51 - Unpacking Freebirth: When Birth Happens Without a Provider (feat. Leah)
04/22/25 • 31 min
What happens when a baby comes too fast for your midwife to make it? Or when a family decides to intentionally birth without any medical professional present? In today’s episode, I’m joined by the incredible Leah the Doula to talk all things freebirth—both unplanned and planned .
We dig into:
- What unplanned freebirth looks like, and how moms, partners, and doulas can prepare just in case
- Skills and practical tips to navigate a precipitous or unsupported birth
- Why some families are choosing to freebirth on purpose
- The legal, emotional, mental, and spiritual layers of planned freebirth
- What it’s like to be a doula in a freebirth space—and why it’s not for everyone
- Personal stories from both of our experiences witnessing or supporting freebirth
Whether you're curious about this topic or feel it could be a possibility in your birth journey, this episode will give you clarity, insight, and support.
Leah is a seasoned doula, lactation counselor, childbirth educator, and circle leader based in NYC. Her rich and diverse background—from her first birth on the mission field over 15 years ago to working with underserved communities, teen moms, and VBAC families—has shaped her into a grounded and deeply wise birthworker. She’s been part of everything from hospital births to triplet births... and yes, even a car birth! Learn more about her work at @leahthedoula on Instagram.
Take a step TODAY toward your natural, faith-filled birth!
- Grab my FREE guide for navigating your first trimester: FREE GUIDE
- Get access to the beautiful guidebook of information all pregnant women need but may not have access to: $17 EBOOK
- Join my online birth classes!: Birth Tide Academy
👋🏼 👋🏼 👋🏼 Hey, I’m Karissa, a Christian doula in Lebanon, PA, and I bring faith and birth education together to help pregnant women see their true potential!!
If you are pregnant, first of all congratulations!!! Find me on Instagram @thebirthtide and DM me to let me know you are here!❤️❤️❤️
What happens when a baby comes too fast for your midwife to make it? Or when a family decides to intentionally birth without any medical professional present? In today’s episode, I’m joined by the incredible Leah the Doula to talk all things freebirth—both unplanned and planned .
We dig into:
- What unplanned freebirth looks like, and how moms, partners, and doulas can prepare just in case
- Skills and practical tips to navigate a precipitous or unsupported birth
- Why some families are choosing to freebirth on purpose
- The legal, emotional, mental, and spiritual layers of planned freebirth
- What it’s like to be a doula in a freebirth space—and why it’s not for everyone
- Personal stories from both of our experiences witnessing or supporting freebirth
Whether you're curious about this topic or feel it could be a possibility in your birth journey, this episode will give you clarity, insight, and support.
Leah is a seasoned doula, lactation counselor, childbirth educator, and circle leader based in NYC. Her rich and diverse background—from her first birth on the mission field over 15 years ago to working with underserved communities, teen moms, and VBAC families—has shaped her into a grounded and deeply wise birthworker. She’s been part of everything from hospital births to triplet births... and yes, even a car birth! Learn more about her work at @leahthedoula on Instagram.
Take a step TODAY toward your natural, faith-filled birth!
- Grab my FREE guide for navigating your first trimester: FREE GUIDE
- Get access to the beautiful guidebook of information all pregnant women need but may not have access to: $17 EBOOK
- Join my online birth classes!: Birth Tide Academy
👋🏼 👋🏼 👋🏼 Hey, I’m Karissa, a Christian doula in Lebanon, PA, and I bring faith and birth education together to help pregnant women see their true potential!!
If you are pregnant, first of all congratulations!!! Find me on Instagram @thebirthtide and DM me to let me know you are here!❤️❤️❤️
Previous Episode
50 - FREEBIRTH & WILD PREGNANCY story from 1st time mom (feat. Kenzi)
In this episode, Kenzi to shares the beautiful story of her unassisted home birth—peaceful, natural, and completely led by the Holy Spirit. Without any doctors, midwives, or even a doula present, Kenzi gave birth at home with just her husband and mother by her side.
She chose to forgo prenatal checkups and ultrasounds, trusting in her body, her preparation, and most importantly, in Jesus. Her confidence in the natural design of birth, coupled with deep faith, allowed her to fully surrender and experience the kind of birth she had always hoped for.
Kenzi’s story is a powerful testimony of trust, surrender, and the presence of God in the birth space. If you’ve ever felt called to a more instinctual, Spirit-led birth experience, this episode will both encourage and inspire you.
Take a step TODAY toward your natural, faith-filled birth!
- Grab my FREE guide for navigating your first trimester: FREE GUIDE
- Get access to the beautiful guidebook of information all pregnant women need but may not have access to: $17 EBOOK
- Join my online birth classes!: Birth Tide Academy
👋🏼 👋🏼 👋🏼 Hey, I’m Karissa, a Christian doula in Lebanon, PA, and I bring faith and birth education together to help pregnant women see their true potential!!
If you are pregnant, first of all congratulations!!! Find me on Instagram @thebirthtide and DM me to let me know you are here!❤️❤️❤️
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/birth-tide-podcastfaith-filled-conversations-on-natural-pregnancy-and-319269/51-unpacking-freebirth-when-birth-happens-without-a-provider-feat-leah-89846417"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to 51 - unpacking freebirth: when birth happens without a provider (feat. leah) on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy