In the United Kingdom (UK) some women decide to opt out of National Health Service (NHS) or independent midwifery care and freebirth. A 'freebirth' is when a woman chooses to birth at home or in another non-medical setting, without a trained professional in attendance (Birthrights 2017a). Miller (2012:407) asserts that women who freebirth are a stigmatised group, stating that they are perceived as 'doubly deviant due to their choice to home birth and decline trained professional care. This can cause conflict between health care professionals and women (Feeley & Thomson 2016a). Feeley et al (2015) suggest that freebirthing increases the potential risk for morbidity and mortality in both mothers and infants, relating this to Loughney et al's (2006) findings on morbidity with births accidentally occurring at home without a trained professional present.
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