In this episode of The Birth Lounge podcast, host HeHe dives deep into the often misunderstood topic of free birth with birth photographer and doula Lacey Barratt. They discuss the conditioning that leads women to rely on medical professionals, the spiritual and logistical aspects of planning a free birth, and the radical responsibility involved. Lacey shares her own powerful birth stories from moving to Australia, having a home birth, a birth center birth, a free birth, and then going back to hiring midwives. Tune in to hear about family-centered births, the role of intuition, and the impact of systemic challenges in both U.S. and Australian healthcare on birthing choices. This episode is packed with insights on medical autonomy, intuitive birthing, and the layers of responsibility in choosing to free birth.
00:00 Introduction to Free Birth
01:46 Statistics and Definitions of Free Birth
04:37 Lacey Barratt's Birth Story
05:44 Challenges and Decisions in Free Birth
29:53 Radical Responsibility in Birth Choices
48:57 Understanding Anxiety vs. Intuition
49:32 The Impact of Gaslighting on Women
50:22 Feminine and Masculine Energy Dynamics
52:33 The Importance of Speaking Up
57:02 Challenges in the Healthcare System
01:06:48 Navigating Birth Choices and Trauma
01:23:37 Family-Centered Birth Experiences
01:27:04 Advice for Considering Free Birth
01:29:52 Conclusion and Resources
Guest Bio:
Lacey Barratt is a birth photographer and freebirth doula from Australia. She is also the Director of @birthphotogs.
SOCAIL MEDIA:
BIRTH EDUCATION:
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LINKS MENTIONED:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6642827/