January 2018
The Daily Telegraph has reported that recently released figures found that, in London alone, up to 200 women a year are choosing to give birth without any medical assistance. The practice is known as “free-birthing” and involves giving birth at home with just family or friends in the place of a trained midwife. The Royal College of Midwives released a statement last week saying: “While the RCM recognises that every woman has the right to give birth without professional assistance, there are potential risks for both mother and baby, and for that reason the RCM would strongly discourage women from giving birth by themselves.”