Birth Untethered

Birth Untethered
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Welcome to Birth Untethered. A sanctuary for truth-tellers, change-makers & advocates of physiological birth. We’re Shellie Poulter & Kemi Johnson: educators & rebels with decades of combined experience in pregnancy, birth & beyond. With backgrounds in osteopathy, naturopathy, biomechanics, midwifery, & advocacy. We expose the realities of modern maternity systems, challenge coercive practices & bring both scientific & lived wisdom to the forefront. We exist to empower birth workers, families & seekers of truth with informed choice, not fear. This is the birth revolution & you're invited.

  1. 6D AGO

    S2E5 - The Biggest Intervention? Leaving your Home to Birth Your Baby - Risks of different birth settings

    In this Episode Shellie and Kemi discuss the big intervention of choosing to leave your home to give birth and how choosing to birth in an obstetric unit dramatically worsens outcomes for you and increases the likelihood of long term negative health consequences for both you and your baby. We look back to the research propaganda that drove birth away from home and into the hospital and how the perceived safety was a lie then and still is now. Here is a link to the TED talk about Breastfeeding and Heart Disease in women that we mention on the podcast - The single biggest protective factor: https://youtu.be/o2XjA4wA4TI?si=A8lWh55n3irorqLR Website:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntethered Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/14193903/join Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1kKvf6pjLGDJ5nDBMKPCjB Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735 Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntethered Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/ https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/ https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/ Support us by buying our merch:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merch Buy us a coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/shellie

    1h 18m

  2. MAR 2

    S2E4 - The Second Intervention - Appointments, Tests, Scans. What Can I Accept or Decline - Part 2

    In this episode Shellie and Kemi continue to discuss the routine surveillance that is on offer in NHS maternity services. In this episode we cover low PAPP-A and continue with routine maternity appointments including the 20 week ultrasound anatomy scan and what you may wish to accept or decline as part of your maternity journey. If you would like to attend the birthrights class and receive the pdf: ⁠https://birthuntethered.kit.com/products/birthrights-masterclass-and-pdf⁠ Season 11 Episode 5 of the Better Birth Podcast about gestational diabetes if you want to look into that further. https://chipper-teacher-4208.kit.com/products/june-bitesize-gestational-diabetes Use the discount code serenity50 for 50% off he usual price taking it from £30 to £15. It includes a 2 hour recorded ass about gestational diabetes and a pdf handout with lots of useful information about gestational diabetes, diet, lifestyle, supplements, hacks, meal plans and recipes. #437 birthing instincts podcast: What is the value of the fetal non stress test? To join us on Unleash Your VBAC Power: https://stan.store/quantumlifeandbirth/p/unleash-your-vbac-power-20-live-round-presale?fbclid=PAVERFWAQD90RleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAaex5UnWL11WSJ_ra7aUfyRC2g_fS_18HMCvUdxRAUrhHDvUSLOnHRddr5M3sg_aem_rJreWhv4MVKOI_rwcKRrmA Website:⁠https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntethered⁠ Patreon:⁠ https://www.patreon.com/14193903/join⁠ https://www.patreon.com/14193903/join⁠ Spotify:⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/1kKvf6pjLGDJ5nDBMKPCjB⁠ Apple Podcast:⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735⁠ Youtube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntethered⁠ Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/⁠ Support us by buying our merch:⁠ https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merch⁠ Buy us a coffee: ⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/shellie

    1h 16m
  3. S2E3 - The Second Intervention - Appointments, Tests, Scans. What Can I Accept or Decline - Part 1

    FEB 23

    S2E3 - The Second Intervention - Appointments, Tests, Scans. What Can I Accept or Decline - Part 1

    In this episode Shellie and Kemi discuss the routine surveillance that is on offer in NHS maternity services. In this episode we cover booking appointments, the first trimester scan, what you can accept or decline and why you may want to. We also cover blood pressure, urine dip testing, fundal height. We look back to the origin of maternity surveillance and the rise of medicalisation of testing. If you would like to attend the birthrights class and receive the pdf: https://birthuntethered.kit.com/products/birthrights-masterclass-and-pdf Website:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntethered Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/14193903/join Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1kKvf6pjLGDJ5nDBMKPCjB Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735 Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntethered Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/ https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/ https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/ Support us by buying our merch:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merch Buy us a coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/shellie

    1h 4m

  4. FEB 16

    S2E2 - The First Intervention - Inviting People Into Your Pregnancy and Birth Space - With Tess

    In this episode we discuss inviting people into your pregnancy and birth bubble and the impact this can have on your journey and your physiology. We continue our onversation with Tess Lovely a former NHS midwife and her experience of trying to be with woman in the system and how the system treated her for it. We need to understand people's motivations and what we do and don't want to invite into our sphere of influence. Join the Birthrights Lecture and get the PDF: https://birthuntethered.kit.com/products/birthrights-masterclass-and-pdf If you'd like to get in touch with and work with Tess, you can find her here: ⁠https://www.birthfromwithin.co.uk⁠ Tess's podcast is:The Good, The Bad & The Vagina Website:⁠https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntethered⁠ Join the mailing list:⁠https://birthuntethered.kit.com⁠ Patreon:⁠https://www.patreon.com/14193903/join⁠ Spotify:⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1kKvf6pjLGDJ5nDBMKPCjB⁠ Apple Podcast:⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735 ⁠Youtube:⁠https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntethered ⁠Instagram:⁠https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/⁠ Support us by buying our merch:⁠https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merch⁠ Buy us a coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/shellie

