15. Mother of Nine: Radical Wisdom from Two Decades of Birth

Free Birth Society

Emilee Saldaya

Society & Culture, Self-improvement, Education, Arts

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 7 November 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

After six births within the system—including a cesarean at 37 weeks due to partial placenta previa and subsequent hospital abuse—Ashleigh knew she was done.

Now a mother of nine and a Radical Birth Keeper School graduate, Ashleigh joins me to share her accumulated wisdom from nearly twenty years of mothering and birthing. We met in person at Matriarch Rising Festival, and in this conversation, we explore what it means to truly live the lessons that birth offers us.

We discuss the pros and cons of having children present during birth, what it looks like to honor our evolving faith journeys, and how Ashleigh navigated the tension between her freebirth path and her husband’s discomfort with it.

I also challenge Ashleigh’s decision to pull away from her Christian audience, encouraging her to consider what it might mean to let her community see her more deeply. She speaks vulnerably about her own healing from rage and how she now coaches mothers who find themselves lashing out at their children—because she’s been there too.

Come listen, learn, and receive from a mother of nine whose story carries the depth and clarity only time, experience, and devotion can bring.

✨Start Your Journey: The Complete Guide to Freebirth - Our best-selling, self-paced course for women ready to claim their births on their own terms. Enroll here.

✨Donate to the podcast here.

If you want to connect with Ashleigh, follow her on Instagram here .

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Disclaimer: Free Birth Society, LLC of North Carolina shares personal and educational stories and experiences related to freebirth and holistic care. This content is not medical advice, and we are not a licensed midwifery practice. Testimonials reflect individual experiences; results may vary. For services or scheduling, contact [email protected]. See full disclaimer at freebirthsociety.com/youtubeterms.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi women, before we dive in today, I need to name something important.
0:06.0	This episode, along with all episodes that you will hear until our winter break in mid-December,
0:12.0	was recorded before my birth prior to mid-August.
0:17.0	Since then, our family has walked through the unimaginable.
0:21.6	Our son was stillborn, and we are in deep mourning.
0:27.6	As the show's air, you'll hear and see me pregnant, which now feels incredibly painful and weird,
0:36.6	given that you are holding the sacred knowledge of what came after.
0:42.3	So please forgive the dissonance.
0:45.3	These stories still deserve to be shared and heard.
0:49.3	We welcome your prayers, your loving thoughts, and your support as we navigate this spiral of such deep grief.
0:58.0	I hope you find resonance and nourishment in this conversation today. Thank you.
1:05.0	Women, if you are ready to take full responsibility for your birth and you're looking for a clear comprehensive step-by-step
1:11.4	guide to doing it outside the system, this is it. The Complete Guide to Free Birth is our flagship
1:17.2	best-selling course and it has helped thousands of women and families around the world prepare
1:22.3	for sovereign, undisturbed births at home on their own terms. This is the integration of theory and lived wisdom, designed to prepare your body, your psyche,
1:32.3	your partner, and your space for a truly powerful birth.
1:36.3	We cover everything from physiology to wild pregnancy, how to rethink complications, what to do
1:41.3	postpartum, and everything in between. You don't need to become a midwife.
1:45.9	You don't need to be licensed. You just need to be ready to remember what you already know.
1:51.4	And this course will walk you through every step. If you're feeling the call, trust it.
1:56.4	Go to freebirthsociety.com slash CGTF to learn more and register today. Your birth, your way,
2:04.2	in your power. Welcome to Free Birth Society. I'm Emily Saldaya, and this is where we break the spell
	...

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