A year-long investigation by The Guardian has revealed that the Free Birth Society (FBS), a business promoting unassisted childbirth, is linked to at least 48 stillbirths worldwide. The FBS, run by Emilee Saldaya and Yolande Norris-Clark from North Carolina, encourages women to give birth without midwives or doctors.
The investigation reviewed hundreds of hours of podcasts, videos, and course materials, and interviewed over 60 mothers influenced by the society. Former insiders and medical experts raised serious concerns about dangerous medical claims and the safety of unassisted births promoted by the FBS.
The FBS profits from sales of instructional videos and a paid membership group, and runs two online schools training 'radical birth keepers' and 'authentic midwives'. The society's podcast has been downloaded millions of times, gaining a global following.
The Guardian's findings include analysis of thousands of pages of journal entries, medical notes, and legal documents. The five key findings from the investigation are detailed in a new podcast series, 'The Birth Keepers', released in December.
