It was the most amazing, empowering experience of my life and i am so grateful. Our second was unassisted as well. both stories are on my website! A bot late for a reply I suppose – by now you mist have had your baby!
Julie
Just wanted to update. We had our son at home alone after 1 hour 45 minutes of labor. It was amazing. I don’t remember it being painful. The picture of my husband holding our son in his arms for the first time is burned into my mind forever. He talks about it at least once a week. UC was definitely the right choice for us!!!!
Chrissie Hayden
That photo gives me chills. The mama, the daddy… so perfect. Thank you for the links and the help. I am pg with #3 and seeking an unssisted birth for the first time. I needed info for my husband and I to go over. Much appreciated!
Jessica serrano
Hey everyone thank u for the support of a decision of a natural homebirth it has always Been a desire of mine to do one especially now that I am on a decision of having my lasts edition to the family. My experiences in the hospitals were much more crucial and emotionaly aggravating. Even though it was ok. But I really felt that the hospital criteria didn’t fit me at all.so I never realty felt that instant happyness connection. I was to tired physically and emotionally to really enjoy a remarkable moment in a transition into motherhood as I hoped it would be. But now in the process of my final edition. I want it to be n everlasting in pact in my life of being given the opportunity that I have been given one more time. I’m not high risk or anything like that. I haven’t had any complications in my experiences inbirthing with previous pregnancy other then the doctors thinking they know what’s best for me other then a standard statistical view. N I don’t like that because I’m not a standard woman. When I know my body because I live in it and not them.
Dominique
Beautifully said… the picture is awesome. So empowering.
Cheyenne DeGuise
So how exactly did you prepare? What books did you read or techniques did you learn? I am very much interested in a UC, I see a CNM for my prenatal care right now but that doesn’t allow me to birth at home like I want. I planned to educates myself, make sure everything goes well through the pregnancy (so far so good 20 weeks) and then just birth at home in water and call the paramedic to go to the hospital after since I haven’t found a midwife that will do pro-bono. I would like to avoid the hospital all-in-all. I just need to be pointed in the right direction.
RJ
I am very interested in UC and my husband is very supportive as well, my biggest concern is the lack of information I’ve been able to find on the cord! How long to cut it, how long to wait…. (we don’t want to go the lotusbirth route but do want jr to get all he or she needs from the placenta!) any advice for me there?
Ty
Wait until cord has stopped pulsating and is limp and white.
Fortunata
My friend just had one where she put the placenta in a bowl until the cord was white and there was no need to clamp or tie it.
I plan on having some on hand but only use them if absolutely necessary. 🙂
Nikki Rain
I am so excited! Being a military family & just recently moving back to the States after birthing my 2yo in South Korea with an attempted Hypnobirthing experience before being bullied pressured then ordered for a c-section. One I still believe was absolutely unnecessary! We are now stationed in a county that does not allow HVBACs nor allows even nurse midwives to be present at another hospital outside the county for a VBAC. After months of confusion, research, begging, pleading & praying, my Combat Medic hubbs & I have agreed that freebirthing suits us, our pregnancy, our family, our health & sanity perfectly! I am, however, having difficulty finding info on how to line up neonatal care aka the weighing & measuring mostly since my husband is trained in clamping the cord (once it stops pulsing for us though.) Can anyone point me towards some resources for this or suggest who to contact? I’m nervous about inquiring at my OB office. And the clinic where my husband works on post thinks anyone who home births at all should be locked up.
Please help, thanks so much!
Love what you do!!
Nikki.rain12@gmail.com
Devyn
Hi there; I don’t want to come across as judgmental, but do you think that maybe talking about unassisted or freebirths, then posting a picture of a woman in seemingly excruciating pain, would help to sooth a woman’s heart into trusting herself, her body, and the universe? It seems like this photo you chose may scare a few woman who are teetering a bit on trusting themselves.. I just think surrounding women, no matter the beliefs, in positive affirmations about EVERY act of life, whether it can be painful, or not is beneficial, and showing any negative POSSIBLE aspects is just ‘hinting’ at something otherwise.
We can trust that everything happens just as it’s meant to, whether it have pain or not.. and have our life’s journey flowing through those choices.
Moda Ani
You bring up a valid point. However, to me she looks like she’s rar-ing. A powerful war cry, or the rawr of a majestic, territorial lion…
While yes, it’s cry that carries pain, it also holds an array of many other emotions.
Empowerment, warning, and excitement….
But maybe I’m just reading too much into it.
Heather
I agree! I have no doubt that I made similar expressions while delivering my 3rd child at home but, never once was I in excruciating pain. Pain, sure but never more than I could handle. It was pressure more than anything but, even pressure will create a facial response. This photo seems very empowering and passionate, to me. The only thing that bothers me is how very thin this lucky Momma is! Lol. But, frankly, I’ve put my body through way too much to ever expect to be anything less than plus size again. Haha!
