Summary

In this conversation, Evony discusses the concept of free birth, emphasising the importance of personal choice and the narratives surrounding birth experiences. She critiques the medical model of birth, highlighting the need for support and integrity in the birthing process. Evony advocates for creating safe spaces for discussions about birth, encouraging individuals to trust their intuition and make informed choices about their birthing experiences.

Key Takeaways

• Free birth is defined by personal choice and autonomy.
• Many people choose free birth to avoid trauma from previous experiences.
• The medical model often fails to respect physiological birth.
• Support from midwives and birth keepers is crucial.
• There is a need for more education on physiological birth.
• Integrity and transparency are essential in birth support.
• Respect for diverse birth experiences is necessary.
• Creating safe spaces for birth discussions fosters growth.
• Pregnancy and birth should be viewed as beautiful experiences.
• Access to medical support varies, but is a privilege in the UK.

Keywords

free birth, birth choices, medical model, birth support, physiological birth, birth narratives, home birth, birth trauma, birth integrity, birth community

In this episode, I share my transformative journey into witnessing undisturbed birth as I tell the story of my experience attending my first homebirth in Spain. I discuss the challenge of the medical system there, how Michel Odent won my heart and why being in another room is a great place for midwives AND doulas to be!

Interested in becoming a birthkeeper or doula? Check out my low cost ⁠Sacred Foundations Online Introductory Course⁠

Get my⁠ free guide to becoming a birthkeeper: ⁠

Find me at ⁠Sacred Womancraft⁠

Sheena Byrom walks her talk when it comes to birth.

She is not afraid to stand up for normal physiological birth in an age where the right to birth this way is being eroded. vilified and denigrated.

She has been an important role model to me through some tough times in my career, taking time to respond to students and midwives and still fights tirelessly for midwifery and birth at age 67.

Most people are birthing within our maternity system but 

• what if no one is teaching and supporting the midwives around physiological birth?
• And what is at the root of the increasing medicalisation?

I am so happy to share with you this important conversation around birth. 

Sheena Byrom is a practising midwife of 40 years, having worked in the NHS for most of that time. Sheena was one of the UK’s first consultant midwives, and as head of midwifery successfully helped to lead the development of three birth centres in East Lancashire. As well as being an international speaker, Sheena provides workshops and consultancy services on respectful maternity care. With her midwife daughter Anna is the proud joint owner of The Practising Midwife journal, and an exciting learning online platform All4Maternity.com

Sheena’s midwifery memoirs, Catching Babies, is a Sunday Times bestseller, and her seminal book, The Roar Behind the Silence: why kindness, compassion and respect matter in maternity care jointly edited with Soo Downe, is being used as a resource to improve maternity care throughout the world.  In 2019 Sheena and Soo edited their second book, ‘Squaring the Circle: researching normal childbirth in a technological world’.

Sheena was awarded an OBE in 2011 for services to midwifery and was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Midwives in 2015. In 2016 and 2018, Sheena received Honorary Doctorates from Bournemouth University and the University of Central Lancashire, and in 2017 she was made a Visiting Fellow at Bournemouth University.

Sheena is committed to the humanisation of childbirth, to maximising normal physiological birth processes, and for all women to experience a positive birth.

Check out the links we spoke about:

Low Risk Birth Workshop - online 18th March 2023

All4Maternity

One Thought

Supporting Physiological Birth Choices in Midwifery Practice by Claire Feeley

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Birth is being Reclaimed!  Following several local births where a group of women have made conscious choices about their pregnancies and births, we are seeing first hand the intersection of the medical model and the those choosing undisturbed physiological birth. Making choices that do not align with guidelines and expectations around 'safe' birth may create anxiety and potential friction. But does it really need to be this way?

Join me and experienced birthkeeper Julie as we share what we are witnessing and experiencing as birthkeepers down here in West Cornwall and consider how we create bridges for everyone.

Resources to explore:

Supporting Physiological Birth Choices in Midwifery Practice by Claire Feeley

Dr Sara Wickham - Freebirth

Enjoyed this podcast?

