Normal Boring Freebirth for Normal Boring People

We welcome a special guest for our 20th episode - our very own Leonie! After a wild (or should that be intuitive?) pregnancy Leonie was planning her 4th freebirth at home with her family. However, events took a twist after she felt in need of some medical support and discovered not one baby - but two - were making their way into the world! Let us know what you thought of this episode over on instagram, we hope you enjoy! ____________________________________________ Planning your freebirth and looking for support? Work with Victoria or Leonie in freebirth mentoring and 1:1 sessions. Book a 1:1 session with ⁠Victoria here.⁠ Book a 1:1 session with ⁠Leonie here.⁠ ____________________________________________ Join us at the NBF Women's Circle! An online space for women to share their experiences, questions and wisdom around freebirth. Open to those who are pre-conception, pregnant or in their freebirth postpartum. Hosted by Leonie & Victoria, the circle meets twice a month. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To join the circle click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we'll see you there! ____________________________________________ Become a Member of The Freebirth Library Looking for more information on freebirth? Come visit our Library! A virtual space of information, research and self-discovery created for those preparing for freebirth. The Library is packed with recordings, both video and audio, as well as blog posts brought to you by NBF founders, Victoria and Leonie that you can access immediately. Come on in and explore the topics and themes we know are SO supportive to your freebirth journey. To join The Freebirth Library click here. ____________________________________________ Curious about freebirth and not sure where to start? Enrol in 'The First Steps to Freebirth' the online course that includes everything you need to help you explore how you feel about freebirth. Whether you're curious and want to know more, or you're all-in! ⁠Take the course here.⁠ ____________________________________________ Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@normalboringfreebirth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you have enjoyed this episode, share and tag us. Please rate the podcast, we love to hear what you think! Subscribe and be the first to know when a new episode is released. Your hosts: Victoria ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@freetobirth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Leonie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@birthwise.withleonie⁠⁠

In this episode, we hear from Amber in California, as she shares her FBAM story. Before pregnancy, Amber had fibroid removal surgery (myomectomy). Since this is a vaginal birth after uterine surgery, it comes in the same 'category' as a VBAC. Amber was told she couldn't conceive children naturally, and then when she did and was told she'd have to give birth by caesarean, Amber has been on a journey of deep healing and to question everything. Amber explores how fear and self-sabotage can show up in birth, the power and importance of a solid birth team, and her process around walking away from medical care and a scheduled C-section. Following an amazing freebirth, Amber has moved in to birth work compiling resources for anyone in a similar situation, and to support women to come back to themselves; something that has formed a huge part of her own healing. @amber.mcconnon ____________________________________________ Planning your freebirth and looking for support? Work with Victoria or Leonie in freebirth mentoring and 1:1 sessions. Book a 1:1 session with Victoria here. Book a 1:1 session with Leonie here. ____________________________________________ Join us at the NBF Women's Circle! An online space for women to share their experiences, questions and wisdom around freebirth. Open to those who are pre-conception, pregnant or in their freebirth postpartum. Hosted by Leonie & Victoria, the circle meets twice a month. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To join the circle click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we'll see you there! ____________________________________________ Curious about freebirth and not sure where to start? Enrol in 'The First Steps to Freebirth' the online course that includes everything you need to help you explore how you feel about freebirth. Whether you're curious and want to know more, or you're all-in! Take the course here. ____________________________________________ Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@normalboringfreebirth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you have enjoyed this episode, share and tag us. Please rate the podcast, we love to hear what you think! Subscribe and be the first to know when a new episode is released. Your hosts: Victoria ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@freetobirth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Leonie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@birthwise.withleonie⁠⁠

