The Morning Edition A birthing trend is leading to deaths. Why is 'freebirthing' growing in popularity?
Nov 4, 2025
Wendy Tuohy, a senior writer focusing on maternity and health issues, discusses the alarming rise of freebirthing in Australia. She explains how freebirth, or giving birth without medical support, is becoming popular despite its risks. Wendy highlights tragic cases, including a recent death linked to this practice. She also delves into the role of birth influencers promoting these ideas, the complications arising from unassisted births, and the cultural context surrounding women's choices in reproductive rights.
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What Free Birth Actually Means
- Free birth means choosing to give birth with no registered clinician present, often only a partner or alone.
- Wendy Tuohy explains this contrasts sharply with supported home births that require two registered practitioners.
Tragic Death After Reported Free Birth
- A Melbourne wellness influencer had a reported free birth and suffered a postpartum hemorrhage, later dying despite surgery.
- Her infant survived and is now being raised by his father.
Influencers Promote Agency Over Safety
- Birth influencers promote narratives that a woman's body alone has the wisdom and power to birth without clinical help.
- They also warn that hospitals will strip agency, which can push women away from safe medical care.