from Helen Buzzetti

I moved my whole life from the UK to the USA very soon after finding out I was pregnant, to be with my (now) husband, Ryan. It was a whirlwind of change — new country, new beginnings, and a baby on the way.

About five months into my pregnancy, we finally managed to contact a midwife. In the 24 hours of waiting for her reply, I happened to discover the Free Birth Society podcast through a friend back home. What a blessing! After just one episode, I felt a huge, full-body YES — this was the path I was meant to take. Ryan was fully on board — thank goodness!

I immediately dove into the Complete Guide to Freebirth course and embraced the journey wholeheartedly. Despite the intense emotions and the grief of moving away from home, I loved being pregnant. No tests, no scans — just me and my baby, flowing with life and trusting my body.

We didn’t find our birth place until around 36 weeks in. Our living space wasn’t suitable, so I surrendered to the process and asked for divine guidance. I also asked my baby to lead me to where she wanted to arrive.

Synchronicities soon guided us to a beautiful meadow owned by friends of a friend — a peaceful, wild space that felt just right. We didn’t know them well at first, but they were honored to support our intention of unassisted birth, as it resonated with their own values.
We were unsure on what to birth in, but after looking at bell tents online, we were sold. But our chosen one was sold out. At a friend’s birthday gathering – the same day we discovered it was sold out – we met a woman who offered to lend us hers! Perfect and divine timing!

On the day we arrived to set up the birth space, we realised we hadn’t brought the main centre pole!! We stayed at a friend’s that night and the next day drove back home to get it, and return to the meadow, praying that I didn’t begin the birth process in the car- because at this point I was 39 weeks pregnant!

Literally the next day after we arrived, my waters broke, when we were on the phone to Ryan’s uncle. We weren’t planning to tell our families until baby arrived, but of course it got around the family! For the first 24 hours I was feeling sensations every hour, with a little water trickling down my leg every time, and I was wondering where it was all coming from! During this time Ryan received a worried phone call from his family because my waters had broken, and thank goodness I didn’t have anything to do with that conversation. He told them to leave us be.

At 24 hours while dark outside, I sank deep into the intensity of the second phase. I was groaning from the discomfort and not knowing where to move or position myself with each sensation, and I felt nausea for hours. It took every ounce of me to breathe through and remind myself and my baby that we got this and we will meet very soon! I didn’t let my mind talk me into giving up, and I’m so proud of that!

“Ryan pass me the bucket” I called out, 5 hours later and finally had a moment to pause. I wondered what happened, because I felt normal again, but I wasn’t worried. I was so exhausted I laid down next to Ryan who was napping on the blankets on the floor. “Lemons from the lemon tree” I was murmuring in my sleepy state, between realms. “Fruits from the fruit tree”…It was definitely a bit of entertainment for him.

10 mins later I found my body switching into an instant pushing that I had no control over. I was so tired I just laid there and flowed with them as they came and went. But that wasn’t the best position. “Shouldn’t you get up, Helen, and give yourself an easier position to push?” I was so glad he was there. I got on all fours and carried on pushing as my body was surging and pushing our baby out.

It was quite the experience! I was patiently waiting every time a surge would begin again and I pushed with all my might and made noises I’ve never heard in my life, until the ring of fire was upon me. Ohhh there it is. I’d heard about this. Well, I don’t have a choice, the only way is through. And so I just went for it. It took a couple of go’s, but finally the head was out!

After no sleep but plenty of rest, lots of intensity, and then 20 minutes of pushing , our beautiful baby Eden was born, right into Ryan’s hands. Ryan – trying hard not to drop her so slippery body – passed her under my legs and I laid down to rest uncomfortably. She was crying at this point.

It was such a surreal, empowering moment. Eden did the classic crawl up my tummy, but she went all the way up to my neck, mistaking it for my nipple! The placenta took an hour to arrive, and honestly it was horrible, because I had a plastic bucket with a plastic toilet lid as a toilet, and it was so painful to sit and try to relax. I was so relieved when finally it plopped out!

I had no tares, just feelings of exhaustion and deep empowerment. I felt reborn myself, trusting completely in the strength of my body and embracing the new woman I had become. And I was so ready for sleep!