Buch, Englisch, 244 Seiten, PB, Format (B × H): 170 mm x 220 mm, Gewicht: 432 g
Buch, Englisch, 244 Seiten, PB, Format (B × H): 170 mm x 220 mm, Gewicht: 432 g
ISBN: 978-3-902943-86-6
Verlag: edition riedenburg e.U.
Having a baby, just like that? Without hospital, midwife or instructions to push? Babies are sometimes born before the midwife can get there and when that happens, everyone involved is usually happy everything went well despite the lack of professionals.
But how does it work for women who consciously decide to have a so-called ‘freebirth’ and decline antenatal care as well as conventional monitoring by birth professionals?
Sarah Schmid explains how to make self-directed birth a joyous experience. She also answers important questions around taking responsibility for your own pregnancy and birth, such as:
• How can I improve my health during pregnancy?
• How can I determine the baby’s position myself and optimise it?
• Is it possible to know if my baby is well without listening to the heartbeat?
• What can I do if my labour does not progress?
• What do I do if the cord is around the baby’s neck?
• What should I do if there is meconium in the amniotic fluid?
• Freebirth after caesarean birth or with a breech baby - is it possible?
• Can I give birth by myself even if the pregnancy ends too soon?
In ‘Freebirth’ Sarah Schmid provides a healthy dose of basic medical knowledge and dispels scary myths about birth. This also makes ‘Freebirth’ valuable for those women planning to birth their babies in a conventional setting, as well as for birth professionals.
Also in this book:
Numerous illustrations • personal stories by over 30 mothers about planned and unplanned freebirths, including photos • helpful tips for the early days with a newborn
‘Trust your feelings and ask 1000 questions when it comes to the birth of your baby. Good births are not easy to find, only the best is good enough for you!’ (Caroline, 37, freebirth after previous caesarean section)
‘Birth means becoming a woman and discovering the roaring lioness within yourself.’ (Beatrice, 36, two freebirths)
‘Birth is part of life and it is not something that requires surveillance.’ (Sarah, 32, three freebirths)
Zielgruppe
Frauen und ihre Partner, Gesundheitspersonal, Geburtshelfer
Autoren/Hrsg.
Weitere Infos & Material
Introduction 9
In the beginning. 10
My journey to freebirth 11
What to expect from this book 18
About responsibility, fear and safety 19
Responsibility and other people’s fear 20
Dealing with your own fears 21
The question of safety 23
Nutrition as key for healthy pregnancy and birth 29
The recipe for success from ancient civilisations 30
Rule 1: Sugar: very little and natural 30
Rule 2: Carefully prepared grains 30
Rule 3: The whole animal is edible 31
Rule 4: Fat is best 31
Rule 5: Dirt is not the enemy 32
Rule 6: Sauerkraut as medicine 33
Rule 7: Daily consumption of raw milk 33
Rule 8: Particular foods that prepare for pregnancy 33
Important vitamins and minerals for pregnancy and breastfeeding 34
Calcium and Vitamin D 34
Magnesium 34
Iron 34
Zinc 35
Vitamin B6 35
Vitamin B12 35
Folic Acid 35
Practical Pregnancy 37
Pregnant? 38
What happens in the weeks of pregnancy? 38
About moods and sensitivities 39
The best care 39
Finding a good midwife 40
Doula, friend, partner – different considerations about your birth partner 42
When you need an obstetrician 42
What do your notes actually mean? 43
The estimated date of birth (EDB/EDD) 43
Your history, general test results and pregnancy specific test results 43
Screening for sexually transmitted infections – syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B, chlamydia 44
Screening for gestational diabetes – Glucose Tolerance Test, urinalysis 44
Rubella Titre 45
Screening for pre-eclampsia – urinalysis, blood pressure, weight 45
Haemoglobin (iron) levels 46
Determining your blood group and rhesus factor 46
Screening for chromosomal abnormalities, hereditary diseases and malformations 48
Group B Streptococcus 48
Urinalysis for leukocytes and red blood cells 49
Fetal position and presentation, fundus, heartbeat and other pregnancy checks 49
Ultrasound 51
Possible models of care 53
Common pregnancy ailments 53
Nausea 53
Sciatica 54
Varicose veins 54
The symphysis and other joints 55
Stretch marks 56
Constipation 56
Muscle cramps 56
Dental caries 57
Self-directed Pregnancy 57
What position is the baby in? 57
Breech presentation 61
Transverse and oblique lie 63
Other ways to determine the baby’s position 63
Where is the placenta? 65
Is the baby well? 66
Freebirth for a first baby? 66
Is it twins? 67
Bleeding 68
When pregnancy ends too soon 69
Preparation for birth 70
What do I need for a self-directed birth? 70
Perineal massage? 71
Traumatic and unpleasant previous birth experiences 72
Practice run in your mind 72
Practical Birth 75
To start with: good and bad births? 76
A completely physiological birth 77
First stage of labour 78
Transition 79
Second stage of labour 79
Third stage of labour 80
‘Rest and be thankful’ phase 80
Birth on land 80
Birth in water 82
What if. 82
. I am overdue? 82
. the baby is big? 84
. my waters break but contractions don’t start immediately? 84
. I go into labour too soon? 85
