6: Unpacking Birth Certificates with Veda Ray
Description
What if the birth certificate was never for your baby—but a tool of control used by the state?
In this episode, I sit down with Veda Ray, a freebirthing mother of two, who chose to walk a path most women never even consider: birthing and raising her second child completely outside the system. No pregnancy test. No monitoring. No birth certificate. No social security number.
After her first birth at a birth center, Veda knew she wanted something different. This time, she listened deeply—to her body, to her baby, and to her own intuition—and what she heard was clear: this child was to be born free.
We go deep into the realities of living outside the system, including how she navigated the legal terrain to secure a passport without government-issued ID, why she believes the birth certificate is a jurisdictional trap, and the spiritual responsibility of saying no to the state’s contracts.
Inside this episode:
- What really happens when you don’t get a birth certificate or Social Security number for your child
- The process Veda used to get a passport without a state-issued ID
- Why a “family Bible” can hold legal weight in proving lineage and identity
- How the social security number binds your child into the U.S. corporate system
- The link between freebirth and reclaiming jurisdiction over your body and family
- What it’s like to raise a child who has never been registered by the state
- The unseen cost of outsourcing authority—and what you reclaim when you stop
Timestamps:
[00:00 ] Introduction
[02:01 ] Choosing radical self-trust after rejecting the medical model
[09:21 ] Learning to sit in the unknown and trust yourself through freebirth
[22:54 ] Rethinking the birth certificate as a contract with the state and choosing a sovereign path instead
[26:08 ] Creating private records to get a passport without a birth certificate
[36:47 ] Using private trusts and EINs as alternatives to social security numbers and state contracts
[52:44 ] Facing fear, claiming trust, and birthing in full sovereignty with family by your side
Resources Mentioned:
The Business of Being Born | Movie
If you want to connect with Veda, you can find her website here, and follow her @veda.revival.
Find more from Emilee on Instagram, YouTube and the Free Birth Society website.
Disclaimer: Free Birth Society, LLC of North Carolina shares personal and educational stories and experiences related to freebirth and holistic care. This content is not medical advice, and we are not a licensed midwifery practice. Testimonials reflect individual experiences; results may vary. For services or scheduling, contact info@freebirthsociety.com. See full disclaimer at freebirthsociety.com/youtubeterms.