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)

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Autorentext

Sarah Schmid ist Ärztin, Autorin und sechsfache Mutter. Mit Sachkenntnis und Sympathie entmystifiziert sie Schwangerschaft und Geburt. Ihr Buch Alleingeburt gibt Sicherheit durch Wissen und schafft stabiles Vertrauen in den eigenen Körper.

Leseprobe

Self-directed Pregnancy * You are free to create your own antenatal care if you decide to opt out of the standard system of care provision. You can find out more about you and your baby than you think, even without medical gadgets and tests. If you want to take up any tests or examinations as listed in 'What do your notes actually mean' (page 43) you can get a doctor or in most cases a midwife to do them for you. If you have already had a baby and you have already had some of the tests or they just don't seem sensible to you, you are free to go without. Your baby will grow regardless and you can answer many questions yourself with plenty of background knowledge and sensible awareness. What position is the baby in? While preparing for birth it makes sense to determine the baby's position. If the baby is already in a good longitudinal position, it is reasonable to assume the birth will be quick and uncomplicated. If the baby is not in an optimal position you can take measures to change its position into a more advantageous one. Figuring out where the baby is lying is not normally particularly difficult in the last two months of pregnancy. The closer the birth, the stronger the baby and it's kicks and movements. If you want to find out which way the baby is lying, you do it by feeling your belly, just like the midwife would. For this, you lie down on your back, with your knees bent, relax your abdominal muscles and feel your belly with both hands from left side to the middle, from the right to the middle and from the top of the uterus downwards. Even earlier in pregnancy you can monitor the baby's growth and the progress of pregnancy by checking the fundal height how far the top of the uterus has risen out of the pelvis (see illustration on page 50). The fundus is at its highest around the 36th week of pregnancy, right under the ribcage and then lowers down again as the pregnancy progresses due to the head engaging in the pelvis and the uterus positioning itself 'in line' with the birth canal. The head generally engages earlier in first time mothers than in mothers who have already birthed a baby. It is not uncommon for second or subsequent babies to only engage in the pelvis just before birth or indeed during birth. Sometimes, towards the end of pregnancy, the baby kicking or you giving your uterus a good poke can set off a Braxton Hicks (practice) contraction, which makes your whole belly go hard. Of course you can't feel a thing then apart from the powerful strong muscle that is your uterus. But when your belly has relaxed again, you can often feel something long and solid on one side. This is your baby's back. The other side is usually soft. If the baby is head down as they usually are, you can feel the head over your symphysis pubis. If the head is already engaged in the pelvis you can feel it internally through your vagina. This is usually easiest with an empty bladder, in a half squat with your index and middle finger. The baby's feet make themselves felt by strong kicks on the opposite side of the baby's back. The baby's bottom is the extension of its back and generally feels like a round firm dome. The baby's hands feel like little butterfly wings at the bottom of your bump, just over your symphysis either on the left or right. Later, when fingernails have grown, you can sometimes feel the baby's hands as an unpleasant scratching sensation. The cephalic presentation (that means the baby is head down) with the baby's back on the right or left side is the most common position a baby takes up for birth. It is also called occipitoanterior position, because the baby's occiput (the back of the head) is in the anterior (frontal) portion of the pelvis. This is a good starting position and most babies are born that way.

Inhalt
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 …