Unassistedchildbirthmaysometimeshavefatalconsequencesforwomenwhooptforunassistedchildbirthasthereisnomedicalattendantatthetimeofbirth.whatarethedisadvantagesofunassistedchildbirth?Readon.UnassistedchildbirthorUCisaplannedbirthprocesswherethemotherdecidestogivebirthtoherbabywithoutanyassistanceoraidoreventhepresenceofamedicalprofessional.Therehasbeenalotofdebateonthefeasibilityofunassistedbirthsasthelifeandwellbeingofthemotherandchildisopentorisks.Butinlegalaspects,unassistedchildbirthislegalised.Justasthewomanhastherighttoterminatethelifeofherunbornchild,shealsohastherighttochoosehowshedesirestobringinherbabyintotheworld.InthisarticleTheUnassistedChildbirthorFree-BirthProcessDrawbacksofUnassistedChildbirthInadequateKnowledgeComplicationsCanDevelopReadilyLackofSupportTheUnassistedChildbirthorFree-BirthProcessTheunassistedchildbirthorfree-birthprocessasreferredtobymany,isbasicallyapartofthenaturalchildbirthmovementpioneeredbyphysicianslikeGrantlyDick-Read,FernandLamazeandRoberta.Bradley.Therecanbeahostofreasonsandmotivationsforwomenwhochoosethisbirthingmethod.mostareofthemareoftheviewthatonlythemotherhastherighttobringinherchildsafelyintothisworldanditisanintimateandsexualexperienceforboththemotherandherpartnerasitisaculminationoftheconceptionstage.Theyalsobelievethatthisheightensthemother’sbondingwiththebabytoanaltogethernewlevel.DrawbacksofUnassistedChildbirthLetushaveaquicklookatthedrawbacksordisadvantagesofunassistedchildbirth.InadequateKnowledge–womenwhooptforunassistedchildbirthbegintolearnallthefactsregardingherpregnancyandbodyrightfromtheconformationoftheconception.Theybegintopreparethemselvesbygainingknowledgeaboutherbodyanditsvariouspossiblereactionsandbehaviouratthedifferentstagesofpregnancyanddelivery.Thiswaytheywillknowaboutthestepsthatshouldbefollowedinagivensituation.Whenchildbirthisinitiatedwiththelabourpain,itishighlypossiblethatwomanmightcollapseundertheoverbearingpain,evenifmomentarily.Shemaynothavecontroloverherbody,andmaynotevenbeinapositiontoapplyheracquiredknowledge.Thiscanresultinthelossofconfidenceandacompletelossastohowtoreactanddealwiththepain,enhancedcontractionsandwhenthecrowingstarts.ComplicationsCanDevelopReadily–inunassistedchildbirth,thereisnomedicalattendantatthetimeofbirth.Childbirthwhichisapparentlyasimpleprocesscangetdifficultduetosuddenrandomcomplications.Mostofwhichcanonlybeeffectivelyhandledbyatrainedmidwifeoradoctor.Intheirabsence,evenasimplecomplicationliketheinabilityofthewomantopushafterthechildhasenteredthepelviccanalmightprovetobefatal.LackofSupport–Innormaldeliveries,theattendantordoctordoesagentlemassageontheabdomenofthewomanandhelpshertopushthebabydown.Inunassistedchildbirththewomanmaynotevenbeequippedtostopthehugeamountofbleedingthatprecedethedeliveryandthiscanhavefatalconsequences.Shemaynotalsobeequippedorinapositiontoproperlynursethewearandtearinhervaginalmusclesduringdelivery.Therecanbeopinionsforandagainstthefactwhetherunassistedbirthsareatallacceptable,butifyoulookattheunassistedchildbirthinstancesaroundtheworld,itwouldbesurprisingtofindthattherearesomanyabsolutelynormaland‘happy’deliveries.Thentherearealsoinstancesoffatalconsequencesforrefusingmedicalinterventionwhichcouldhavesavedboththemotherandthebaby.Themainobjectivewhyawomanmaychooseunassistedchildbirthisthattheconception,pregnancyandbirtharenotmedicallyinduced.Thesearebiologicalfunctionswhichsheconsiderscanbecomplicatedwithmedicalintervention.Sosherefusesanyexternaleffortsthatattempttocontrolthebirthingprocess.However,topreventanycomplicationsduringchildbirth,womenshouldalwayspreferanormalhospitaldelivery.
Unassisted childbirth may sometimes have fatal consequences for women who opt for unassisted childbirth as there is no medical attendant at the time of birth. what are the disadvantages of unassisted childbirth? Read on. Unassisted childbirth or UC is a planned birth process where the mother decides to give birth to her baby without any assistance or aid or even the presence of a medical professional. There has been a lot of debate on the feasibility of unassisted births as the life and well being of the mother and child is open to risks. But in legal aspects, unassisted
childbirth is legalised. Just as the woman has the right to terminate the life of her unborn child, she also has the right to choose how she desires to bring in her baby into the world.
The Unassisted Childbirth or Free-Birth Process
The unassisted childbirth or free-birth process as referred to by many, is basically a part of the natural childbirth movement pioneered by physicians like Grantly Dick-Read, Fernand Lamaze and Robert a. Bradley. There can be a host of reasons and motivations for women who choose this birthing method. most are of them are of the view that only the mother has the right to bring in her child safely into this world and it is an intimate and sexual experience for both the mother and her partner as it is a culmination of the conception stage. They also believe that this heightens the mother’s bonding with the baby to an altogether new level.
Drawbacks of Unassisted Childbirth
Let us have a quick look at the drawbacks or disadvantages of unassisted childbirth.
Inadequate Knowledge –
women who opt for unassisted childbirth begin to learn all the facts regarding her pregnancy and body right from the conformation of the conception. They begin to prepare themselves by gaining knowledge about her body and its various possible reactions and behaviour at the different stages of pregnancy and delivery. This way they will know about the steps that should be followed in a given situation.
When childbirth is initiated with the labour pain, it is highly possible that woman might collapse under the overbearing pain, even if momentarily. She may not have control over her body, and may not even be in a position to apply her acquired knowledge. This can result in the loss of confidence and a complete loss as to how to react and deal with the pain, enhanced contractions and when the crowing starts.
Complications Can Develop Readily –
in unassisted childbirth, there is no medical attendant at the time of birth. Childbirth which is apparently a simple process can get difficult due to sudden random complications. Most of which can only be effectively handled by a trained midwife or a doctor. In their absence, even a simple complication like the inability of the woman to push after the child has entered the pelvic canal might prove to be fatal.
Lack of Support –
In normal deliveries, the attendant or doctor does a gentle massage on the abdomen of the woman and helps her to push the baby down. In unassisted childbirth the woman may not even be equipped to stop the huge amount of bleeding that precede the delivery and this can have fatal consequences. She may not also be equipped or in a position to properly nurse the wear and tear in her vaginal muscles during delivery.
There can be opinions for and against the fact whether unassisted births are at all acceptable, but if you look at the unassisted childbirth instances around the world, it would be surprising to find that there are so many absolutely normal and ‘happy’ deliveries. Then there are also instances of fatal consequences for refusing medical intervention which could have saved both the mother and the baby.
The main objective why a woman may choose unassisted childbirth is that the conception, pregnancy and birth are not medically induced. These are biological functions which she considers can be complicated with medical intervention. So she refuses any external efforts that attempt to control the birthing process. However, to prevent any complications during childbirth, women should always prefer a normal hospital delivery.
