Freebirth, the only option for women who do not fit into common practice– A Swedish national interview study.

• Previous negative experiences of hospital care as a reason for freebirth. • Receiving support for the decision of freebirth was crucial. • Longing for individual midwife-assisted home-birthing support. • Women had powerful and positive experiences of freebirth. • Easily available and respectful midwifery support should be offered to all women. To explore women's experience of freebirth, as giving birth without the presence of a skilled healthcare professional such as a midwife. Online semi-structured interviews with nine multiparous women in Sweden. A qualitative experiential approach, as described by Burnard, was followed for data analysis. The five main categories explored were: (i) previous negative experiences of hospital care as a reason for freebirth; (ii) receiving support for the decision of freebirth was crucial; (iii) longing for individual midwifery-assisted home-birthing support; (iv) to give birth in peace and in self-control, in the safe home environment; and (v) helpful support during labor and birth was appreciated. The women in the study had a powerful and positive experience of freebirth, but individual midwifery birthing support was also requested. Easily available and respectful midwifery support should be offered to all childbearing women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]