5: She Freebirthed In The Middle Of The Ukraine/Russia War

5: She Freebirthed In The Middle Of The Ukraine/Russia War

Author: Emilee Saldaya August 29, 2025 Duration: 1:00:18

What would you do if you had to give birth in the middle of a war? 


In this episode, I sit down with Natalia, a Ukrainian mother of two, to hear her incredible story of freebirthing her second child during the 2022 Russian invasion. 


After one homebirth, Natalia chose to walk an even more radical path with her second—preparing to give birth without medical support, while bombs dropped around her and sirens became part of daily life.


What’s most striking is that on the day her son was born, the chaos paused. For the first time in weeks, there was silence. A stillness descended over her city, allowing Natalia to give birth in a sacred bubble of peace amidst the war. A divine mercy.


We speak candidly about what it was like to prepare for a physiological birth during trauma and survival mode. We explore how she tended to herself postpartum while navigating a broken system that refused to acknowledge her birth. We talk about stopping her hemorrhage, the bureaucratic battle to register her baby, and the heartbreaking search for breast milk when her body struggled to produce.


This conversation is a living testament to maternal instinct, spiritual resilience, and the unshakable power of sovereign birth—even in the most unimaginable of circumstances.


Inside this episode:


  • How Natalia prepared for freebirth while her country was under siege
  • The eerie silence that fell over her city as she birthed her son
  • Navigating postpartum hemorrhage alone—and what she did to stop it
  • Her struggle to obtain a birth certificate in a system that denied her reality
  • What it took to find donor breast milk for her newborn
  • The spiritual strength and sovereignty required to give birth during war


Timestamps:


[00:00] Introduction

[12:14] The beginning of a wild pregnancy and the realization that she would give birth alone

[16:42] Preparing for a freebirth as war begins

[21:19] Fleeing home as war erupts during late pregnancy

[26:16] Giving birth in the middle of war and finding unexpected peace

[32:33] Facing postpartum hemorrhage and delivering the placenta

[44:53] Struggling to register a home birth during war and navigating survival choices


Resources Mentioned:


The Power of Women by Sister MorningStar | Book

Sister Morningstar | Website



If you want to connect with Natalia, follow her on Instagram and visit her website.


Find more from Emilee on Instagram, YouTube and the Free Birth Society website.


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 info@freebirthsociety.com. See full disclaimer at freebirthsociety.com/youtubeterms.


Emilee Saldaya hosts Free Birth Society, a podcast that delves into the profound and personal choice of freebirth. This is not a discussion about home birth with professional support, but an intimate exploration of childbirth that unfolds without midwives, doulas, or medical intervention, guided solely by the birthing person and their family. Through conversations with wild women from around the globe, each episode presents a raw and unfiltered narrative, focusing on the lived experiences, the emotional landscapes, and the deep, often unspoken trust in the body's innate wisdom. These stories are honest, sometimes gripping, and frequently transformative, challenging mainstream perceptions of safety and authority. The dialogue within this podcast serves as both education and a form of self-improvement, examining the reclaiming of autonomy and the reconnection to ancestral knowledge. Listeners will hear not just the mechanics of unassisted birth, but the philosophical and personal journeys that lead individuals to this path. Emilee, as founder and guide, facilitates these discussions with a clear, grounded presence, allowing the complexity and beauty of each story to resonate. This podcast is for those curious about the edges of conventional maternity care, seeking to understand a paradigm where birth is treated as a private, powerful, and physiological event rather than a medical procedure. The Free Birth Society podcast creates a space for these rarely heard voices, offering a tapestry of experiences that are, above all, true to themselves.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Free Birth Society
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