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In this episode, we explore how Freya Kellet—once deeply immersed in free birth society ideology—gradually reshaped her beliefs through working with women and during her pregnancy and birth of her son. Feeling the pressure of the invisible “judgment day” of whether her birth would be “successful,” she faced the emotional weight of being publicly vocal about free birth while privately navigating uncertainty. As she made peace with the possibility of interventions, even a c-section, Freya discovered a more grounded trust in herself. Her identity, her relationship with her son, and the health of her marriage would not be determined by the outcome of a single birth experience.

Freya, the first student to enroll in the Radical Birth Keeper School in 2020, reflects on what drew her into unassisted childbirth online communities and how her views have evolved since. Our conversation dives into the nuance of free birth dogma versus unassisted birth supported by first-aid knowledge and contingency plans, the role of biomechanics, and whether home birth “failures” can really be blamed on a lack of surrender or inner work.

We also share our reactions to the recent Guardian article and what it revealed about the loss of nuance within free birth spaces. This episode may challenge, trigger, or unsettle listeners but we’ve done our best to examine hard questions with honesty and compassion. Most importantly, Freya shares her biggest transformation: not just a shift in beliefs, but a profound change in how she relates to other women—especially birthing mothers, free from freebirth™.

Freya's Birth Story

Substack Bonus: Isabella's Birth Work Journey, Grief, Regrets and Recs for Aspiring Birth Keepers (recorded March 2025)

The Guardian Article

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