Recover From Coercive Control
A note before you read on:
Experiences within high-control groups can vary considerably, and no overall score can capture every individual experience. The score shown here is an average based on the available information, and your own experience may be very different — for better or worse. If your experience doesn't align with this assessment, you're welcome to use the screening tool yourself and let me know what you think; and if your experience has been difficult or harmful, counselling support is available.
Wellness
Free Birth Society
Also known as FBS, free birth, birthkeepers, wild birth, sovereign birth, or birth liberation movement
Founded by Emilee Saldaya and Yolande Norris-Clark
2000 -
Established in North Carolina, USA. As an online movement it is influential in many countries including UK, Canada, Australia, Europe, South Africa, Asia and others
Estimated followers: Unknown
Summary of Beliefs
The Free Birth Society (FBS) is a controversial movement and online community founded by Emilee Saldaya in the United States around the mid-2010s that advocates for freebirth — childbirth without medical professionals, prenatal checks or clinical interventions. Branding itself as a birth liberation movement, FBS positions unassisted birth as a spiritually empowering and “natural” rite of passage rooted in intuition and embodied womanhood. The organisation operates through podcasts, social media, online courses and private membership communities rather than bricks-and-mortar centres, and its messaging has reached audiences around the world, including in Australia, the UK, Canada, South Africa and Europe.
Supporters view FBS as a way to reclaim autonomy from what they perceive as a harmful medical system. However, mainstream health professionals and investigative journalism have raised alarm about the group’s rhetoric and influence, describing it as medically dangerous. FBS has been linked to numerous cases of serious maternal injuries, stillbirths and neonatal deaths by discouraging prenatal care and professional oversight. Critics characterise aspects of the movement’s community dynamics as cult-like, with high leader influence, minimisation of risk, and emotional reinforcement of radical responsibility narratives.
Despite significant criticism, the founders and community continue to promote their philosophy online, framing backlash as resistance from an entrenched medical establishment.
Analysis Using Renée's Cult Ranking
Assessment Pending
1. Authoritative Leadership
Score: Not Assessed
Insufficient information at this time.
2. Control Over Information
Score: Not Assessed
Insufficient information at this time.
3. Deception
Score: Not Assessed
Insufficient information at this time.
4. Exclusive Knowledge
Score: Not Assessed
Insufficient information at this time.
5. Exploitation
Score: Not Assessed
Insufficient information at this time.
6. Fear, Guilt, & Intimidation
Score: Not Assessed
Insufficient information at this time.
7. Isolation
Score: Not Assessed
Insufficient information at this time.
8. Micro-Management of Daily Tasks
Score: Not Assessed
Insufficient information at this time.
9. Monitoring Thoughts & Behaviours
Score: Not Assessed
Insufficient information at this time.
10. Punishment & Discipline
Score: Not Assessed
Insufficient information at this time.
11. Thought Reform
Score: Not Assessed
Insufficient information at this time.
12. Us vs. Them Mentality
Score: Not Assessed
Insufficient information at this time.
Total Score: TBA
Overall Cult Ranking: Not Assessed
Score: Not Assessed
Insufficient information at this time.
Further Reading
IS IT A CULT?: Response from
No known response.
Support available for anyone impacted by a high-control groups or relationships, and want to speak to someone who understands coercive control and the road to recovery
These assessments evaluate group dynamics, particularly patterns associated with coercive control. They are not determinations about whether any individual has or has not experienced trauma, abuse, or harm. Personal impact varies widely. Coercive control often develops through an accumulation of influences rather than a single event, though specific moments — such as discovering deception or betrayal — can themselves be deeply distressing or traumatic. If your experiences in a group have affected your wellbeing, support from a trauma-informed counsellor or therapist can be an important step toward understanding, healing, and regaining a sense of autonomy. Assessments provided here are conducted using Renée's Cult Ranking system and reflect her personal opinions, which are based on online sources and personal testimonies. Renée acknowledges that groups can change over time, for better or worse, and that individual experiences within any given group can vary. Renée is open to respectful discussions and encourages diverse perspectives to foster a better understanding of matters raised.