The stark reality of childbirth has been laid bare in a damning inquest, shattering claims made by a prominent advocate for 'freebirthing' that no maternal deaths had occurred within the movement. Emilee Saldaya, founder of the multi-million-pound Free Birth Society (FBS), had previously stated she was unaware of any mothers dying after a freebirth – a claim now starkly contradicted by the tragic death of Australian woman Stacey Warnecke.
Ms Warnecke, a 30-year-old nutritionist and first-time mother, died from complications of a severe postpartum haemorrhage following a freebirth attended by Emily Lal, an individual linked to FBS. The inquest heard that Ms Warnecke had paid Ms Lal A$6,000 (£3,100) for her services as a 'birth keeper' – a term promoted by the Free Birth Society.
A year-long investigation by The Guardian in 2025 uncovered 48 cases of late-term stillbirths, neonatal deaths, or other serious harm involving mothers or birth attendants associated with FBS. These cases spanned multiple countries, including the US, Canada, Switzerland, France, South Africa, India, Australia, and the UK.
The 'Radical Birth Keeper School', led by Ms Saldaya and her business partner Yolande Norris-Clark, has claimed to have trained 850 'Radical Birth Keepers' globally. However, many of these individuals – including Ms Lal – lack medical qualifications or experience. The three-month online programme, delivered via Zoom, has been criticised for containing scientific inaccuracies and dangerous misinformation.
Experts who reviewed the basic emergency advice provided by FBS to its trainees described it as inaccurate, misleading, and potentially deadly. This criticism is particularly concerning given Ms Lal's past claims of possessing life-saving skills for emergency situations – including haemorrhage – which may have put mothers and babies at risk.
The implications of this case are far-reaching, raising serious questions about the safety and regulation of 'freebirthing' practices and the training provided by organisations like FBS. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with unassisted or minimally assisted births when attended by individuals without proper medical expertise.
The inquests into Ms Warnecke's death and another case in 2022, both linked to Ms Lal and FBS, have highlighted the need for greater scrutiny and regulation of 'freebirthing' practices. The tragedy also underscores the importance of evidence-based training and education for birth attendants, rather than relying on unproven or misleading methods.