Pain Free Birth

Karen Welton
  • 4.9 (169)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

In the Pain Free Birth Podcast, your host, Karen Welton, invites you to discover the truth about how God brilliantly designed the female body for birth. Karen is a certified doula, childbirth educator, and coach who teaches women all around the world how to give birth without pain and fear through her online courses and content.In this show, we geek out about the hormonal physiology of birth, supernatural childbirth, bliss and ecstasy in labor, pregnancy, postpartum, motherhood, and everything in between! Karen interviews women around the world who share their *jaw-dropping* stories of birth at home, in the hospital, and even in the car! She interviews midwives, doctors, and experts in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum to share their unique perspectives. We’ve been taught to view birth as scary and traumatic or an “emergency waiting to happen.” In this show, you will discover a whole new perspective of what’s possible in birth.

  1. #95 | Fear Free, Pain Free, and Joyful Twin Home Birth

    4D AGO

    #95 | Fear Free, Pain Free, and Joyful Twin Home Birth

    What would you do if doctors told you to abort one of your twins… with no medical reason? In this episode of the Pain-Free Birth Podcast, Karen sits down with Victoria McGuckin, a mom of three who shares her incredible twin home birth story. After being labeled “high risk” and pressured into a highly medicalized birth plan, Victoria chose a different path rooted in faith, trust, and physiological birth. Her story is a powerful reminder that birth is not something happening to you. It’s something your body was designed to do, even in situations the world calls “high risk.” Tune in to hear: What happened when doctors asked if she wanted to abort one of her twinsWhy hospital protocols for twins often lead to unnecessary C-sectionsThe mindset shift that replaced fear with peace during her pregnancyHow she prepared her body physically for a twin birthThe moment she went from 1 cm to 9 cm instantly during laborWhy oxytocin (not control) was the key to her labor progressingWhat pushing actually felt like during a twin birthHow baby #2 was born just minutes after the firstThe truth about “pain” vs. intensity in laborWhat postpartum life with twins really looks like (including sleep + breastfeeding!)Encouragement for moms navigating fear, pressure, or “high-risk” labelsResources Mentioned: Birthing Instincts podcast (Dr. Stu)Connect with Victoria: @wholebirthwellneswithvic@victoria_alexandra_mcguckin CONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Submit your birth story and apply to come on the podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube

    43 min
  2. #94 | 45-Minute, Pain Free, Unplanned Freebirth (after a 36 hour labor with her first)

    MAR 24

    #94 | 45-Minute, Pain Free, Unplanned Freebirth (after a 36 hour labor with her first)

    What if your second birth could be completely different from your first...even after a long, difficult hospital birth? In this episode of the Pain Free Birth Podcast, Karen sits down with Sarah Tollison, a nurse and mom of two from South Carolina, who shares the incredible story of her 45-minute, pain-free birth. After experiencing a 36-hour hospital birth with her first baby, Sarah hoped her second birth would be different , but she never expected labor to progress so quickly. Sarah shares what it was like to experience the fetal ejection reflex, how learning about birth physiology transformed her confidence, and why her mindset going into her second birth made such a difference. Her story is a powerful reminder that one difficult birth does not define future births and that the body is capable of far more than many women realize.   Tune in to hear: Sarah’s first birth experience and why it lasted 36 hours in the hospitalHow hospital protocols and interventions impacted her first laborWhy she chose a birth center and midwife for her second birthHow she caught her own baby during a completely unexpected unassisted birthWhat the fetal ejection reflex felt like during laborWhy the birth was nearly pain-free despite being extremely fastHow watching positive birth stories changed her mindset about birthThe difference between preparing for birth in fear vs preparing in trustWhy childbirth education can transform the way women experience laborHow recovery differed after a physiological birth without pushingEncouragement for moms hoping for a redeeming birth after a difficult first experienceConnect with Sarah: @Sarah.tollison.rn CONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Submit your birth story and apply to come on the podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube

    41 min
  3. #93 | You're Not Underprepared- You're Overstimulated: Why Your Nervous System is The Key to a Pain Free Birth

    MAR 17

    #93 | You're Not Underprepared- You're Overstimulated: Why Your Nervous System is The Key to a Pain Free Birth

