Key Points
A small but growing community of TikTokers is glorifying the dangerous practice of "free birth." Free birth is giving birth with no medical attendants and sometimes forgoing prenatal care. Ob-gyns told Insider they understand the appeal but that free birth is unnecessarily risky...
Ob-gyns told Insider that while they support women's autonomy and appreciate the flaws of the US maternal-healthcare system, free birth is unnecessarily risky not a badge of honor to flaunt online...
Two TikTok free-birth influencers who spoke to Insider said they opted for this less-conventional birthing method because they don't trust traditional healthcare systems and want to give birth in the most "natural" way possible, without the involvement of medical professionals and procedures...
"Some people see free birth as an alternative to a traditional healthcare system that they don't feel is supportive and that sometimes is not supportive and has potential problems," said Dr. Nicole Rankins, a Virginia-based ob-gyn and maternal-health advocate...
For some providers, though, preaching the risks of free birth can backfire.Jones said that when doctors regard a baby's safety above and beyond a mom's bodily autonomy, they push potential patients away from standard medical care and toward fringe practices like free birth...
