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Is it illegal if I give birth at home by myself?  
 
Edited by eros86, 2015-11-06 23:21:24

It is legal. It's called "freebirth". No one there besides yourself... I'm not here to judge nor give my opinion. BUT I hope if you choose to take this road, you educate yourself 100%, know the benefits AND risks and I hope you have emergency contacts ready and are open to using them if need be... there can be a lot that can go wrong with childbirth, or what happens after the baby comes (bleeding out, etc). Be careful!

I'd at least try to get a midwife and have them possibly do it at your home. Doesn't cost you anything.

I don't know your reason for wanting to birth alone, but the midwives in Brandon are fantastic and they will assist a home birth if you are low risk.

village_idiot said "I don't know your reason for wanting to birth alone, but the midwives in Brandon are fantastic and they will assist a home birth if you are low risk. "

Called them yesterday and person on the phone was short with me and said there's nothing available for this month then offered February and I said my child would be few months old then and to not worry about it and hung up.  
Looking into freebirthing, its acquiring a birth certificate that will be an issue I think, I could walk over to a walk in clinic right to get them to sign off?  
 
Edited by eros86, 2015-11-07 11:41:02

If it is illegal or not, but it is dangerous, selfish and very poorly "researched". How will you feel if you have a cord prolapse, hemmorage, dystocia, or any number of lethal complications and your child dies and you have to live knowing your child would have as well had you had medical care during labour?  
Just curious as to how you plan to cope with that situation if it arises?

eros86 said "Is it illegal if I give birth at home by myself?     Edited by eros86, 2015-11-06 23:21:24"

Do you literally mean 'by yourself'?  
 

Kellye said "    eros86 said "Is it illegal if I give birth at home by myself?     Edited by eros86, 2015-11-06 23:21:24" Do you literally mean 'by yourself'?     "

Read this article:  
 
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2007/may/09/health.medicineandhealth

Until you were practically due to try and procure the services of a midwife, so no, you weren't going to get in. They are scheduled months in advance and there are only 7 of them. You basically have to phone the day you find out you''re pregnant to get one. If it is your first baby, I wouldn't even attempt it.If something were to go wrong, that's a guilt hole I wouldn't be able to crawl out of. There is a reason women don't die in childbirth as much as they used to, modern medicine and access to it. It's free, use it.

Read this article, but please,don't acknowledge any comments that question why your birth experience is more important that the life of an innocent baby.  
 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2094348/Caroline-Lovell-Home-birth-advocate-dies-delivering-baby-daughter-home.html  
 
**I am starting to think this post was written to simply get people aggravated as I find it hard to believe any woman would care so little about a baby she spent 40 weeks growing inside her own body. **

itsalwaysunny said "Read this article, but please,don't acknowledge any comments that question why your birth experience is more important that the life of an innocent baby.     http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2094348/Caroline-Lovell-Home-birth-advocate-dies-delivering-baby-daughter-home.html     **I am starting to think this post was written to simply get people aggravated as I find it hard to believe any woman would care so little about a baby she spent 40 weeks growing inside her own body. ** "

I'm merely looking for answers, which have been answered, a conversation regarding this topic as to explore thoughts. Negative comments and shaming are not being sought, thank you.

If it is something that you are considering, I would think that you will have done a lot of research already and that you are aware of the risks (malpresentation, cord prolapse, hemmorage, the results of studies re- maternal and infant mortality rates with assisted vs unassisted births, the need for immediate newborn interventions, etc). Can you please explain why you would possibly want to attempt this?

Just reality. Shaming? Anyone who would recklessly endanger the life of a child should be ashamed. Most people would agree that anything that can be done to decrease the risk to a child is positive. Crazy-lone-danger-birthing simply increases the risk of harm to an infant. The article you posted admitted that fact and if you feel your needs are more important than those of your child you may want to seek help from a mental health professional. I do not say that to be mean or as a joke: I seriously suggest speaking with someone before you attempt to danger-birth at home.

I'm curious.....since you are almost due, what kind of prenatal care have you received up until this point? Have you been seen by a doctor, had ultrasounds, etc. Do you know the position of the baby at this point, the position of the placenta, etc.?  
I really don't understand why you would want to have a completely unassisted birth, but that's not my judgment to make. You obviously had feelings on this right from the beginning, and could have sought out a midwife right away, or hired a doula. Having a home birth is a great option if you are able, but being your first birth, you should probably have a professional close by.  
 
With my first baby, everything was going so easy. The labour progressed well, and I was able to labour at home for most of it. Everything was going according to plan at the hospital, and I almost had a completely drug free, easy birth, until everything literally went wrong at the last minute. I ended up with a c section after all that, and almost died on the operating table. I dont tell you this to scare you, and I know complications like mine don't happen very often, but they do happen.  
 
I am by no means against home birth, but you really need to be educated, have a plan and know your options before you make this type of decision. So, I am curious as to what kind of intact you have had with professionals and what advice you have from them.