    Are you preparing for birth by gathering more information… but still feeling anxious and overwhelmed? In this episode of the Pain Free Birth Podcast, Karen dives into one of the most common mistakes first-time moms make when preparing for childbirth: focusing almost entirely on gathering information instead of regulating the nervous system. While education is valuable, Karen explains how consuming too much information (especially when it’s filtered through fear or anxiety) can actually dysregulate the nervous system and create more stress around birth. This episode invites pregnant mothers to shift their focus from over-preparing mentally to learning how to regulate their nervous system and reconnect with the wisdom of their bodies. Karen also walks listeners through simple ways to check in with their bodies, identify hidden fears or tension, and begin cultivating the calm, parasympathetic state that supports physiological birth. Tune in to hear: The nervous system mistake many first-time moms make when preparing for birthWhy information overload can actually increase anxiety during pregnancyHow the fight-or-flight response can stall labor and increase painWhy birth happens best in a parasympathetic “rest and receive” stateThe connection between nervous system regulation and oxytocin productionHow fear, tension, and anxiety in the body can show up during laborPractical ways to begin regulating your nervous system during pregnancyWhy preparing your body is just as important as preparing your mindHow learning to surrender and release control can transform your birth experienceCONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Submit your birth story and apply to come on the podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube

    42 min
  4. #92 | A First Time Mom's Pain Free Home Birth in Sweden

    MAR 10

    #92 | A First Time Mom's Pain Free Home Birth in Sweden

    What happens when you learn to meet the power of contractions instead of fearing them? In this episode of the Pain-Free Birth Podcast, Karen welcomes Petronella, a first-time mom from Sweden who shares her incredible pain-free home birth story. Despite home birth being rare in Sweden, Petronella followed her intuition and chose to give birth in the place where she felt safest (her own home). Petronella describes how years of hearing positive birth stories from her mother and witnessing friends give birth shaped her belief that birth could be empowering, natural, and even enjoyable. During her pregnancy, she intentionally prepared by listening to countless birth stories, studying the physiology of birth, and connecting deeply with her body and intuition. This episode beautifully illustrates how preparation, mindset, and trust in the body’s design can transform the birth experience. Tune in to hear:  Why Petronella chose a home birth in Sweden, where home births are uncommonHow early exposure to positive birth stories shaped her mindset about childbirthThe importance of preparing for birth before pregnancyHow listening to birth stories can help reframe fear and build confidenceWhat it means to “meet the power” of contractions during laborHow vocalizing and using the voice can support cervical dilation during birthWhy creating a safe and peaceful birth environment mattersThe role of intuition and trusting your body during laborWhat pushing felt like for Petronella and why she actually enjoyed that stageHow relaxation and surrender can help prevent tearing during birthThe emotional moment of meeting her baby after a peaceful home birthCONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Submit your birth story and apply to come on the podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube

    58 min
  5. #91 | Oxytocin, Epidurals, and the Truth About Physiological Birth with Dr. Sarah Buckley

    MAR 3

    #91 | Oxytocin, Epidurals, and the Truth About Physiological Birth with Dr. Sarah Buckley

    What if labor wasn’t random? What if bonding isn’t luck? What if your brain is biologically designed to change in birth? In this profound and science-rich conversation, Karen sits down with Dr. Sarah Buckley, family physician, researcher, and pioneer in physiological birth, to unpack the true hormonal science of labor and postpartum. Dr. Buckley has spent decades studying oxytocin, the primary hormone of labor, bonding, and breastfeeding. In this episode, she explains how birth activates the brain’s reward and pleasure centers, how oxytocin creates maternal bonding, and why feeling safe during labor is not emotional fluff. It’s biological necessity.  This episode bridges the gap between science and spirituality, physiology and experience proving that ecstatic birth is not fantasy. It is mammalian biology. Tune in to hear: How oxytocin changes the maternal brain during laborWhat actually causes bonding between mother and babyThe neuroscience behind the “birth high”Why safety is essential for oxytocin releaseHow synthetic oxytocin works differently in the bodyThe surprising research findings on Pitocin and oxytocin levelsHow epidurals impact the oxytocin feedback loopWhy some women miss the hormonal peak at birthWhat happens hormonally during cesarean birthHow skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding can “fill hormonal gaps”Why birth is a relational experience, not an engineering eventThe mammalian design behind maternal transformationHow to protect your physiology in hospital birth settingsConnect with Dr. Buckley: Website: www.sarahbuckley.com FB: @DrSarahBuckley  IG: @DrSarahJBuckley  Twitter: @Sarahjbuckley CONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Submit your birth story and apply to come on the podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube

    1h 11m
  6. #90 | From an Excruciating First Labor to a Pain-Free and Fear-free Birth

