Ella, a home-birthed, surprise breech baby herself, knew, before she was even pregnant, that she would be having an unassisted birth at home. In this podcast episode she shares with us the explorations she did before and during her pregnancy, including attending Radical Birth Keepers School, conversations with her man about “what if our baby dies?”, the decision to hire a virtual doula, and conversing with her baby when unsure about his quietness, in terms of movements.

Just shy of 42 weeks pregnant, Ella’s labour began. I love how she depicts the story of her son’s birth as being so utterly normal, hard, for sure, but also really quite uneventful. We talk about whether this may have been the inroad to a very easeful breastfeeding experience with not even a hint of nipple damage.

Ella now runs a monthly Free Birth Circle for women who are planning a free birth themselves. If you’re inspired by her story and want to learn more, get in touch with her via her website or Instagram links below.

Other things we discuss on the episode:

* Free birth preparation

* Radical Birth Keepers School

* Free Birth Society podcast

* Questionable safety of pregnancy ultrasounds

* Tests for Downs Syndrome

* Irregular contractions throughout labour

* Self vaginal checks in labour

* Water birth

* Cord burning ceremony

* Tongue tie

Ella's Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/earth.mama.wellbeing/

Ella's website: https://www.earthmamawellbeing.com/

Get your hands on a copy of my (Carla's) book which includes the story of Ella's own birth - a surprise breech birth at home: https://www.healingbirth.co.nz/mybook

Follow my work on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healing.birth/

Check out the Healing Birth YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@healingbirth