The Daily Aus The doctors pushing to ban 'freebirths'
Nov 4, 2025
Health experts are advocating for legislation to ban free births, highlighting serious risks associated with unassisted deliveries. The discussion covers the reasons some women choose free birth, including trauma and cost concerns. Recent cases have drawn attention to this issue, prompting calls for regulation from organizations like RANZCOG. While doulas play a supportive role, they can't manage clinical care under the proposed rules. The podcast examines current laws and the government's response to this pressing public health topic.
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Free Birth Defined And Its Rising Trend
- A free birth is an intentional birth without a registered medical professional present and differs from a planned home birth with a midwife or doctor.
- Free births are rare but rising, especially since COVID-19, while 97% of Australian births occur in hospitals.
Serious Health Risks Documented
- Health authorities warn free births carry high risks like excessive bleeding, undetected complications, and infant or maternal death.
- A 2024 investigation linked seven baby deaths and one maternal death to free births across NSW and Queensland in 18 months.
System Failures Drive Some Choices
- Many choose free birth after traumatic hospital experiences, feeling a loss of autonomy or mistreatment during prior births.
- Systemic issues and limited publicly funded home-birth programs also push some families toward unassisted births.