WEIRD! But her decision

I hope your very educated on the process of birth and all the complications you can have during labour. From somebody who had a baby with a complication, and a baby in the nicu. I can speak from experience saying the quick actions of the nurses and doctor saved his life. Had I been at home alone, that's a lot of time for me to get help and it would not have ended as well. At home at least with somebody like a midwife who is trained can make a call to goto the hospital, if they see something that could be a potential risk during labour.  
Why risk your child's life? I fully support home births with people trained there to help you through the process. I would never risk my child's life or that of my own. I couldn't imagine delivering alone. I hope you can honestly say you are fully educated in all the "what it's".

altho its the parents choice the risk vs reward imo is to great to go it alone, even with a midwife i would only consider home birth if i lived very close to the hospital,there is a reason laboring women's and newborns death rate is lower now then of years past when moms didnt have a choice to have a hospital birth risks of complications for mom or baby is way to high and life is precious so i know i wouldnt even consider giving birth alone if i had a choice

I did it. Many, many times, due to very many reasons. I would do it again. It is not illegal, just misunderstood with a lot of fearmongering and myths surrounding it. It is just as having a traditional midwife before the govt. brought in legislation. I heard the same arguments that you are hearing here back then...from almost everywhere...and yet now it is highly accepted and sought after.  
 
A wise traditional midwife told me once...it is their job to teach about birth and to get the couple to the place where they can do it on their own...essentially working themselves out of a job.  
 
I know of others who have done it too, and some who will in the future. It is not called "free birth" it is called unattended. You can find out more on Mothering.com. You can also do research talking to those who have done it themselves, those who have attended a homebirth and some doulas.  
 
You can also read a lot on midwiferytoday.com. It appears as though they have restructured their website...unless that is because I am seeing a mobile version. It was easier to use before, so hopefully that is all it is. The information should still all be there. Search and read articles and publications.  
 
It is something you have to comfortable with, have an emergency plan, and it is good to have a support team who is supportive of you and knows your emergency plan. It does not come without risks, but neither does a midwife attended birth nor a hospital birth.  
 
There can be some red tape with MB Health, but other paperwork is not as bad. I can tell you what can help deal with this.  
 
I would like to discuss this further with you if you would wish. I will not post more on this thread. Feel free to pm me, Eros86. I am very passionate about this topic.

Before everyone jumps on the OP, I did catch the original post before the OP edited it and I believe she mentioned she had just moved, had no insurance, hadn't procureed a obgyn here (or wherever she moved too). Perhaps a better question would have been to ask how to obtain coverage in the province you just moved to. Then I would suggest going to walkin and begging for a referral.

It's legal for you to birth at home alone, I know a woman who has actually. If you do make sure you are very very informed. Midwives are another option, and then of course hospital.  
I wish you luck with whatever you choose. If it is an insurance issue please contact your local MLA to see if they can help you out.

As with any birth option, there are pros and cons. I find it hard to believe that the pros of unattended births outweigh those of hospital or midwife births. I would think the risks are greatly higher with unattended and in this day and age, where helpful birth options are a choice, I find it odd that they would be the last choice. I would feel extremely guilty if I lost my child because I decided to give birth alone and unattended. If this is the route you're set on, I hope you have a great emergency plan ready to go in case you need it. A child's life isn't something I'd risk but like everything, to each their own. I wish you all the best and hope you have a safe birth and a healthy baby at the end of it!

That's another name for it. Don't let the scare mongers turn you off of a beautiful thing because they believe it can't or shouldn't be done without a doctor. Midwives are a good alternative, but not necessary if you're healthy, you've monitored your baby's health and are comfortable and confident with your actions. There are several in my extended family, and my immediate family that have birthed unassisted. Not alone, but without licensed medical practitioners on site. Pm me if you have additional questions. And yes, it's totally legal. Birth certificates are not a problem. 'Place of birth'? The address where the baby was born. The big difference is that you have to fill it out instead of a secretary or nurse.  

The truth of it is, if we all went back to unassisted home births. the infant mortality rate and rate of women dying in child birth would rise. The 911 system would keep the number lower than say, Africa, but the numbers would go up.

I am very open minded and believe a mother will do what is best for their child. I can see benefits in each type of birth. I do however have to say I had the perfect pregnancy with no complications. I am healthy and so was baby. However baby's heart rate dropped during labor then she required vacuum assist and nearly c-section as I pushed for nearly 7 hours with no progress. When she came out she wasn't crying and required intubation. I'm not saying this in am attempt to scare you but the comments that are saying if you are healthy things should be fine are somewhat misleading. I do not have training in vacuum assisted birth or intubation so I couldn't imagine being alone at home. In a matter of seconds things can change...even in 2015. Regardless of your decision though I wish you luck and a healthy delivery and baby!

