Why Are More Women Choosing Freebirth?

Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Tehseen O'Donnell, who shared her incredible experience of giving birth without a midwife or medical personnel—what's often called free birth or unassisted birth. She opens up about how her decision was fueled by dissatisfaction with the standard care provided by the medical system and a strong belief in the natural birth process.

Tehseen also dives into her time as a student nurse and doula, where she witnessed coercion and a lack of informed consent, which only solidified her choice to go down this path. She explains how the constraints and limitations of home births in Ireland pushed her to opt for a completely off-grid birth. When she shares her labor story, you can really feel the rawness of it—including some unexpected challenges. Luckily, she had the support of her husband and a wise woman by her side. Tehseen stresses how crucial it is to be on the same page with your partner and to be prepared for anything.

Tehseen also opened up about her experiences with free birthing and the challenges she faced during the postpartum period. There were some hurdles, like needing to handle medical appointments and paperwork, but also the importance of protecting that pregnancy and postpartum bubble. For Tehseen, free birthing brought so many benefits: a deeper trust in herself and an even stronger bond with her partner. She also talks about the joys and the tough moments of breastfeeding and how invaluable her husband's support was.

In the end, we touch on Wild Mountain Mothering, a wonderful collective of women offering support to mothers navigating their unique journeys.

Watch the full episode below.