DOWNLOAD MY FREE GUIDE - Reclaiming Birth: A Birthkeeper's Handbook

AND follow my birth insights on Instagram @wayofthebirthkeeper

Last year I realised that I had explored as far as I wanted to go in my career as a registered midwife. From birth units to job in the risk management department and ending in private midwifery. Leaving an MSc halfway through to going it alone as a 'birthkeeper', I still believe midwives in the system need to know how to support physiology and my personal journey shouldn't compromise that.

But also that another way of birthing is happening outside of the system.

You can find me on Instagram @evony.lynch

Want to learn more? Sign up for my newsletter at https://subscribepage.io/evonylynch

Read more: https://www.all4maternity.com/optimising-normal-birth-tips-from-a-midwife/

A midwife who hates the sight of blood?!  In this episode I reflect on my own journey with blood and placentas from a place of trust, into fear and then home again. I give you an insight into how our experiences shape us and the importance of honest, regular reflection to ensure we are recognising any fears or issues that may impact on our work as midwives, birthkeepers and doulas. I regularly run placenta birth workshops online which can be found via my website or Instagram. 

You can find me @wayofthebirthkeeper  

Want to learn more? Sign up for my newsletter at https://www.subscribepage.com/birthkeeperguide 

Read more: https://www.all4maternity.com/optimising-normal-birth-tips-from-a-midwife/

Freebirth! Loved diving into freebirth with Leonie. She has freebirthed all three of her babies - all in different circumstances and with different experiences. 

From the first one where she slowly declined midwifery antenatal care and had an amazing birth under the stars in her bell tent; to a brief referral to social services. She now supports other choosing to freebirth, to understand their rights, practicalities and how to navigate the health and social services. Whether you're a midwife, student, doula or planning to have a baby then recognising that birth without a registered health professional is a valid choice, is important I believe. 

Come and join me as we explore birthing free together. 

You can find out more @birthwise.withleonie for her Navigating Officaldom online workshop

And you can find me @wayofthebirthkeeper on Instagram

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

Find my online and inperson birthkeeper courses at Sacred Womancraft

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The medicalisation of birth is not new. 20 years in midwifery and birth truths are slipping away. It's time we reclaim them.

Subscribe to the newsletter for your free birthkeeper guide and our regular newsletter with birthy insights, tips and inspiring stories.

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Join me and Joy Horner, fellow deregistered midwife and birthkeeper in our free online community below.

the-wise-woman-collective.mn.co/

Cat Price, student midwife turned birthkeeper following her own freebirth. We talk about the lack of evidence behind vaginal examinations, the truth about being a student midwife whilst observing the trauma being created within the maternity system, and her decision to walk away. If you are being called to midwifery yet your soul is questioning whether that is the right path for you, this will be great listen. 

Find her on instagram - catherine.n.price - birthkeeper, circles, rituals. rites and ceremonies.

Find me on art.of.midwifery on instagram and www.artofmidwifery.org

The opportunity to experience an  empowering physiological birth with the presence of an authentic midwife  is a choice we should have as women and birthing people.

It’s time to reclaim the art of midwifery.

A few thoughts from me about how I have made peace with working inside the system. I've danced in and out of NHS midwifery and it has been very challenging at times. For me, understanding and coming to terms with why the system works the way it does has enabled me to stay in it this time for longer, along with working for a pretty progressive NHS Trust. I will always be a bit more radical than most midwives in the way I think about birth but sometimes we have to be realistic; finances and responsibilities mean some people need to stay working this way, and also the 700,000 births a year need midwives who care and can work in a holistic way, optimising empowered physiological birth from the inside out. 

Evony talks to Joy Horner - former registered midwife, now birthkeeper, doulas and pregnancy and postnatal specialist. As the lack of insurance removes choice for independent midwives to practice, along with the ever medicalised model of birth, some midwives are choosing to come off the register and practice in a different way. Joy talks aboout her journey into midwifery, her experience around loss and the decision to step off the register this year.