Mommydearest said "The truth of it is, if we all went back to unassisted home births. the infant mortality rate and rate of women dying in child birth would rise. The 911 system would keep the number lower than say, Africa, but the numbers would go up. "

I agree, those who would never choose to have an unassisted birth are not necessarily uneducated or fear mongering but do probably put more weight on the risked verses the benefits  
 
while the amount of unattended births with complication or deaths maybe lower now then before the reason i believe is the people who choose unassisted are healthy with no foreseeable issues (is the scary part imo) but also amount taking place are low so there isnt a high number of incidents, plus if near a hospital you maybe able to get intervention but it still takes longer then at the hospital, making it a higher risk

If you want a home birth I feel you should have somebody there with a medical background. You can never ever know if you will have a perfectly healthy labor and deliver a healthy child. I had a completely normal healthy pregnancy and then my son was born needing immediate medical attention, he ended up needing a ventilator.  
 
I personally could never risk having a birth anywhere but a hospital just for the risk my child could have. I know many people have home births but you need to be responsible for both your life and your child's. Do you at least have a friend who is a nurse that could be there for medical support??

Obviously the OP has their reasons for wanting to birth this way, but I think there are lots of options that would make her experience what she wants as well as be safe for her and the baby. Possibly having a midwife in her home while she labours and delivers, but keeping to a different room just to be there for support in case needed. Or even like someone else mentioned, having a nurse friend close by for support as well. At least having someone close by with some medical equipment like a Doppler for monitoring if it is needed, and someone who would have the knowledge to check for dilation, just in case things are getting overly long, etc.  
Having some kind of medical support near by does not mean it will take away from the birth experience that the OP wants. Even medical professionals do support birth plans so that women can get the experience they want.

I don't know of any nurse that would jeopardize his/her license to "be available or supervise from another room" for an unassisted birth. It's dangerous and opens the door for lawsuits when something goes terribly wrong.

This thread reminds me a lot about threads about vaccination.  
 
On one side, you have people lining up citing "free choice", and "no one dies, it's perfectly natural and healthy".  
 
On the other side, you have the "you would have to be crazy.." camp.  
 
Both sides of have merit, and both sides are very passionate.  
 
The reality is, birthing is very risky business. Something like 1 in 3 women used to die in childbirth in their lifetime and neonate death was common. But we forget that because of advances in our understanding of the birth process, better hygiene, better interventions, better nutrition... all these things result in better outcomes.  
 
But birthing can go horribly wrong for both mother and child. That's true both in and out of the hospital, with or without an attendant, with or without interventions. Having epidurals can be risky and substantially increases your chance of having even more risky interventions, yet most women don't perceive them as being risky. Being in a hospital where the chances of acquiring infection is significantly higher than birthing at home. Having no birth attendant to introduce infectious agents has very low risk of infection. Being out of the hospital increases response time if you do need intervention, but minimizes interventions that are inherently risky.  
 
It's all risk, and it's all a matter of what risks you're comfortable with. Vaccination is the same thing - some people are more comfortable with the risk of disease than the risk of injections, while others would rather risk the side effects and avoid the disease. Both risks are relatively small in the big picture, but the comfort level of risk is different. But like the childbirth thing, we collectively forget how many children used to die from these illnesses.  
 
How do you make an objective choice.  
 
My concern with the OP is less about her birthing choices, and more whether or not she's received prenatal care. Having quality prenatal care is one of the largest predictors of having a good outcome. Does she know the size of her baby? Does she have good placental position? Is her blood pressure normal? Has her blood sugar been normal? Does she have Rh compatibility issues? Is the baby is good position? Did she have good nutrition and sufficient folic acid intake? Does the baby have any serious structural abnormalities? Has she birthed before? Does she know she can successfully birth vaginally?  
 
These are all questions that should be answered before she even asks the question. If she would not qualify for a home birth with a midwife (by qualify I mean she fits the definition of "low risk" with a reasonable chance of success, not whether or not she could get a midwife due to scheduling), I don't think she should even be contemplating unassisted birth.  
 
But if she's established that she's relatively low risk, has done the self-education and understands and is comfortable with the risks... well, however we feel about it it's her choice either way I guess.  
 

I took an interest in this from the first post, and the only thing that bothered me has been the idea of "totally by myself".  
 
I was present at the birth of all five of our children, all pregnancies were normal, babies were in the proper position for birth, and yet there were two of the births that would have turned out badly if assistance had not been given. During the pregnancy, and maybe closer to the end, the something became a someone, and for myself, the concern seemed to grow, and as a father watching a doctor pull really hard on that someone with forceps made you realize that problems do come up. In the delivery room at the Souris hospital, this was years ago, there was a sign on the wall, the sign was "signs of a healthy baby ", the sign was there for a reason. Watching a doctor telling your wife not to push, while trying to push the baby back in and remove the cord from around the babies neck does also bring the reality of problems to light. After seeing this child born and looking at the sign on the wall, you are left with sickening feeling.  
 
I don't care where anyone decides to give birth to their baby, but after what I have seen in regards to my own children, and maybe on birthing of other animals throughout my life, the only concern is don't do this alone.  
 
Hope all works out for you.