. contractions are painful but labour does not progress? 85
. there is a cord prolapse? 87
. I have an anterior lip of cervix, like I did during a previous birth? 88
. there is fetal distress and I don’t notice? 89
. there is meconium? 89
. the shoulders get stuck? 90
. the cord is around baby’s neck? 90
. the baby doesn’t breathe? 91
. the baby inhales some of the amniotic fluid? 92
. the placenta takes a long time to come out? 92
. I bleed heavily after the birth? 94
Birth and pain 98
Protecting the perineum, episiotomy and perineal tears 99
Cutting the cord – how, when and what with? 101
Checking the placenta 104
Freebirth under difficult circumstances 105
When you don’t have any support 105
Freebirth and breech presentation 106
Freebirth after caesarean section 108
If you have to go to hospital 110
Plan B – Emergency Birth Plan 112
The legal side 113
The chapter for men, by men 115
Our journey to freebirth, together 116
‘I could not manage to get rid of my fears.’ 117
When the midwife makes a mistake – an interview 120
The baby is born 123
The first hour with your newborn 124
Breastfeeding and the family bed 125
Carrying, swaddling and calming 128
Growth spurts 130
Pee and poo 130
Your body before and after 132
Lochia 134
Hormones and emotions 135
“Well-meaning” advice from others 135
Official business: Registering the birth 136
Self-directed Mothering 136
When will you have the next one? 137
Freebirth – Mothers tell their stories 139
Call to action 140
The unplanned freebirth: When the baby is faster 140
The half planned freebirth: When being alone turns out to be right 141
The planned freebirth: Celebrating your freedom and birthing power 141
Antenatal care 142
Unusual situations and complications 143
Freebirth with obstacles 144
Small and still freebirths 144
The mothers in this book 145
Unplanned, half planned and planned freebirths 147
Freebirths with obstacles 209
Small and still freebirths 217
Appendix 231
Recommended reading 232
Further websites 232
Thanks 239
* My journey to freebirth *
My first foray into modern obstetrics happened before my first pregnancy. During my time in medical school I had various shorter placements in hospitals as well as a whole year at a later point in my studies.
I knew I wanted to have children and used the opportunity to take up a placement in the obstetrics and gynaecology department of my local hospital. I didn’t have any preconceived ideas about birth, was curious and excited about every birth I was allowed to attend. Once I even saw twins born. And once, but only once did I witness a birth in an upright position, rather than with the woman on her back, as usual. I observed the organisation of the nursery and assisted with caesarean sections. I had to suction the amniotic fluid as soon as the amniotic sac was opened.
The doctors were all relatively nice. The midwives were all very different. I still remember one very young midwife who attended the upright kneeling birth mentioned above with me. Her cheeks always turned bright red as birth approached and she never had to check the mother’s cervix to know it was fully dilated. This gut feeling impressed me amidst all the technology and monitoring.
My next experience of obstetrics was during my year long placement. I was married by then, pregnant with my first baby and was therefore hardly allowed to do anything clinical such as take bloods. Watching was allowed though and watch I did.
This time my placement was in the biggest hospital in town. I spent two month in the very labour ward I was born in myself. The midwives were the type famous in the former East Germany and tone in general was regimental.
The women were shouted at and insulted if they didn’t follow the midwives’ instructions. A generous episiotomy was routine and seemed very painful although the women were usually reassured that it wouldn’t be. The student midwives tried to trump each other with the the numbers of episiotomies they had performed.
There were many situations I found horrifying and the decision to have a homebirth was an easy one. The risk of having to birth in this hospital was not one I was willing to take. My husband was in agreement as the hospital was only 5 minutes away from our house at the edge of the woods and was easily accessible in the case of an emergency.
Through recommendation I found and older, experienced midwife. I had a good feeling about her and felt like nothing could go wrong. The year long placement I was doing at the time was very stressful. 4 months of it took place in Accident and Emergency. It was exciting and educational but I got very constipated.
I found a very reliable remedy for this, which brought relief in 15 minutes flat: the forest. As soon as I went for a walk there, I felt like everything started to move again, as it were. As I wandered amongst the trees and felt relief take over, I thought again and again: I have to birth my baby right here. I’m just going to escape, without anyone knowing where I am and come back with a baby. No trouble, no stress, no expectations, demands or clocks. That would be amazing. If I can get rid of constipation so easily here, it must be the ideal place to push out a baby.
