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Midwife‑researcher presents interviews identifying fear of abandonment and distrust as drivers of 'free birth'
Summary
A licensed midwife and doctoral candidate presented interview‑based research showing that fear of being dropped by licensed providers and distrust of institutional care are major reasons some families plan unassisted "free births."
Mason Wilson Tanev, a licensed midwife and doctoral candidate, presented qualitative research from 24 interviews (families who free‑birthed, licensed and non‑licensed midwives, and adults born via free birth) about why people plan births without a credentialed attendant.
Tanev said five themes accounted for most decisions to free birth: (1) desire for autonomy and control over interventions, including the ability to decline procedures; (2) distrust of both hospital systems and licensed midwifery when families perceive midwives will prioritize license protection; (3) fear of abandonment tied to regulatory limits (notably the 42‑week cutoff that can trigger transfer or…
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