Free Birth In The Media
The Misrepresentation of Freebirth: How the Media and Medical Establishment Are Failing Women
Recent media portrayals of freebirth and accusations that doulas are advising women against medical advice are nothing short of fear-mongering propaganda. The truth is far more nuanced, and frankly, more damning for the state of maternity care in the UK. Instead of addressing the systemic issues driving women to explore alternatives, the media—with its clear agenda—seeks to demonize those who dare to question the failing system.
The Crisis in NHS Maternity Care
Let’s be clear: the NHS is overstretched, and maternity care is in crisis. Women are not choosing freebirth or rejecting medical advice on a whim; they are being driven to these decisions by the appalling care they receive during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives.
Stories of women being dismissed, coerced, or ignored in labour are not isolated incidents. They are so common that organisations like the Birth Trauma Association are inundated with women suffering from flashbacks, PTSD, and depression caused by the disrespect and neglect they experienced during birth.
Women’s rights in childbirth are supposed to be protected under the law, but small organisations like Birthrights are struggling to keep up with the volume of enquiries from women seeking help to advocate for basic human dignity during labour.
The mainstream media would have you believe these women are reckless or irresponsible, but the truth is they are desperate for care that prioritizes their needs and respects their autonomy. Instead of addressing these failings, journalists pump out stories designed to scare women into compliance. Heaven forbid they ask a doctor a challenging question or demand evidence-based care.
Evidence-Based Care: A Hollow Promise
Speaking of evidence… how much of the care women receive in hospitals is truly evidence-based? Doctors frequently push interventions without fully informing women of the risks or alternatives.
Continuous CTG monitoring: It has never been proven to make birth safer and only serves to increase the rate of unnecessary caesareans.
Induction of labour: Now used in over 60% of pregnancies in some areas, despite carrying significant risks for both mother and baby.
The system’s reliance on outdated or misrepresented evidence is harming women and babies alike.
For a deeper look into why women are turning to home birth and freebirth, consider the Home Birth Support Group UK.
Disjointed Care: Failing Labouring Women
How is a labouring woman supposed to relax and feel safe when she sees a parade of strangers during her birth? The benefits of having a known midwife or continuous one-to-one support are well-documented—and yet these basic standards of care are rarely met. Women are left vulnerable and unsupported, their labours stalled by stress, fear, and lack of trust in the system.
The Role of Doulas: Filling a Crucial Gap
This is where doulas step in, filling a gaping void left by the NHS. Continuous, one-to-one support from someone who understands birth and prioritizes the woman’s needs can make a world of difference.
Benefits of doula care: When a woman feels safe, supported, and respected, her body’s natural hormones—oxytocin and endorphins—take over. Labour progresses efficiently, often reducing the need for interventions.
Doulas aren’t there to replace medical professionals; they are there to support the woman, ensuring she feels heard and empowered. Yet, instead of being embraced for their vital role, doulas are often vilified as reckless or interfering. This narrative is not only unfair but also deeply damaging to women who rely on their doulas for emotional and practical support during labour.
Patriarchy in the Birth Room
Instead of addressing these systemic failures, the medical establishment doubles down on coercion and fear tactics.
The “dead baby card”: A manipulative and abhorrent tactic documented since the 1990s, where doctors tell women that rejecting their advice will result in tragedy.
At a time when women should be stepping into their immense power—bringing life into the world—they are told they cannot be trusted. The system undermines their autonomy, their confidence, and their sense of control. And yet we wonder why so many women leave hospital births feeling traumatized.
Why Women Are Saying “No”
Freebirth and wild pregnancies are not acts of recklessness; they are acts of rebellion. Women are not turning their backs on medical care lightly. They are doing so because the current system is failing them.
Skyrocketing interventions: Nearly half of women are having caesareans, and induction is becoming the norm.
Lack of trust in the system: Women are tired of being treated as ticking time bombs instead of respected individuals.
For some inspiring stories about freebirth and empowerment, check out the Freebirth Society Instagram or the work of Kemi Birth Joy Johnson.
A Call to Action
To the journalists spreading fear, the doctors clinging to outdated practices, and the policymakers ignoring the cries of birthing women: it’s time to wake up.
Women deserve better. They deserve care that is:
Compassionate.
Evidence-based.
Respectful of their autonomy.
Birth is not a medical emergency waiting to happen—it is a physiological process that, in most cases, works perfectly when left undisturbed. Until the system recognizes this and starts supporting women as the centre of their care, more will choose alternatives. And maybe that’s exactly what’s needed to spark the change we so desperately need.
Freebirth is not for everyone, and it is not something to idolise. For those who choose this path, it is their legal and human right protected under the European Conventions. These women are showing us that birth can be beautiful with no medical intervention. If care providers would listen to their wishes and sit in the corner knitting—"just in case"—like the midwives of old, there would be no need for women to birth without them.
Women have been disrespected when at their most vulnerable, their wishes ignored, and are now being demonised. Yet many tragedies are happening in hospitals—too many interventions cause more adverse outcomes than doing too little. Women who choose to birth without midwifery or medical support are showing us what birth should be and what it can be once again.
For more on this, consider exploring the book Unassisted Childbirth.
Further Reading
Inspired by her own transformative birth 16 years ago with the support of an Independent Midwife, Emma has dedicated her life to empowering women through evidence-based, personalised care.
With a degree in Antenatal Education and qualifications as a Doula, Pregnancy Yoga Teacher, and Breastfeeding Peer Supporter, she blends evidence-based research, compassion, and intuition to support families on their journey to parenthood.
Emma says, 'My mission is to help women trust their instincts, embrace their power, and confidently step into their roles as mothers, while ensuring their partners feel included and supported too.' "