Joy's website:  https://birthjoy.co.uk/

Jane Hardwicke Collins - School of Shamanic Womancraft 

The podcast has been on a hiatus as I've been dealing with family life and working in the NHS, but now I'm back! I have to follow my heart and here's where the podcast will be heading as I get ready to line up some great birthy interviews- stories and skills to share, knowledge to keep birth skills alive and a dose of warm birth love to keep you going when times are tough. You are not alone. 

Kemi Johnson - outspoken birth activist, former independent midwife turned birthkeeper, speaker and educator - dives into the truth about birth in our society today. With swearing included we explore...

• Whether the birth trauma report inadvertently produces more fear and like a snake eating its own tail; more medicalisation?
• Why serving the system is not the answer
• Why women are choosing to have a wise woman at their birth - not a midwife

Plus, listen to us two elder - but hot (Kemi's words!) - experienced birthkeepers tell you how f$cking awesome birth is across the spectrum of 'risk'.

Follow her and her work here - from pregnancy Power Hours ("the antidote to the grooming of the medical system") to birthkeeper mentoring:

Instagram: @kemibirthjoyjohnson

https://www.kemibirthjoyjohnson.com/

Feeling the call to birthwork?

Join me on my next intake of the Birthkeeper Programme!

https://wayofthebirthkeeper.org/birthkeeper-course/

How do you become an expert midwife in breech or twin birth? 

I talk to Lynn Genevieve, retired independent midwife who honed her skills alongside Mary Cronk and Jane Evans to be confident in attending breech and twin births at home. Wonderful learning about how you can grow in confidence as a midwife - and is very transferable to all walks of midwifery.

Discover more about the art of midwifery online HERE And find me on instagram @art.of.midwifery 

Including workshops and webinars to grow your confidence and skills!

Do you love birth? Talking about it? Reading every birth book you can lay your hands on?  Watching Badassmotherbirther on Instagram and every other birth vid on  YouTube?

YES! You CAN be the midwife that advocates for women and birthing people.

YES! You CAN learn and USE midwifery skills to optimise physiological birth in the system.

It won’t be easy. But it IS possible. 

Join me and my midwifery guests on a journey of discovery into the art of midwifery!

Can you have an empowered vaginal birth of twins? Or will it always be 'out of your hands'? Listen to one mum's journey to making her own choices in where and how she birthed her babies. 

Discover more about the Art of Midwifery at http://artofmidwifery.org/and follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/art.of.midwifery/ to learn more about how to incorporate the art of midwifery into your life as a birthworker.

Helen Kelynack is a solution focused hypnotherapist specialising in women’s well being.  Former nurse and twin mum passionate about self love and acceptance. 

https://www.facebook.com/senarassisterhypnotherapy/ 

https://www.instagram.com/senarassisterhypnotherapy/

https://www.senarassisterhypnotherapy.co.uk/

In my first episode I talk about what the 'art of midwifery' means to me. This includes skills and knowledge to ensure safe care as the bottom line, but that the 'art' is an important part of our practice, ensuring informed choice, holding space and respecting choices.

I mentioned this piece of research:

The Art of Midwifery Practice - a discourse analysis by J. Maclellan. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280923844_The_art_of_midwifery_practice_A_discourse_analysis

Find me at http://artofmidwifery.org/ where I'll be blogging and sharing links to grow in your own practice.

In this compelling episode of Birth Truths, we dive deep into the world of birth advocacy with the remarkable Sam Gadsen, an experienced doula and passionate birth activist based in the UK.

Sam's advocacy work is nothing short of inspiring – from leading a thriving UK homebirth Facebook group with over 15k members to launching the Birth Activist Podcast, she's dedicated to fighting for the rights of families to birth at home without coercion or interference.

But Sam's activism goes beyond the online sphere. She's on the frontline, supporting families facing unjust social services surveillance and supporting those experiencing domestic violence. Her rapid response to the pandemic's challenges led her to create a freebirth course in just three days to meet the overwhelming demand from her community.

Through her website 'They Said to Me,' Sam sheds light on the coercion and abuse prevalent in the UK maternity services, amplifying the voices of those who have experienced mistreatment and advocating for systemic change.

