How the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world

Summary

The Free Birth Society (FBS), led by Emily Sala and Yolanda Norris Clark, promotes unassisted home births, claiming they are safer and more natural than hospital births. Their podcast and social media content have inspired many women to pursue free births, despite medical warnings about the risks. Investigating the claims of FBS, a detailed inquiry reveals multiple instances of maternal and infant harm linked to their advice. Medical experts strongly caution against their unverified and dangerous advice, highlighting the serious risks involved in unassisted births, especially for those with high-risk conditions.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The investigation examines the Free Birth Society (FBS), an organization promoting unassisted home birth without medical professionals.
• ⚠️ Journalists identified dozens of cases of maternal and infant harm connected to FBS teachings and influence.
• 🎧 Many women reported choosing free birth only after binge-listening to FBS podcasts, which present unassisted birth as universally safe and empowering.
• 🚫 FBS leaders Emily Sala and Yolanda Norris Clark openly reject medical monitoring such as ultrasounds, blood tests, fetal heart checks, and other standard prenatal care.
• ❗ Experts stated that FBS frequently spreads medically incorrect or dangerous guidance, including misinformation about hemorrhage, infection risk, newborn resuscitation, and obstetric emergencies.
• 🧽 FBS allegedly downplays serious risk factors—such as breech presentation or gestational diabetes—treating them as insignificant or irrelevant.
• 🛑 The organization curates its online image by deleting negative comments and blocking women who report poor or tragic outcomes.
• 💬 FBS uses disclaimers saying they are not medical professionals but leverages confident, authoritative messaging that leads many women to trust their advice over healthcare providers.
• 💔 Several women shared that they suffered traumatic or avoidable outcomes, including birth injuries like oxygen deprivation in infants, after being influenced by FBS ideology.
• 🌍 Harm cases linked to FBS were found worldwide, not just in the U.S., with examples from Europe, Africa, and the UK.
• 🔎 The investigation included reviewing medical records, personal journals, social media posts, and video footage to understand FBS’s impact.
• 🎙️ The findings are presented in a six-part Guardian Investigates podcast series titled *The Birthkeepers*.

Q & A

What is the main argument presented by the Free Birth Society (FBS)?

The Free Birth Society promotes the idea of unassisted home births without the involvement of medical professionals like doctors or midwives, claiming that women can trust their bodies to give birth naturally, without interventions.

What are some of the dangerous claims made by the Free Birth Society (FBS)?

FBS makes false or dangerous claims regarding risks like hemorrhage, newborn resuscitation, shoulder dystocia, retain placenta, and infection. They downplay the risks of conditions like gestational diabetes and breech births, which medical professionals typically warn against.

Why do some women trust the Free Birth Society's advice?

Many women trust FBS because of their polished marketing, which makes the organization appear professional and credible. Emily and Yolanda, the founders, present themselves as experienced and confident, which draws women in who are seeking alternative birth options.

How did social media contribute to the spread of FBS's ideas?

FBS used platforms like Instagram and podcasts to curate positive birth stories and suppress negative feedback. This created an illusion of safety and success around free birth, encouraging more women to consider unassisted births despite the risks involved.

What evidence suggests that FBS's influence led to harmful outcomes?

The investigation found dozens of cases linking FBS's influence to maternal and infant harm. This includes serious injuries like brain damage due to oxygen deprivation during birth, and a pattern of avoidable tragedies in various countries such as the US, UK, Switzerland, and South Africa.

How does FBS promote its ideology of 'radical responsibility'?

FBS encourages women to take full responsibility for their birth decisions, framing birth as an entirely personal choice. They assert that mothers alone bear the consequences of their actions, which makes the women feel empowered, but can lead to dangerous outcomes if the advice is medically unsound.

What role does FBS's marketing play in influencing potential clients?

FBS employs a slick and professional marketing campaign, making it appear trustworthy. Their content is carefully curated to exclude negative experiences and emphasize success stories, thereby misleading women into believing that unassisted birth is safe and empowering.

What role did Gabby Lopez’s story play in highlighting the dangers of FBS?

Gabby Lopez's story serves as a key example of the risks involved with FBS's advice. Her son suffered a brain injury due to oxygen deprivation during his unassisted birth, which she attributes to the influence of FBS. Her case illustrates how misleading information can have tragic consequences.

How does FBS justify its advice despite medical experts warning against it?

FBS justifies its advice by emphasizing personal responsibility and advocating for a 'trust your body' philosophy. They claim that medical interventions often interfere with the natural process of birth and that many supposed risks, like hemorrhaging or infection, are exaggerated.

What was the main aim of the investigative podcast series 'The Birthkeepers'?

The investigative podcast series 'The Birthkeepers' aimed to expose the dangers of the Free Birth Society and the negative impact of its teachings on women’s health. It highlights several tragic cases and aims to warn listeners about the risks of unassisted birth.