In this episode, we talk to two VERY special guests, our husbands, Dave and Dhi! We wanted to explore freebirth from the perspective of the partners, and how ours felt around the idea of freebirth. This is more of a personal share episode, as we all talk about how the births and preparations felt for us. We asked our community to send in some questions that we could put to our husbands, and this juicy episode doesn't disappoint! We get to some nitty gritty... How did you feel the first time freebirth came as an option? Were you worried? Different routes through birth preparation; we don't all prepare in the same way! Practical support during labour and top tips. Expectations vs reality. Communication in your relationship. What's the most uncomfortable conversation you've ever had? Death, blame, responsibility and control- Acceptance of your partner's choices. How even home birth can feel like a taboo topic. Did you feel like you were a replacement for a midwife? And much more! Thank you to our lovely husbands for sharing your thoughts. Join us at the NBF Women's Circle! An online space for women to share their experiences, questions and wisdom around freebirth. Open to those who are pre-conception, pregnant or in their freebirth postpartum. Hosted by Leonie & Victoria, the circle meets twice a month. ⁠⁠⁠⁠To join the circle click here⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we'll see you there! ____________________________________________ Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@normalboringfreebirth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you have enjoyed this episode, share and tag us. Please rate the podcast, we love to hear what you think! Subscribe and be the first to know when a new episode is released. Your hosts: Victoria ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@freetobirth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Leonie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@birthwise.withleonie⁠⁠

Join us for the first NBF Workshop: How to Handle Your Fears. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get your ticket here. The workshop will be your opportunity to work with Victoria and Leonie, as part of the group, and focus on the fears you have. The transformational 2 hours will leave you with the tools needed to handle any future fears that might pop up during your pregnancy. A replay will be available and sent to you, but participation is recommended. We look for ward to seeing you there! Victoria & Leonie, team NBF In this episode, we hear from Bria - a Londoner living in Grenada - and her solo freebirth in a London air bnb! Bria shares her experience of birthing her first child within the NHS. The way she was treated was a huge challenge; as a black woman, she was repeatedly dismissed, disregarded and disrespected. Having flown back from Grenada to birth in the UK, Bria found that she didn't receive the care that she needed during a vulnerable time of childbirth. Whilst pregnant with her second child, Bria shares a raw, mammalian experience that unlocked a new fierceness to protect her children. She poured herself in to birth prep, following lots of birth accounts online and booking sessions with birth workers. After struggles with the commitment from her partner, Bria decided to 'sack him' and realised she needed birth support from elsewhere.Bria booked a Birthkeeper/photographer to support her next birth and she threw herself in to freebirth prep. Freebirth/homebirth in Grenada wasn't an option, so she booked in to an air bnb in London. Juggling baby's imminent arrival and fast-approaching check-out times, this is a story that kept us on the seat of our pants!Bria's story is one of reclaimation, boundaries, calling in proper, loving care, and being witnessed in her experienced on a deep level. You can connect with Bria on Instagram @citizen_of_the_world_abc and her Birthkeeper/photographer Sadie Wild @sadiewildphotography Join us at the NBF Women's Circle! An online space for women to share their experiences, questions and wisdom around freebirth. Open to those who are pre-conception, pregnant or in their freebirth postpartum. Hosted by Leonie & Victoria, the circle meets twice a month. ⁠⁠⁠To join the circle click here⁠⁠⁠ and we'll see you there! ____________________________________________ Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@normalboringfreebirth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you have enjoyed this episode, share and tag us. Please rate the podcast, we love to hear what you think! Subscribe and be the first to know when a new episode is released. Your hosts: Victoria ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@freetobirth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Leonie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@birthwise.withleonie⁠

In this episode we hear from Andrena, a tattoo artist and animal lover who freebirthed her first baby. Whilst chatting with tattoo clients, Andrena quickly learned that there is often a lack of belief in birth and their bodies for many, many women. Andrena went in to appointments armed with research and with eyes wide open, working through small baby/big baby appointments, home birth 'top tips' from midwives, and understanding ultrasound options. We discuss death and taking responsibility for our decisions, and having those hard conversations together before birth. Andrena describes her orgasm-initiated labour, going through a process of acceptance, a frank description of poo during labour, and unwaivering support from partner Jamie. We hear in detail about Andrena's placenta birth and dealing with a tear, and navigating midwifery involvement at these points. You can connect with Andrena on Instagram here @andrenaparis ____________________________________________ Are you craving connection to others interested in freebirth? Are the people in your life struggling to understand why you're thinking about freebirth? Join us at the NBF Women's Circle! An online space for women to share their experiences, questions and wisdom around freebirth. Open to those who are pre-conception, pregnant or in their freebirth postpartum. Hosted by Leonie & Victoria, the circle meets twice a month. ⁠⁠To join the circle click here⁠⁠ and we'll see you there! ____________________________________________ Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@normalboringfreebirth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you have enjoyed this episode, share and tag us. Please rate the podcast, we love to hear what you think! Subscribe and be the first to know when a new episode is released. Your hosts: Victoria ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@freetobirth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Leonie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@birthwise.withleonie⁠

