This is The Guardian.

Hi, I'm Shiuing Kala, and I'm Lucy Osborne.

You're listening to The Birth Pupers, a new six-part series from The Guardian Investigates.

Just before we start, this series contains references to baby loss and maternal harm.

I have a very exciting announcement to make. The official Free Birth Society membership network is now live.

We have abandoned mainstream social media and created our own private network,

a truly safe space where women can be free to talk about pregnancy, birth, holistic mothering.

Within months of the death of Lauren's baby Journey Moon,

and the public backlash against the free birth society that followed,

Emily Saldaya took the membership private.

We are so proud of this new space and we can't wait to welcome you.

Come join us in the fun.

Although it was sparked by a terrible tragedy,

years later, Emily would tell friends that taking the membership behind a paywall

actually strengthened the business,

because it meant that she could now collect fees.

Music collect fees.

This is the story of how the Free Birth Society became a global multi-million dollar business empire,

and how some claim that the relentless pursuit of profit led to a trail of harm across the world,

one that brought Emily and Yolanda to the brink.

From The Guardian Investigates, I'm Shienkale, and this is The Birth Keepers.

Episode 4, Growing an Empire.

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