The Free Birth Society (FBS) is a North Carolina-based business that encourages women to give birth without the assistance of midwives or doctors. The Guardian maintains independent journalism and may earn a commission from purchases made through affiliate links.
FBS is led by Emilee Saldaya and Yolande Norris-Clark, former doulas who have become social media influencers with a worldwide following through their popular podcast, which has millions of downloads. The company makes money by selling an instructional video guide on freebirthing and offering a paid membership group for pregnant women. It also operates two online schools that train “radical birth keepers” and “authentic midwives” to assist women during childbirth.
In a year-long investigation, we examined hundreds of hours of FBS podcasts, videos, documents, and course materials, spoke with 10 former insiders, and analyzed thousands of pages of journal entries, medical records, message threads, and legal documents related to births by FBS followers. We also interviewed over 60 mothers influenced by FBS, reviewed footage of unassisted births, and consulted top obstetricians and midwifery experts. Here are five key findings:
1. Many FBS claims contradict evidence-based medical advice.
While experts say freebirthing carries generally low risks for healthy, low-risk mothers, most do not recommend it. Professor Soo Downe, a senior midwife at the University of Lancashire, noted that unassisted labor and birth are linked to higher risks for both mother and baby across populations. Downe and three other medical experts reviewed FBS materials for The Guardian and agreed that the information provided was medically uninformed, misleading, or dangerous. Examples include false claims of “zero” infection risk when cutting the umbilical cord, incorrect advice on handling shoulder dystocia (a rare but life-threatening condition), and promoting a passive approach to newborn resuscitation that increases the risk of neurological damage or death.
2. FBS is associated with real harm worldwide.
We identified 48 cases of late-term stillbirths, neonatal deaths, or other serious harm involving mothers or birth attendants connected to FBS, such as through course enrollment or podcast appearances. Most incidents occurred in the U.S. and Canada, but cases were also reported in Switzerland, France, South Africa, Thailand, India, Australia, the UK, and Israel. While it’s impossible to determine if medical support would have changed outcomes, in 18 cases—all involving detailed interviews with mothers—evidence suggests FBS significantly influenced decision-making, leading to potentially avoidable tragedies. One example is Gabrielle Lopez from Pennsylvania, whose son Esau suffered a brain injury from oxygen deprivation during birth in 2022 and is now severely disabled.
3. FBS CEO Emilee Saldaya gives direct advice during births.
Saldaya has provided real-time guidance to women in labor via phone or messages. This happened in the case of Lorren Holliday, the first known FBS-linked mother to lose a baby in 2018. Although Saldaya denied advising Holliday, claiming she “didn’t know this woman at all,” The Guardian reviewed over 100 messages exchanged between them during Holliday’s five-day labor at her California desert home. Despite clear signs of a medical emergency, Saldaya encouraged her to continue and later gave her a script to mislead hospital staff about her labor details. Holliday’s daughter, Journey Moon, was stillborn.In 2024, Saldaya also provided advice by phone and text to Haley Bordeaux, a Virginia mother, through a friend. Bordeaux gave birth to a healthy baby but suffered several strokes due to severe pre-eclampsia, which temporarily left her blind.
FBS profits from the growing distrust in maternity services. Women are drawn to the organization for understandable reasons. Scandals in maternity care, concerns about an overly medicalized approach to childbirth, and instances of negligence and obstetric violence have created a market for FBS. Saldaya and Norris-Clark capitalize on these fears, accusing doctors and “medwives” of sabotaging births, sexually assaulting mothers, and even committing murder. Some free birth advocates argue that the pair promote an unusually rigid version of the philosophy.
They are also skilled businesswomen, effectively monetizing their ideology. Since 2018, FBS is estimated to have generated over $13 million in revenue. Nearly 1,000 students have graduated from their Radical Birth Keeper school, which charged $6,000 for a three-month Zoom course for “authentic midwives,” and the MatriBirth Midwifery Institute (MMI), a year-long online program priced at $12,000 and billed as a “gold-standard intensive midwifery school.”
The leaders of FBS appear undeterred by increasing criticism. Saldaya and Norris-Clark did not respond to requests for comment. There are indications they may be adjusting their approach. In a call with students this year, Saldaya suggested that labeling MMI as a “midwifery” school might have been excessive (it has since been renamed the MatriBirth Mentor Institute). In May 2025, FBS posted a disclaimer on Instagram stating that its content is for educational and informational purposes only and not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical conditions related to pregnancy or birth.
However, Saldaya and Norris-Clark are also pushing back against criticism of their business and the risks it poses to mothers and babies. Norris-Clark recently referred to critics as “pathetic losers,” defending FBS as “the most ethical kind of business you can run.” After the Guardian’s investigation was published, Saldaya posted a statement on Instagram condemning “propaganda on mainstream news.” She wrote, “This is what it means to be a disruptor. They will try to discredit you. They will lie about you. They will attempt to silence what they don’t understand.”
The Birth Keepers, a multi-part Guardian podcast series investigating the Free Birth Society, will be released in December. (Subscribe now to The Guardian Investigates feed.) This article was amended on November 23, 2025, to note that Prof Soo Downe is a senior British midwife at the University of Central Lancashire, not the University of Lancaster as previously stated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful and clear FAQs based on the findings from a look into the Free Birth Society
General Beginner Questions
1 What is the Free Birth Society
The Free Birth Society is a community and movement that supports the choice to give birth without the assistance of licensed medical professionals such as doctors or midwives
2 What does free birth actually mean
Free birth also known as unassisted childbirth is when a person intentionally chooses to give birth at home without a medically trained birth attendant present
3 What are the main reasons people choose free birth
Based on the discoveries the main reasons are a desire for autonomy and control over the birth experience a belief in the bodys natural ability to give birth and sometimes negative past experiences with the medical system
Benefits Philosophy
4 What are the perceived benefits of free birth
The primary benefits cited by advocates include a profound sense of personal empowerment a completely uninterrupted and intimate family experience and the freedom to make all decisions without external pressure
5 Is free birth just about rejecting medicine
Not necessarily For many its more about reclaiming birth as a normal physiological life event rather than a medical procedure Its a positive choice for autonomy not just a rejection of care
Common Concerns Problems
6 What is the biggest risk of free birth
The most significant risk is the lack of immediate medical intervention if a sudden complication arises for the parent or baby such as hemorrhage umbilical cord issues or breathing difficulties for the newborn
7 How does the Free Birth Society view medical interventions
The discoveries suggest the community often frames common medical interventions as unnecessary interruptions that can disrupt the natural birth process
8 What if something goes wrong during a free birth
This is a critical consideration Parents who choose free birth typically create their own emergency plan which may include knowing when to call 911 and having a hospital bag ready However the response time delay is a key risk factor
Practicalities Preparation
9 How do people prepare for a free birth
Preparation often involves extensive selfeducation through books and online resources building a strong support network and mentally preparing for the intensity of
