The Birth Keepers: I choose this – episode one
Dec 13, 2025•37 min
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Summary
This episode introduces The Birth Keepers investigation into the Free Birth Society (FBS), an organization promoting radical unassisted birth practices led by Emily Saldaya and Yolanda Norris Clark. It follows Nicole Garrison's journey, who, influenced by FBS's anti-medical rhetoric, opted for a free birth that nearly cost her life due to severe complications. The episode highlights how FBS ideology, which discouraged professional medical intervention and fostered a community resistant to external advice, led to dangerous outcomes.Episode description
The Free Birth Society was selling pregnant women a simple message. They could exit the medical system and take back their power. By free birthing. But Nicole Garrison believes FBS ideology nearly cost her her life. This is episode one of a year-long investigation by Guardian journalists Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne Listen to the full series from The Guardian Investigates podcast. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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