Freebirth interest has ‘grown’ as newborn remains in hospital

A newborn is still in a critical condition after an Ocean Grove “freebirth” but interest in the “unsafe” practice has reportedly been growing.

A baby was hospitalised after an Ocean Grove ‘freebirth’.

Interest in “freebirthing” is reportedly growing, as a newborn remains in a critical condition after being delivered in Ocean Grove.

The baby was taken to Geelong hospital on Tuesday last week after what’s understood to have been a freebirth.

These usually occur at home and see mothers choose to give birth without medical or midwifery assistance.

The medical community does not condone the practice.

It is different to a homebirth, which is a planned birth at home with midwifery care.

Homebirth Australia co-ordinator Kristyn Begnell said, anecdotally, interest in freebirthing was increasing.

“It’s really hard to measure though,” she said.

She said a combination of factors, including the pandemic, hospital restrictions and women becoming aware of birth trauma, could have contributed to this.

She did not comment specifically on the Ocean Grove incident, and said while the organisation supported women’s choice to birth however they liked, there was a distinct difference between freebirth and homebirth.

“There’s various different reasons why women might choose a freebirth,” she said.

“A lot of women do it just because they want full autonomy.

“Others would prefer homebirth with a midwife but are limited due to location, affordability or risk factors.

“Our focus is on … improving access and preventing women from freebirthing who feel they have no choice.”

She said it was “100 per cent” important to have well-resourced homebirth programs.

Barwon Health’s new publicly-funded homebirth program sees deliveries attended by two midwives.

In Victoria people can also have a homebirth with a private midwife.

Barwon Health said freebirth was strongly discouraged, while the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said health professionals generally agreed it was not safe.

The Geelong Advertiser identified doulas who offer to attend freebirths in Geelong.

Doulas offer non-medical, physical and emotional support to women before, during and after childbirth.

Dr Anne Stephenson. Picture: Ginger + Mint

Western Victoria Primary Health Network clinical spokeswoman Dr Anne Stephenson said a “small proportion” of people chose freebirths.

“Freebirth can increase the risks for both the mother and baby and the potential for them to be undetected is greater,” she said.

“A good example is a baby in breech.”

On Tuesday this week, the Royal Children’s Hospital confirmed the baby remained in a critical condition.

A woman in her 20s, who was taken to Geelong hospital in a stable condition from Ocean Grove, is no longer in the hospital.

A baby died in a freebirth tragedy in Western Australia in 2022.

A doula and the baby’s father, but no medical professionals, were reportedly understood to be overlooking that delivery.

In Australia, about 97 per cent of births occur in hospital, according to Healthdirect Australia’s Pregnancy, Birth and Baby resource.

The remainder are either born before the woman can get to hospital, born at home with a midwife, or freebirths.

Originally published as Freebirth interest has ‘grown’ as newborn remains in hospital