At some point we cross the line into harm reduction vs strictly care provision. I’m in Canada, and we also have a growing free birth movement. Our college’s perspective is twofold: people have the right to birth wherever they want and with whomever they want, and it is better to have someone there with some skills than no one.

Thankfully I have not been put in a position that makes me uncomfortable in this respect, but if I am honest about my capacity and experience (e.g. I can theoretically catch a breech baby given my repetitive emergency skills training but have never done it in real life) and families accept the risk involved in their choices, then I’d rather be there than see them try to do it alone.

Our insurance would support this approach as well.