‘Free Births’ Are a New Pregnancy Trend. Critics Warn About Serious Risks.
The New York Times • • health
Key Points:
- Emily Laszlo-Rath, a first-time mother living off the grid near Joshua Tree National Park, chose to have a "free birth," avoiding medical professionals and prenatal checkups.
- Free birth advocates seek to minimize medical intervention in childbirth, viewing it as an extension of the home birth movement but without professional attendance.
- Social media has popularized free births recently, portraying them as natural and family-centered experiences, though they remain a small fraction of home births.
- The free birth movement has faced increasing criticism for spreading misinformation and posing risks to maternal and infant health, with some cases resulting in serious consequences.