Sirena
I did it..Ive planned it for months and today i took castor oil at 11am(39wks), started labour in my big bathroom with candles, honey suckle smells, meditation music & a warm bath with lots of clean towels. I educated my self on plasenta, bleeding, cpr, cord tying & cutting. I felt confident & thought ill see how i do. I started labouring contraction at 1pm & because i trusted mybody & went with the waves my boy was born at 3:01pm today(2hrs). Healthly & wonderful. I know i could not have had this experience at a hospital. Their bathrooms are small & theres to many interruption but at home I laughed uncontrollably while my body julted forward from strong contraction, i pushed with out thinking,(no one checking my cervix) i made different sounds that helped with discomfort, i cried tears of joy from empowerment & encouraged my self & baby every step of the way..it was magical & it was by far the best of 3 deliveries(2 hospital & 1 unassisted home birth) 🙂 i did it..i birthed with out fear & low pain. I seen freebirths on youtube of women enjoying birth, laughing & crying tears of joy. I wanted that & got it..i love the natural safe way, our bodys where made for it 🙂
Kristi
What are some of the research finds you found on bleeding?
Moda Ani
Can someone explain how to file for a birth certificate for an UC?
Destiny
Hi my name is destiny this is my 5th pregancy and i am having unassisted birth just me and my husband. I read your page and have a quick question? how do u apply for a birth certificate with no witnesses just you and my husband. thank you destiny
Amanda
In our state (Minnesota) you must call the state’s Department of Health and request a form after the baby is born. As of a few yrs. ago, they require some extra documentation from a certified attendant (midwife or Doctor) in the form of either a prenatal appointment summary or a summary of the newborn exam. Both need the care provider’s signature and a cover letter from the “facility” indicating the authenticity of the documents provided. It may be different in your location, but I would start by calling the Department of Health and speak to the person in charge of birth certificates for home births. Judging by the date of your post, you most likely have already worked something out, but for those reading now for future births it may be of some help. : )
Mama Odara
Wow! What an inspiring story! Having the courage to do this confirms to me that we are divine women and this is the natural order of things! Sending lots of love to you and your family!
Ann
I am having my fifth child in a couple months and I really want to have a unassited homebirth, my husband is not at all for the idea. For my third and fourth child I went along with his wishes and, while I really wanted a homebirth, went to the hospital. My hospital experiences were not bad, though I was always pressured to use pitocin to speed up my long labors. This time I just don’t feel like giving in – I want to have this child my way and in my own time without stress or pressure. These stories are amazing and give me an idea of what it can be like. Also, are there support groups that can be found online?
Creolemama
I am so glad to have found this resource. I am planning an unplanned unassisted homebirth. I know that makes little sense but this is my 3rd pregnancy and it was unplanned. My first birth was a birthing center birth. I was assisted only by midwives both for prenatal care and birth. Labor lasted 17 hours. I worked at home for the first 12 hours or so and then my doula decided it was time to take me to the birthing center. I birthed 5 hours later. I am convinced today that transferring me in the middle of my labor caused a delay. My body was not sure if it was secure enough to birth and my contractions slowed down. It was still a wonderful experience and I was ready to repeat it with my second. But baby No. 2 had a different plan. I assumed that labor would last just as long as with my first and when my first contraction hit I decided to stay home until things really progressed. Two hours later my baby was born in a brooklyn cabby. My hubby caught her and even had the presence of mind to read the time on the cabby’s radio clock. I arrived in front of the birthing center five minutes later and my midwife delivered the placenta. Cab driver was pissed. But it was a great birth. And I love telling the story to anyone who will listen. My doula at the time told me I should plan for a home birth if I ever get pregnant again. After my second was born hubby and I moved back to our country of origin. A very poor third world country were women die in childbirth frequently. Thankfully we are fortunate to have a roof on our head and enough to pay for medical services. But a midwife and doula are unheard of here although in the country side, births are still for the most part unassisted or with untrained (but traditionally trained) sages femmes. So women who can afford care go to an OB and get first world (for the most part) standard care and give birth in hospitals. Which is why I did though it feels strange to me to be cared for in that way. I have no idea if this birth will happen like my second or more like my first but I want to be prepared to have an unassisted home birth just in case this one decides to come fast (and frankly even if he/she does not). I am close to a decent hospital which is 5 minutes away. I found that with my first two the best approach was to be as informed as possible because then you are more confident and less scared of the unknown. So I will dedicate the rest of this pregnancy (7 months) to educating myself on UC. Doing so from outside the US will be a challenge I presume but I don’t see myself doing anything else. Thank you for existing.