5: She Freebirthed In The Middle Of The Ukraine/Russia War

What would you do if you had to give birth in the middle of a war? In this episode, I sit down with Natalia, a Ukrainian mother of two, to hear her incredible story of freebirthing her second child during the 2022 Russian invasion. After one homebirth, Natalia chose to walk an even more radical path with her second—preparing to give birth without medical support, while bombs dropped around her and sirens became part of daily life.What’s most striking is that on the day her son was born, the chaos paused. For the first time in weeks, there was silence. A stillness descended over her city, allowing Natalia to give birth in a sacred bubble of peace amidst the war. A divine mercy.We speak candidly about what it was like to prepare for a physiological birth during trauma and survival mode. We explore how she tended to herself postpartum while navigating a broken system that refused to acknowledge her birth. We talk about stopping her hemorrhage, the bureaucratic battle to register her baby, and the heartbreaking search for breast milk when her body struggled to produce.This conversation is a living testament to maternal instinct, spiritual resilience, and the unshakable power of sovereign birth—even in the most unimaginable of circumstances.Inside this episode:How Natalia prepared for freebirth while her country was under siegeThe eerie silence that fell over her city as she birthed her sonNavigating postpartum hemorrhage alone—and what she did to stop itHer struggle to obtain a birth certificate in a system that denied her realityWhat it took to find donor breast milk for her newbornThe spiritual strength and sovereignty required to give birth during warTimestamps:[00:00] Introduction[12:14] The beginning of a wild pregnancy and the realization that she would give birth alone[16:42] Preparing for a freebirth as war begins[21:19] Fleeing home as war erupts during late pregnancy[26:16] Giving birth in the middle of war and finding unexpected peace[32:33] Facing postpartum hemorrhage and delivering the placenta[44:53] Struggling to register a home birth during war and navigating survival choicesResources Mentioned:The Power of Women by Sister MorningStar | BookSister Morningstar | WebsiteIf you want to connect with Natalia, follow her on Instagram and visit her website.Find more from Emilee on Instagram, YouTube and the Free Birth Society website.Disclaimer: Free Birth Society, LLC of North Carolina shares personal and educational stories and experiences related to freebirth and holistic care. This content is not medical advice, and we are not a licensed midwifery practice. Testimonials reflect individual experiences; results may vary. For services or scheduling, contact info@freebirthsociety.com. See full disclaimer at freebirthsociety.com/youtubeterms.

Om Podcasten

The Free Birth Society Podcast features honest, gripping, inspiring, and transformative freebirth stories hosted by the founder Emilee Saldaya in conversation with wild women worldwide. In the vast tapestry of childbirth experiences, a thread runs undisturbed, unmedicated, and true to its ancestral roots: freebirth. This differs from your usual home birth with doulas or midwives in attendance. Freebirth stands apart, where birthing is solely in the hands of the birthing woman, accompanied only by her intuition, rhythms of nature, witnessed by her family. The Free Birth Podcast invites you to a unique corner of the universe where we dive deep into the raw essence of birth, untamed and unassisted. Pushing against the tides of modern obstetrics and its violent approach, we venture into stories of women who've boldly chosen to claim this primal rite of passage. Here, we're not merely sharing tales; we're challenging the status quo and redefining the very narrative of childbirth. As we unravel discussions on rights in childbirth, dissect varied care models, and amplify the unfiltered voices of freebirthing women from around the planet, our purpose remains clear: to spotlight the distinction and significance of wild birth. This isn't an argument against the myriad ways women choose to birth, but rather an affirmation that freebirth has its revered space in the continuum of birth choices. Join us in celebrating a movement that underscores the powerful message and has changed the lives of thousands: Birth, in its purest form, is not a medical event but a profoundly personal journey. The Free Birth Society Podcast is your compass to navigate and rediscover that journey. *Freebirth = Birthing in the absence of any hired professionals, away from medical institutions or their agents. Also known as family birth, unassisted birth, wild birth. *Sovereign birth = Birthing outside of the medical paradigm, inclusive of births with authentic midwives and doulas. We include many stories on the show where women birthed outside of the medical system with doulas and radical birth keepers. While these births are not freebirths, they are certainly sovereign births!