As I currently wait for a baby let's just explore a little around this and what clients might need past 40 weeks of pregnancy - and I'm not talking books and podcasts.

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Four juicy lessons on what actually matters when stepping into birth work.

Summary

In this conversation, Evony discusses the concept of free birth, emphasising the importance of personal choice and the narratives surrounding birth experiences. She critiques the medical model of birth, highlighting the need for support and integrity in the birthing process. Evony advocates for creating safe spaces for discussions about birth, encouraging individuals to trust their intuition and make informed choices about their birthing experiences.

Key Takeaways

• Free birth is defined by personal choice and autonomy.
• Many people choose free birth to avoid trauma from previous experiences.
• The medical model often fails to respect physiological birth.
• Support from midwives and birth keepers is crucial.
• There is a need for more education on physiological birth.
• Integrity and transparency are essential in birth support.
• Respect for diverse birth experiences is necessary.
• Creating safe spaces for birth discussions fosters growth.
• Pregnancy and birth should be viewed as beautiful experiences.
• Access to medical support varies, but is a privilege in the UK.

Keywords

free birth, birth choices, medical model, birth support, physiological birth, birth narratives, home birth, birth trauma, birth integrity, birth community

In this episode, I share my transformative journey into witnessing undisturbed birth as I tell the story of my experience attending my first homebirth in Spain. I discuss the challenge of the medical system there, how Michel Odent won my heart and why being in another room is a great place for midwives AND doulas to be!

Interested in becoming a birthkeeper or doula? Check out my low cost ⁠Sacred Foundations Online Introductory Course⁠

Get my⁠ free guide to becoming a birthkeeper: ⁠

Find me at ⁠Sacred Womancraft⁠

Kemi Johnson - outspoken birth activist, former independent midwife turned birthkeeper, speaker and educator - dives into the truth about birth in our society today. With swearing included we explore...

Plus, listen to us two elder - but hot (Kemi's words!) - experienced birthkeepers tell you how f$cking awesome birth is across the spectrum of 'risk'.

Follow her and her work here - from pregnancy Power Hours ("the antidote to the grooming of the medical system") to birthkeeper mentoring:

Instagram: @kemibirthjoyjohnson

https://www.kemibirthjoyjohnson.com/

Feeling the call to birthwork?

Join me on my next intake of the Birthkeeper Programme!

https://wayofthebirthkeeper.org/birthkeeper-course/

In this compelling episode of Birth Truths, we dive deep into the world of birth advocacy with the remarkable Sam Gadsen, an experienced doula and passionate birth activist based in the UK.

Sam's advocacy work is nothing short of inspiring – from leading a thriving UK homebirth Facebook group with over 15k members to launching the Birth Activist Podcast, she's dedicated to fighting for the rights of families to birth at home without coercion or interference.

But Sam's activism goes beyond the online sphere. She's on the frontline, supporting families facing unjust social services surveillance and supporting those experiencing domestic violence. Her rapid response to the pandemic's challenges led her to create a freebirth course in just three days to meet the overwhelming demand from her community.

Through her website 'They Said to Me,' Sam sheds light on the coercion and abuse prevalent in the UK maternity services, amplifying the voices of those who have experienced mistreatment and advocating for systemic change.

Join us as we explore Sam's journey, her unwavering commitment to birth justice, and the vital work she's doing to empower families and transform the birthing landscape.

Listen now and be inspired to join the movement, in whatever way that looks for you, for birth rights and autonomy.

Sam Gadsen Doula

https://www.facebook.com/groups/homebirthsupportuk

They Said to Me.

Parenting+ Facebook Group - The Village

Train with me

I'm back with a new name, a new look, and fired up to tell the truth about birth. Join me as I explain the reason behind 'Birth Truths', my mission and why we all have been corrupted to believe that physiological birth is just game of chance that we all need saving from...

The breech research that closed the door on vaginal breech birth... (although some places, 20 years later, are slowly reclaiming the skills)

The Term Breech Trial, 2000.

Follow me on Instagram: @evony.lynch

About me: https://wayofthebirthkeeper.org/

Sign up for my newsletter - get my Birth Truths guide.

The Cervix isn't Everything in Labour!

Isn't it time we debunked the 'stages of labour'? The belief that we can define where someone is in labour and how long it is, how safe it is, depending on the state of the cervix?! The medical model relies heavily on the cervix as a way to monitor and manage labour, yet it is only one TINY piece of the puzzle!

In this episode I talk about...

We're diving into labour inside the birthkeeper programme right now. It opens again in September, so if you are feeling called and want to learn more come along to my taster session - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/birthkeeper-course-free-taster-session-tickets-639489870417

And don't forget to sign up to my newsletter for birthy tips and events!

https://www.subscribepage.com/birthkeeperguide

Love Evony x

I talk to Megan, from the US who following the amazing physiological birth of her first baby at home with a birthkeeper, she began haemorrhaging and was transferred to hospital where they discovered an adherent placenta and then received a blood transfusion. She has an incredibly positive approach to an experience which she knew was life threatening. She said she will still be birthing her next baby at home.

Sadly since then she has felt alienated and not able to talk about her experience. In this podcast we talk about what happened, about postpartum haemorrhage and why I feel it is important to be truthful around birth - it is beautiful but powerful. And sometimes unpredictable.

Do you feel the call to work with pregnancy and birth?

Follow me on Instagram @wayofthebirthkeeper for birthy goodness.

Download my free mini e-book 'Reclaiming Birth' - a Handbook for Birthkeepers

Join me on my next free birthkeeper course taster session!

In this episode I explore the medical model and how understanding my own values helped me understand my struggles within the system.

I also talk about although my work is centred on physiological birth, I don't have a dogmatic approach and that being balanced is important to me and my teaching.

What are your values and are you living and working in alignment with them?

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Email me or DM me on Instagram!

Love Evony x