The freebirth movement: why midwives and other healthcare professionals need to acknowledge and support women’s autonomy in maternity care

All women deserve access to a safe birth. All women, however, also deserve a positive and empowering birth experience and to be autonomous in their decision making. Research is demonstrating that if women are not allowed to make their own choices around their pregnancy and birth, rather than comply with strict policies and guidelines, they will find another way to make autonomous decisions with or without our support.
Women are increasingly giving birth out of the mainstream system. Why is this and what can we do about it?