The Guardian view on birth influencers: the public need protecting from bad advice | Editorial

"Despite all the proven advances of modern medicine, some people are drawn to alternative or natural cures and practices. Many of these do no harm. As the cancer specialist Prof Chris Pyke noted last year, people undergoing cancer treatment will often try meditation or vitamins as well. When such a change is in addition to, and not instead of, evidence-based treatment, this is usually not a problem. If it reduces distress, it can help."

"The Guardian's investigation into the Free Birth Society (FBS), a business offering membership and advice to expectant mothers, and training for birth keepers, has exposed 48 cases of late-term stillbirths or other serious harm involving mothers or birth attendants who appear to be linked to FBS. While the company is based in North Carolina, its reach is international. In the UK, the NHS only recently removed a webpage linking to a charity factsheet that recommended FBS materials."

"Giving birth without medical assistance, or free birth, is legal in countries including the UK and US. The risks are not well understood due to a lack of data. Across whole populations, going through labour and birth without professional support is associated with higher levels of risk for mother and baby, according to Soo Downe, professor of midwifery at the University of Lancashire. Childbirth can be a frightening prospect, and high-quality care is far from guaranteed."

Proliferation of online health influencers creates regulatory and public-safety challenges across countries. Reported links associate the Free Birth Society (FBS) with 48 cases of late-term stillbirth or other serious harm involving mothers or birth attendants. FBS is based in North Carolina but has international reach. An NHS webpage linking to a charity factsheet that recommended FBS materials was recently removed. Giving birth without medical assistance is legal in countries including the UK and US, and lack of data makes population-level risks poorly understood. Studies link unassisted labour and birth to higher risk for mother and baby. Many maternity services are unsafe or under-resourced, and prior traumatic births contribute to distrust of medical systems.

Read at www.theguardian.com