This remarkable breech twin freebirth photo was taken by Brianna Hill of Breezy Photography. You will definitely want her services if she covers your area. Thank you to her and the beautiful family who offered to share it.

Where I Offer Freebirth Support

Massachusetts, New Hampshire & Maine: In-person emotional and physical support during your freebirth. I can be present with you while honoring your autonomous birth.
Nationwide: Virtual support via video or phone throughout your pregnancy and labor. Distance doesn’t have to mean you’re alone.

Have questions? Contact me to see if we’re a good fit.

What Is Freebirth?

Q: What is freebirth, and how do you support mothers who choose this option?
A: Freebirth is a conscious decision to give birth outside of a medical setting. You birth without the assistance of a healthcare provider. While I have attended births as a midwife for over two decades, I am not your healthcare provider during a fully autonomous freebirth.

The decision to freebirth is deeply personal. It’s often rooted in a desire for autonomy, privacy, and trust in the body’s natural process. I offer virtual support to freebirthing mothers. I help you make the safest, most informed choices by providing guidance, resources, and emotional support.

In some states, I also offer in-person emotional and physical support. This ensures you feel empowered, prepared, and confident.

How I Support You

Q: How can you help me if I choose freebirth?
A: My role is to support you in creating a safe and informed birth experience. I offer both emotional and practical guidance:

Virtual consultations: We discuss your plans, assess your health, and ensure you’re making the best decisions for your unique circumstances.

Evidence-based resources: You’ll understand your choices regarding nutrition, positioning, and steps to take in case of an emergency.

Emotional support: Feel empowered and confident as we address any fears or concerns you have leading up to your birth.

Physical support (in select states): This includes comfort measures, hands-on guidance, and in-person emotional support.

Is Freebirth Safe?

Q: Is freebirth safe?
A: Freebirth can be a safe option for some women. This is especially true for those who have had previous positive birth experiences and are well-prepared.

However, it’s important to understand the risks. Be informed about what may happen during labor and delivery. My goal is not to assess whether freebirth is the best choice for you. You should make this decision considering your health, your baby’s health, and any potential risks.

I am not your provider in a freebirth scenario. But I am able to support you, educate you, and empower you in your decision process.

Preparing for Your Freebirth

Q: What do I need to prepare for a freebirth?
A: Preparation is key to ensuring your safety and confidence. Here’s what we focus on:

Physical Preparation: We discuss supplies you might need. This includes clean towels, birthing pool (if desired), sterile gloves, and tools for comfort or emergencies.

Emergency Plans: Although freebirth is about trusting the body, a contingency plan is crucial. Let’s face it—life doesn’t always go exactly as we pray for it to. But it goes exactly as it is meant to.

We’ll go over the nearest hospitals and how to handle emergencies. We’ll cover signs to watch for during labor. I can’t prepare you for every scenario, but I can help with the most common ones. Freebirth is, in many ways, a journey of faith. Faith that everything is happening as it is meant to. Faith that you are strong enough to handle whatever comes your way.

Education: I provide the latest evidence-based information to guide your decisions during labor. This includes understanding your body’s signals and positioning techniques. I don’t have a crystal ball. I cannot predict your outcome. I can only give you information to encourage the best outcome possible. You must be comfortable with the limitations of birthing outside a hospital.

Emotional and Mental Preparation: Freebirth can be an emotional journey. It can also be wildly liberating and full of empowerment. I provide tools to manage anxiety and help foster your growing confidence.

Will You Be Present at My Birth?

Q: Will you be present at my birth?
A: Depending on your location, I may be able to provide in-home support during your freebirth. If I cannot attend in person, I offer continuous virtual support. I provide reassurance and guidance via video or phone throughout your labor.

Whether virtually or in person, I’m committed to ensuring you feel supported and prepared.

What I Won’t Do During Your Freebirth

Q: What won’t you do during a freebirth you are supporting?
A: I am unable to do anything that constitutes practicing medicine without a license. Here’s what that means:

Catching your baby is not something I do—but you can! Medications won’t be administered by me—but you can have herbs on hand. Taking your blood pressure isn’t my role—but you can do this yourself, or not. It’s your journey.

Making decisions in your care is not my role. But I will empower you to connect with resources and information. Whenever possible, I supply evidence-based information so you can make your own decisions.

