Freebirthing Online influencers undeterred after business linked to deaths of infants

On Saturday we published our investigation into the dangerous medical claims of the Free Birth Society. Here are the key findings

- Sirin Kale Lucy Osborne

The Free Birth Society (FBS) is a business run from North Carolina that promotes the idea of women giving birth without midwives or doctors present.

It is led by Emilee Saldaya and Yolande Norris-Clark, ex-doulas turned influencers who have gained a global following. FBS profits from sales of its instructional video guide to freebirthing, and access to a paid-for membership group for pregnant women. It also runs two online schools that train "radical birth keepers" FBS is estimated to have generated more than $13m (£9.9m) in revenues since 2018.

In a yearlong investigation, we reviewed hundreds of hours of FBS podcasts, videos, documents and course materials, interviewed 10 former insiders, and analysed thousands of pages of journal entries, medical notes, message threads and legal documents.

We also interviewed more than 60 mothers influenced by FBS, and consulted some of the world's leading obstetricians and experts. Here are five things we learned.

Many FBS claims conflict with evidence-based medical advice