Parents who were at the center of a tragic “wildbirth” in which a pair of twins died have shared a confrontational message about their ordeal.
Heartbroken parents Sally Patti and Thomas Townend lost their twins, Dusty and Melvin, during a “free birth” on February 11.
“Free birth” or “wild birth” is a controversial practice in which mothers and their babies forego medical assistance entirely during pregnancy (this includes ultrasounds, heart rate checks, and hospital births)..
Police were called to the couple’s home in Mullumbimby, in the Byron Shire, northern New South Wales, at around 2am on Sunday, February 11, due to concerns for the family’s welfare.
It is understood the couple did not know they were having twins, who were born premature at 23 weeks.
Sally Patti (right) and Thomas Townend (left) lost their twin babies during a “free birth” at their home in Mullumbimby, part of the Byron Shire, earlier this month.
Patti shared a message online following the deaths of her babies.
“On the new moon in Aquarius I gave birth to our twin sons,” she wrote.
‘Dusty came roaring and screaming into this world, so incredibly full of life, born with just Tom and I in the love of our home.
“I held him, cradled him to my chest, not believing that I had done it, that I had given birth to our son in my full sovereignty.
‘The most incredible experience of my life so far. This moment keeps me together, this moment is my light in the darkness.’
He said his second son, Melvin, “was born shortly after, but he had decided to leave this world possibly earlier in the day.”
“I think I know the moment he passed away, I looked up at the blue sky and felt a sense of peace, stars in my eyes and I thought my birth would be that night,” Ms Patti said.
‘Melvin’s sole purpose was to keep his brother alive, they were both completely and absolutely dependent on each other to live.
‘They shared the same placenta, they shared the same blood vessels, they chose to go in together and leave together.
‘Melvin gave his life force so that Dusty could spend those moments in my arms, but when I was born to Melvin, Dusty had already decided that he could not live without his brother, neither physiologically nor spiritually. They needed to be together and so they are.
Ms Patti declined to comment and requested privacy when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. She also questioned what she had learned about the death of her baby..
TO GoFundMeCreated by the couple’s friend, Roseanna Sharp, it has raised more than $15,000 to help parents “grieve.”
Roseanna Sharp called on the “community to mark the birth, death and mourning” of the couple, who have been together since late 2019.
Mrs Sharp recalled the tragic birth of the two children and wrote: “On Sunday morning, the Aquarius new moon, Sally peacefully gave birth to her two twins in the waters of her home.
‘In all those waves of beauty, love, shock and heartbreak; Those two baby spirits had no contract with the land outside of her womb and at the same time as she welcomed them, she said goodbye to her.’
A report will be prepared for the coroner in relation to the twins’ deaths (file image)
Sharp created GoFundMe six days after the twins’ deaths.
‘We are creating this donation portal to help share the burden and costs of the closing ceremony, funeral, various types of therapy for both Sally and Tom, medical bills, personal care, healing medications, and a trip for the family recovers. ,’ she said.
‘Grieving is a collective portal, it is an opportunity for us to show up and heal together as a community, we invite you all to be part of this and contribute where you can.
“Any donations appreciated to show your love and support for Sally and her family are welcomed with gratitude and reverence to our community.”
A medical source previously told Daily Telegraph the babies’ deaths were “avoidable.”
‘At least the second one was born viable. If he was born in the hospital, he had a chance. That child had rights,’ they said.
Wild births, also known as free births, are gaining popularity among residents of Byron Bay, a region that has traditionally had a high rate of home births.
An Australian Facebook group for parents considering a wild birth described itself as a “space for women who align themselves with unassisted pregnancy, birth and postpartum.”
“Conversations about assistance are minimal and you receive support to give birth on your terms,” she says.
Some wildbirth supporters believe that medical care during pregnancy, including ultrasounds, can harm babies.
A police source described the twins’ deaths as “tragic because it was avoidable.”
No charges have been laid in the case and a New South Wales Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that “investigators are preparing a report for the coroner’s information.”
Australia is one of the safest places in the world to give birth; However, planned home births almost double the risk of serious problems for the baby, from five in 1,000 in a hospital birth to nine in 1,000.
Due to the popularity of home births in the region, the New South Wales Local Health District offers a home birth service to “support the choice of midwife-assisted, planned home birth as a safe option for women.” women with uncomplicated pregnancies.
The Northern New South Wales Local Health District facilitated 23 planned home births in 2023.