In this episode, we hear from Chelsea from New Zealand, as she shares her journey from home birth to freebirth. In her first pregnancy, Chelsea discovers she is quite savvy about how the system works and could see that certain things could lead her down a pathway she didn't want to be on. Her first midwife-attended home birth was positive despite duress. We discuss the pressures to comply to certain things, and how Chelsea felt like she couldn't really say what she wanted. Through her second pregnancy, Chelsea went through a process of working with and through a few different midwives before coming to the position of birthing alone with her husband. Chelsea describes a glorious toddler-friendly birth, with playdough, TV shows and climbing over mama during labour - a beautiful display of motherhood! Chelsea's episode is wonderful for anyone who may be "thinking about freebirth, but...." and we discuss the emergence of the secret freebirther. You can connect with Chelsea on Instagram @chels.alishahi ____________________________________________ Are you craving connection to others interested in freebirth? Are the people in your life struggling to understand why you're thinking about freebirth? Join us at the NBF Women's Circle! An online space for women to share their experiences, questions and wisdom around freebirth. Open to those who are pre-conception, pregnant or in their freebirth postpartum. Hosted by Leonie & Victoria, the circle meets twice a month. ⁠To join the circle click here⁠ and we'll see you there! ____________________________________________ Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@normalboringfreebirth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you have enjoyed this episode, share and tag us. Please rate the podcast, we love to hear what you think! Subscribe and be the first to know when a new episode is released. Your hosts: Victoria ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@freetobirth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Leonie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@birthwise.withleonie⁠

In this episode, we hear from Mollie May, an Independent Midwife who freebirthed her first baby. Mollie shares with us the balance she needed to find between experiencing her pregnancy in its own right, and wearing her professional hat as a UK registered midwife. Mollie discusses how she navigated the label and potential diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes, and how she managed this well with changes to her diet. We explore some of the challenges that can present whilst pregnant as a midwife, including sharing plans with other professionals. Mollie shares with us that her daughter was born with a disability, and she considers how things may have been different if she had known about this beforehand. Thanks for sharing your story with us Mollie! You can connect with Mollie on Instagram @molliemidwife ____________________________________________ Are you craving connection to others interested in freebirth? Are the people in your life struggling to understand why you're thinking about freebirth? Join us at the NBF Women's Circle! An online space for women to share their experiences, questions and wisdom around freebirth. Open to those who are pre-conception, pregnant or in their freebirth postpartum. Hosted by Leonie & Victoria, the circle meets twice a month. To join the circle click here and we'll see you there! ____________________________________________ Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@normalboringfreebirth⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you have enjoyed this episode, share and tag us. Please rate the podcast, we love to hear what you think! Subscribe and be the first to know when a new episode is released. Your hosts: Victoria ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@freetobirth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Leonie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@birthwise.withleonie⁠

In this episode, we talk with birthkeeper Kemi Johnson and get our teeth in to the idea of the "nice midwife". For many considering or preparing for freebirth, they will at some point come into contact with the kind of midwife who may be described as "really nice". It's important to discuss this, as it's not uncommon for this seemingly supportive care to come crashing down. We explore the 'not all midwives' argument, the qualities of a truly nice midwife, and what can happen when we trust someone whose 'niceness' is somewhat shallow and based on wobbly foundations. We discuss ways that we can hone our discernment, conversations we can have with those we may want to choose for our care, and ways in which we can prepare well so that we are not dependent upon limited options. We explore the complexity of those who would love midwifery support during birth but who feel that freebirth is their only option, and the importance of true choice. We discuss that "no" is NOT a complete sentence and the real risks of declining care. Can we have true bodily autonomy whilst birthing within the system? We're not convinced. We know it's not ALL midwives, but we don't know which ones are safe, and that's a problem. Thank you Kemi for sharing your insights! Follow Kemi on instagram: www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson for details of how she could support your pregnancy and birth. ____________________________________________ Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@normalboringfreebirth⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you have enjoyed this episode, share and tag us. Please rate the podcast, we love to hear what you think! Subscribe and be the first to know when a new episode is released. Your hosts: Victoria ⁠⁠⁠⁠@freetobirth⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Leonie ⁠⁠⁠⁠@birthwise.withleonie⁠

