‘She was like a deer in headlights’: how unskilled radical birthkeepers took hold in Canada

The article discusses the growing trend of "radical birthkeepers" in Canada, who are providing unlicensed and potentially unsafe birthing services, particularly in holistic communities and areas with limited access to midwifery care. The story focuses on the case of Emma Cardinal, a 32-year-old holistic practitioner in British Columbia who initially planned a home birth with midwives. However, after listening to a podcast from the Free Birth Society (FBS), Cardinal was influenced by the group's unsubstantiated claims about the dangers of ultrasounds, which they falsely link to conditions like autism and ADHD. The article highlights how the FBS, a group of unlicensed providers, is gaining traction in these communities, where women are increasingly turning to them for information and alternative birthing options, often without adequate medical supervision or support. The article emphasizes the potential risks and dangers associated with the rise of these "radical birthkeepers" and the need for greater awareness and regulation in the birthing community to ensure the safety and well-being of mothers and their newborns.