What’s the Difference Between Freebirth and Traditional Birth?

This is a question that I hear often. My heart tells me that it’s so simple to answer, but when I open my mouth to speak, I find that the truth isn’t as straightforward as I first thought.

It depends who you ask but from my perspective, the word freebirth is often used as an umbrella term for all unassisted births. It can also be used to describe any birth that happens outside of the medical system whether or not there are support people present. Some use it interchangeably with “traditional birth,” but others argue that if a woman hires a doula or birth attendant, her birth is no longer considered “free.” If that’s your definition, then no, freebirth is not the same as traditional birth.

Midwives and wise women have supported the process for as long as humans have existed.  Throughout history, these women, along with family members and other women in the community would tend to the mothers within their own villages. Birth was never meant to be a solo act. We aren’t meant to do it alone.  

The concept of freebirth is relatively new in modern Western culture. In many ways, it’s a response to a system that has disempowered women. It can be a reclamation but it’s also often a reaction.

Freebirth, in my experience, positions a woman against something. Against the medical system. Against any interference. Against society.  They are “free”. They have “freedom”.  

free·dom

/ˈfrēdəm/

noun 

the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

Hindrance and restraint are the key words in that definition. Hindrance provides resistance, delay, or obstruction to something or someone. Restraint is a measure or condition that keeps someone or something under control or within limits. 

In traditional birth, none of that matters.  We aren’t against anything and there is no room for language like resistance, obstruction, delay, control. We are FOR acceptance, clarity, forward motion, power.  We are FOR the motherbaby dyad. We are FOR supporting women in their choices and their intuition. We are FOR health and wellbeing. And to say all that, I think that freebirth culture might actually be anti-traditional birth. The same way that I have heard it be called anti-indigenous.  A lot of women would love a midwife, traditional or medical, if they could access one. If they had the means. If they had the possibility

To be clear, I do not judge any woman who chooses to birth alone.  Who chooses to freebirth.  I believe that every woman should be able to choose how and where they bring their babies into this world.  But I also think that some women have subscribed to the idea that they have to do it alone to be a part of the movement.  And that, to me, is dangerous.  

So what is traditional birth?  My interpretation is that traditional birth roots in the understanding that women know their own bodies.  They are connected to themselves and to their child and if we allow that connection to flourish, that woman is going to know what kind of care she needs.  We spend her pregnancy ensuring that she is well nourished to build that extra blood supply, to build the body of a child and to replenish her own stores - we tend to her diet.  We make sure that she is moving her body to keep that blood pumping and to keep her heart strong - we tend to her exercise.  We make sure that she has a strong unyielding support system to protect her and to hold her - we tend to her community.  We tend to her hopes and her fears.  

We tend her.  

That’s the difference.