    FEB 24

    #90 | From an Excruciating First Labor to a Pain-Free and Fear-free Birth

    Can birth really be different the second time? What if releasing fear was the missing piece? In this episode of the Pain-Free Birth Podcast, Callie shares her redemptive Christian home birth story after experiencing an excruciatingly painful first labor. At just 22 years old and pregnant with her second baby, she knew she could not walk into birth carrying the same fear and tension that defined her first experience.  In this conversation, Callie shares how understanding the fear–tension–pain cycle transformed her perspective on contractions, how inviting God into her labor brought peace and confidence, and why birth can feel intense without feeling traumatic. She also speaks honestly about postpartum complications and anxiety, reminding listeners that redemption does not always mean perfection. Birth can be both powerful and messy. Faith does not eliminate challenges, but it reframes them. Her testimony is a reminder that birth can be both powerful and messy, and that God can be present in both. This episode is filled with encouragement for any mama who has experienced birth trauma, fears labor, or feels stuck believing her story is already written. Tune in to hear: What made Callie’s first birth “excruciatingly painful”How fear contributed to her labor experienceThe power of addressing the fear–tension–pain cycleHow Scripture and worship reshaped her mindsetWhat contractions felt like in her second laborThe moment she felt her baby rotate and descendHow her husband showed up differently the second timeWhat really happened during her postpartum hemorrhageHonest conversation about postpartum anxiety and healingEncouragement for moms believing their story cannot changeRESOURCES MENTIONED: Faith Filled Childbirth   Supernatural Childbirth  Birth Playlist CONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Submit your birth story and apply to come on the podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube

    39 min
  7. #89 | The 5 Steps That Actually Matter to Prepare for a Natural Birth

    FEB 17

    #89 | The 5 Steps That Actually Matter to Prepare for a Natural Birth

    Are you planning an unmedicated birth… but wondering if you’re actually doing enough to prepare? In this episode of the Pain Free Birth Podcast, Karen breaks down the five essential steps to preparing for a natural, physiological birth with intention. Not just hoping for one. Not just writing a birth plan. But truly preparing your mind, body, and spirit for the birth experience you desire. If you’ve been binging birth stories and thinking, “I want that too” but still feel unsure where to start, this episode gives you a clear, practical roadmap. Because birth is not random. And while it is unpredictable, there are patterns. There are principles. There are ways to stack the odds in your favor. Tune in to hear: Why overcoming fear is the first and most important step in birth preparationHow unresolved birth stories and trauma can influence your laborThe fear–tension–pain cycle and how it impacts your bodyWhy understanding the physiology of birth changes everythingThe hormones that drive labor and how to support them naturallyHow clarity about your desired birth experience increases confidenceThe difference between the medical model and midwifery model of careWhy your provider choice statistically impacts your birth outcome more than anything elseResources mentioned: Questions to Ask Your Provider: https://resources.painfreebirth.com/birth-provider-questions  CONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Submit your birth story and apply to come on the podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube

    1h 4m
  8. #88 | 42 Weeks Pregnant and Her Body Birthed Without Pushing

    FEB 10

    #88 | 42 Weeks Pregnant and Her Body Birthed Without Pushing

    What if going past your due date wasn’t a problem to solve? In this Karen sits down with Pinsi Lei, a mom of three and business coach from New York City, to share one of the most jaw-dropping birth stories ever told on the show. After two long, medicated hospital births, Pinsi experienced an unintentional unassisted home birth at 42 weeks. With no pushing, no tearing, and a nine-pound, ten-ounce baby born standing up through the fetal ejection reflex, this story is a profound testimony to what happens when fear is released and physiology is allowed to lead. Tune in to hear: How Pinsi went from two epidural hospital births to an unassisted home birthWhy releasing emotional fear triggered labor at 42 weeksWhat the fetal ejection reflex feels like and why she didn’t push at allHow worship, prayer, and mindset eliminated pain during contractionsThe surprising differences between epidural babies and unmedicated babiesWhy she instinctively birthed in the smallest, darkest corner of her homeHow standing birth prevented tearing with a 9 lb 10 oz babyWhy her postpartum recovery was faster and calmer than ever beforeHow trusting intuition transformed her confidence as a mother and womanConnect with Pinsi: @pinsilei Pinsi's Birth Story on IG: BIRTH STORY:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DM6SUHlO7oU/?igsh=MWY0NWVpbGIxaXZ0Mg== CONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Submit your birth story and apply to come on the podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube

    46 min
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4.9
out of 5
169 Ratings

About

In the Pain Free Birth Podcast, your host, Karen Welton, invites you to discover the truth about how God brilliantly designed the female body for birth. Karen is a certified doula, childbirth educator, and coach who teaches women all around the world how to give birth without pain and fear through her online courses and content.In this show, we geek out about the hormonal physiology of birth, supernatural childbirth, bliss and ecstasy in labor, pregnancy, postpartum, motherhood, and everything in between! Karen interviews women around the world who share their *jaw-dropping* stories of birth at home, in the hospital, and even in the car! She interviews midwives, doctors, and experts in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum to share their unique perspectives. We’ve been taught to view birth as scary and traumatic or an “emergency waiting to happen.” In this show, you will discover a whole new perspective of what’s possible in birth.

Information

  • Creator
    Karen Welton
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pain Free Birth
  • Show Website
    Pain Free Birth

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