As a good samaritan, if I see someone in need of life-saving maneuvers, I would offer basic support. This means calling emergency services or providing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. While unlikely, babies need at least light resuscitation 10% of the time. Extensive resuscitation is needed 1% of the time.

Suturing is not something I do. But I’ve rarely needed to suture women over the years as a midwife. Natural ways to help small tears heal are something I can advise you on. Listening to your baby with a doppler isn’t my role—but you can use mine yourself. Labwork isn’t something I perform—but I can connect you with options for diagnostic testing.

These are examples for clarification, not an exhaustive list.

Supplies for Your Freebirth

Q: What supplies will I need?
A: You may purchase an “Autonomous Birth Kit” here. Add or remove items per your preference.

Add-ons you may need to search for include: a LARGE generic pool liner, waterbirth hose, faucet adaptor, and vitamin K (if you wish to administer it to your baby).

Other supplies families typically gather before week 36: 7-8 large towels, 6-8 receiving blankets for baby, a couple of kitchen trash bags, paper towels, natural electrolyte drinks, heating pad (plug in), protein-rich food for postpartum, and fruit or other carbs for labor.

I highly recommend having the baby car seat installed and cash on hand in case you need to transport. Some prefer a small hospital bag packed. You’ll need an outfit for mom that’s breastfeeding-friendly, phone chargers, insurance cards, and birth wishes. One newborn outfit with feet and a baby blanket is also wise.

Changing Plans During Labor

Q: Can you help me if I change my mind during labor and decide to transfer?
A: Absolutely. Birth plans can evolve. It’s important to have flexibility. I’m here to support you regardless of the decisions you make during labor.

If you choose to transfer to a hospital, I will help you make that transition smoothly. I respect your birth preferences and give guidance on advocating for the outcome you seek.

Important: There are struggles in recent years with declining Vitamin K and the Newborn Screening Program. I highly encourage families to reserve legal support services prior to birth from Heritage Defense. It is now somewhat common for homebirth transports to be threatened with DCYF involvement when declining standard hospital procedures.

It’s a sad reality that has become a growing trend. There are reasons to consider both procedures, and reasons to avoid them. You cannot count on hospital pediatricians to see both sides. Be prepared to have support in exercising your autonomy.

When Things Don’t Go As Planned

Q: What if something goes wrong during my freebirth?
A: Although serious complications are rare, be prepared for the unexpected. We will create a contingency plan together. This includes clear steps if you experience signs of distress or need medical attention.

I work only with families who believe we are having the experience we are meant to have. You are. Your partner is. Your baby also has a specific journey in this life.

If you will blame yourself, or your partner will blame you, or me—then freebirthing may not be a good fit. When you go in with the best intentions and everyone does their best, there should be no blame regardless of outcome.

Usually the outcome is wonderful—just as we hope and pray for. But life is not meant for every baby, at home and in the hospital alike. Some things we do not get to decide, no matter how much preparation and love goes in.

Ways to encourage a positive outcome: choose a birth location near a hospital, learn resuscitation skills, and monitor your baby’s heart rate during labor. Natural birth at home allows freedom of movement. This reduces risk of shoulder dystocia. It reduces infection risk by avoiding unnecessary vaginal exams. It avoids unnatural contraction patterns from induction and complications from pain medication.

Is Freebirth Right for Me?

Q: What if I’m unsure whether freebirth is the right choice for me?
A: If you’re uncertain, I’m here to help you weigh the pros and cons in a non-judgmental space.

I do feel strongly that people choosing sovereign birth should feel deep personal accountability. This doesn’t mean you should feel guilty if something goes differently than expected. Life and death is in God’s hands, no matter how much the medical community believes otherwise.

Only you can decide if freebirthing is right for your family. If you hire me to support you, I will not make any decisions for you. I serve as a resource for information and ideas. You are in charge of your experience.

Even the best laid plans are not guaranteed a particular outcome. You must accept that when freebirthing. Together, we can explore your goals, any potential risks, and how you feel about labor and birth. I provide tools and resources to make an informed, empowered decision.

Getting Started

Q: How can I get started with your support for freebirth?
A: First, let’s connect to see if working together is a good mutual fit. Reach out via my contact page to schedule an initial consultation. This can be virtual or in-person depending on your location.

During this consultation, we will discuss your birth preferences, your health, and what you need to begin preparing. I will work closely with you to help you feel confident, prepared, and empowered every step of the way.