Join us as we explore Sam's journey, her unwavering commitment to birth justice, and the vital work she's doing to empower families and transform the birthing landscape.

Listen now and be inspired to join the movement, in whatever way that looks for you, for birth rights and autonomy.

Sam Gadsen Doula

https://www.facebook.com/groups/homebirthsupportuk

They Said to Me.

Parenting+ Facebook Group - The Village

Train with me

I'm back with a new name, a new look, and fired up to tell the truth about birth. Join me as I explain the reason behind 'Birth Truths', my mission and why we all have been corrupted to believe that physiological birth is just game of chance that we all need saving from...

The breech research that closed the door on vaginal breech birth... (although some places, 20 years later, are slowly reclaiming the skills)

The Term Breech Trial, 2000.

Follow me on Instagram: @evony.lynch

About me: https://wayofthebirthkeeper.org/

Sign up for my newsletter - get my Birth Truths guide.

I talk about my close call of repeating old patterns, how we can tune into our inner voice and follow the fire in your heart.

The Cervix isn't Everything in Labour!

Isn't it time we debunked the 'stages of labour'? The belief that we can define where someone is in labour and how long it is, how safe it is, depending on the state of the cervix?! The medical model relies heavily on the cervix as a way to monitor and manage labour, yet it is only one TINY piece of the puzzle!

In this episode I talk about...

• those 'stages' of labour and why the medical model loves them
• one of the reasons behind vaginal exams
• the baby's journey

We're diving into labour inside the birthkeeper programme right now. It opens again in September, so if you are feeling called and want to learn more come along to my taster session - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/birthkeeper-course-free-taster-session-tickets-639489870417

And don't forget to sign up to my newsletter for birthy tips and events!

https://www.subscribepage.com/birthkeeperguide

Love Evony x

I talk to Megan, from the US who following the amazing physiological birth of her first baby at home with a birthkeeper, she began haemorrhaging and was transferred to hospital where they discovered an adherent placenta and then received a blood transfusion. She has an incredibly positive approach to an experience which she knew was life threatening. She said she will still be birthing her next baby at home.

Sadly since then she has felt alienated and not able to talk about her experience. In this podcast we talk about what happened, about postpartum haemorrhage and why I feel it is important to be truthful around birth - it is beautiful but powerful. And sometimes unpredictable.

Do you feel the call to work with pregnancy and birth?

Follow me on Instagram @wayofthebirthkeeper for birthy goodness.

Download my free mini e-book 'Reclaiming Birth' - a Handbook for Birthkeepers

Join me on my next free birthkeeper course taster session!

In this episode I explore the medical model and how understanding my own values helped me understand my struggles within the system.

I also talk about although my work is centred on physiological birth, I don't have a dogmatic approach and that being balanced is important to me and my teaching.

My ethos is centred on my values of freedom, integrity, humility, and compassion and intelligence.

• You are free to create your own way - there's no dogma here.
• To practise with humilty and integrity - always learning
• To show compassion to others and the journey they are on - no judgement
• To be balanced - I believe in the power of birth, yet I respect that both pregnancy and birth canbe unpredictable. Sometimes medical support can supplement a holistic approach.

What are your values and are you living and working in alignment with them?

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Email me or DM me on Instagram!

Love Evony x

This week has seen such beautiful sharing and support occurring within our birthkeeper course Whatsapp group. We have been working on 'Exploring our Stories' module, looking at the ways we have been indoctrinated around pregnancy and birth, the shame we have felt, and then the ways our own experiences of conception, pregnancy, birth and loss have shaped us. Own Your Stories! Everything has a way of teaching us something, but sometimes we need to have that group space to make the connection, to see the patterns...join the dots. This group has become a beautiful intimate space to really get to know each other- a women's circle. This is only the beginning of our journey into birthkeeping. I can't wait to see what will unfold as we walk together! DOWNLOAD MY FREE GUIDE - Reclaiming Birth: A Birthkeeper's Handbook AND follow my birth insights on Instagram @wayofthebirthkeeper Want to be a birthkeeper? Check out my slow, soulful 10 month Holistic Birth Practitioner Programme