    1h 17m

  5. FEB 9

    S2E1 - The First Intervention - Who You Choose To Invite Into Your Pregnancy Bubble - Chat with Tess Lovely Former NHS Midwife

    In this episode we discuss the first intervention - who you choose to invite into your pregnancy bubble and birth space. We have a frank conversation with 2 former NHS midwives - Tess Lovely and Kemi, in order to understand how their wanting to provide woman centered care was not encouraged in the NHS setting where they used to work. Tess gives us some excellent tips if you are choosing to navigate your pregnancy within the NHS to help with coercion.Become untethered from other people's fear and realise that you have power over who you invite on your pregnancy journey and into your birth space and that your choice is VERY important in supporting your pregnancy and birth physiology working well. This is a two part episode, Tess will be back with us for episode 2 as well. If you would like to read my AIMS article you can do so here: https://www.aims.org.uk/journal/item/birthplace-language-coercive If you'd like to get in touch with and work with Tess, you can find her here: https://www.birthfromwithin.co.ukTess's podcast is:The Good, The Bad & The VaginaWebsite:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntetheredJoin the mailing list:https://birthuntethered.kit.comPatreon:https://www.patreon.com/14193903/joinSpotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1kKvf6pjLGDJ5nDBMKPCjBApple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntetheredInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/Support us by buying our merch:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merchBuy us a coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/shellie

    1h 13m

  6. JAN 12

    S1E13 - The Red Thread - Understanding Childbirth as a Rite of Passage Through Time - Part 2

    In this episode Shellie and Kemi continue the journey of following the red thread through time from mitochondrial Eve to the present day. We explore the repeating themes around patriarchal dominance over women and the tools used to subjugate, minimise and demonise feminine power and ownership over our bodies. The cultural shift from matricentric societies where the life giving power of women was celebrated and family caring was communal to today's isolation of family units, segregation of tasks to gender based roles. We explore changes in language, religion and attitudes over time and how they have all contributed to the shaping of society and maternity medicine as it is today. We explore some recent data around free birthing and how safe it actually looks compared to national averages and how the choice to freebirth in modern times is nothing like stepping back to medieval practice. We explore why women are choosing to birth without medical providers present and we speak about reclaiming the words, the wisdom and the rites around pregnancy and birth.Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/14193903/joinMailing List:https://birthuntethered.kit.comWebsite:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntetheredSpotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1kKvf6pjLGDJ5nDBMKPCjBApple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntetheredInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/Support us by buying our merch:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merchBuy us a coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/shellie

    48 min

  7. JAN 7

    S1E12 - The Red Thread - Understanding Childbirth as a Rite of Passage Through Time - Part 1

    In this Episode Shellie and Kemi begin the journey of following the red thread through time, from mitochondrial Eve to the present day. We explore what has always and still does make childbirth safe, what we can be grateful for from the advances in social healthcare and medication and changes in practice. We explore the figures of death rates around birth for mothers and babies, how they have never been 50/50 in history but for mothers have always been around or below 1%, even in prehistoric estimates! This is part one of two, don't worry we won't make you wait too long for the next episode!Website:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntetheredJoin our mailing list:https://birthuntethered.kit.comPatreon:https://www.patreon.com/14193903/joinSpotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1kKvf6pjLGDJ5nDBMKPCjBApple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntetheredInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/Support us by buying our merch:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merchBuy us a coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/shellie

    1h 7m

  8. 12/22/2025

    S1E11 - Strength Isn’t Silence: Simon Reflects on His Birthing Journeys as a Father

    In this raw and compassionate conversation, Shellie, Kemi and Simon explore birth through the eyes of Simon. A father who's thoughts and reactions were shaped by two frightening, medicalised births, and how that trauma followed him into a third, deeply different experience. We talk about fear, responsibility, and the pressure partners feel to “hold it together,” even when their nervous system is bracing for disaster. Together, we reflect on how trauma affects decision-making in birth, how couples can process difficult moments without blame, and what helps rebuild trust after fear has taken over. We also explore the contrast between emergency-led care and respectful midwifery presence, the role doulas can play in supporting partners, and what years of learning has taught Simon about physiological birth, women’s bodies, and trust.An honest, powerful episode for fathers, partners, and couples navigating birth and birth after trauma and anyone who wants a deeper understanding of how birth shapes us.Join the Mailing List:https://birthuntethered.kit.comWebsite:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/birthuntetheredPatreon:https://www.patreon.com/14193903/joinSpotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1kKvf6pjLGDJ5nDBMKPCjBApple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/birth-untethered/id1836371735Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@birthuntetheredInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/theserenitydoula/https://www.instagram.com/birth.untethered/https://www.instagram.com/kemibirthjoyjohnson/Support us by buying our merch:https://www.theserenitydoula.co.uk/merchBuy us a coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/shellie

    1h 18m
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Trailer

About

Welcome to Birth Untethered. A sanctuary for truth-tellers, change-makers & advocates of physiological birth. We’re Shellie Poulter & Kemi Johnson: educators & rebels with decades of combined experience in pregnancy, birth & beyond. With backgrounds in osteopathy, naturopathy, biomechanics, midwifery, & advocacy. We expose the realities of modern maternity systems, challenge coercive practices & bring both scientific & lived wisdom to the forefront. We exist to empower birth workers, families & seekers of truth with informed choice, not fear. This is the birth revolution & you're invited.

Information

  • Creator
    Birth Untethered
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Birth Untethered
  • Show Website
    Birth Untethered

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