In this episode we hear from Chelsea-Lee from Australia, as she shares her epic breech freebirth story. From an unexpected pregnancy following PCOS, to reclaiming her body after sexual assault, Chelsea-Lee's story is one full of wisdom and healing. Her first birth was an adrenaline filled side-of-the-road birth, and Chelsea-Lee was determined that her next would be different. We talk about some unhelpful elements of traditional Hypnobirthing, calling a new baby's soul in, and the cross overs of death and birth. Chelsea-Lee shares about stored trauma in the body following the assault, and how her journey to freebirth has been a process of coming home to herself; a story of reclamation and transformation. You can connect with Chelsea-Lee on Instagram @chelsealeebutler ____________________________________________ To celebrate the BETA launch of 'First Steps to Freebirth'  Victoria is hosting a totally FREE Masterclass all about your Intuition. Growing your intuition is an essential skill for birth, especially if you're freebirthing. Join us for this 1 hour Masterclass and gain valuable tools of how you can take daily steps to grow your intuition that feel quick and easy! When: Tues August 8th. 8pm (BST) 2pM (CST) Where: Zoom, link to be emailed to you. Click here for more information and how to book. ____________________________________________ (free)Birth from the baby's perspective with Leonie. We need to talk about this. Birth is experienced by the baby, and they will be having their own perspective on the events that unfold. --> Join me for this two-part group masterclass and integration session as we explore some common features of freebirth and birth more generally, and how they might be felt from the baby's perspective. Masterclass: Monday 31st July 7pm-9pm BST plus Integration session: Saturday 5th August 1-2pm BST Click here for more information of how to book. ____________________________________________ Thank you for listening! Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@normalboringfreebirth⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you have enjoyed this episode, share and tag us. Please rate the podcast, we love to hear what you think! Subscribe and be the first to know when a new episode is released. Your hosts: Victoria ⁠⁠⁠@freetobirth⁠⁠⁠ & Leonie ⁠⁠⁠@birthwise.withleonie⁠

In this episode, we hear from mum of 3 Ashleigh from Durham. She shares her journey from non-hypnobirthing-perfect induction, to nearly-in-the-ambulance hospital birth, and finally to her long-awaited freebirth at home. Ashleigh shares how her visions for each birth evolved, how her history of addiction surfaced when taking pain relief, and how important it has been having a known and trusted HCP for support. We hear how Ashleigh's location was a turning point towards freebirth, and the realities of moving house across boarders. Ashleigh used the amazing resource of the Physiological Birth Club on clubhouse to ask a question after an appointment, and birthed very soon after. The Physiological Birth Club is a resource created by Kemi BirthJoy Johnson that meets regularly to speak on subjects connected to physiological birth. You can listen to the session we discuss in this episode here. Ashleigh's freebirth dream came true, and her kids just made it through the door in time to see their sister being born. Thanks for sharing your story Ashleigh 💜 ____________________________________________ LOOKING FOR FREEBIRTH SUPPORT? Are you preparing to freebirth and you're sure what you actually need? Download your FREE copy of my ebook, 'The Homebirth & Freebirth Essentials Checklist'. You will get instant access to this handy 17 page guide detailing all the possible items that could be essential for your birth. Download it ⁠here.⁠ Do you need support and guidance navigating maternity services in the UK as you prepare to freebirth? Sign up to '⁠⁠Navigating Officialdom⁠⁠' the course brought to you by Leonie. Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠@normalboringfreebirth⁠ ⁠⁠⁠If you have enjoyed this episode, share and tag us. Please rate the podcast, we love to hear what you think! Subscribe and be the first to know when a new episode is released. Your hosts: Victoria ⁠⁠@freetobirth⁠⁠ & Leonie ⁠⁠@birthwise.withleonie