Politics Weekly America The Birth Keepers: I choose this – episode one
9 snips
Dec 13, 2025 
Nicole Garrison, a New Jersey mother and former member of the Free Birth Society, shares her harrowing journey of childbirth. She details how the Society's ideology nearly led to her near-fatal postpartum hemorrhage. Struggling with prolonged labor and rising infection risks, she ultimately faced a critical situation after giving birth. Nicole's revelations about the dangerous mindset promoted by the Free Birth Society prompt her to reconsider their teachings and the realities of medical care. The discussion highlights the cult-like dynamics within the community.
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Empowerment Framing Masks Medical Risk
- Emily Saldaya sold a message that women can exit medical care and 'take back their power' by free birthing.
- That framing combined empowerment language with distrust of clinicians to normalise avoiding care.
Base Birth Choices On Evidence
- Choices about birth should be based on good information and real facts.
- Shirin Kale and Lucy Osborne emphasise informed decision-making over ideology.
Rapid Radicalisation Via A Podcast
- Nicole Garrison discovered the Free Birth Society podcast and became deeply committed within minutes.
- She began following FBS teachings obsessively and prepared to free birth alone.