Pain Free Birth

Karen Welton
  • 4.9 (168)
  • 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. #93 | You're Not Underprepared- You're Overstimulated: Why Your Nervous System is The Key to a Pain Free Birth

    5D AGO

    #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
  2. #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

    59 min
  3. #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 12m
  4. #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

    40 min
  5. #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 5m
  6. #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
  7. #87 | Breaking the Fear and Trusting God Through a First-Time Home Birth

    FEB 3

    #87 | Breaking the Fear and Trusting God Through a First-Time Home Birth

    What if fear doesn’t have to be part of your first home birth experience? In this episode of the Pain Free Birth Podcast, Karen Welton sits down with Katie Brambila, a first-time mom and midwife-in-training, to share her incredible, God-filled home birth story. Katie brings a unique perspective to birth. Before becoming pregnant, she had already spent nearly three years in midwifery school and attended close to 100 births, most of them at home. Despite her extensive experience, Katie still had to confront common fears and stigmas surrounding first-time home birth, including the belief that first labors are always long, difficult, or destined for transfer. Throughout the conversation, Karen offers expert insight on dismantling birth fear, the importance of mental preparation, and why even highly knowledgeable women still need intentional support and mindset work in birth. Together, they normalize fear, highlight the vulnerability of labor, and encourage women to trust their bodies and God’s design for birth. Tune in to hear: Why first-time home birth fears are common and how to reframe themHow mindset and mental preparation impact the experience of laborThe role of surrender and faith in pain-free birthWhy identifying and targeting specific fears is more effective than avoiding themHow breath, prayer, and focus can change how contractions feelWhat it’s like to actively push and birth at home as a first-time momWhy support from a doula and birth team matters, even for birth professionalsConnect with Katie: IG: @katiebrambila Send her a DM & mention this episode to receive free shipping on NORA Moon Time tea blend to support your luteal and menstrual phases. CONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Instagram Facebook YouTube

    41 min
  8. #86 | From Fear to Power: How Trusting Her Body Changed Everything in Birth with Polina Westcott

    JAN 27

    #86 | From Fear to Power: How Trusting Her Body Changed Everything in Birth with Polina Westcott

    What happens when a woman stops outsourcing her intuition and starts trusting her body? In this episode, Karen sits down with Polina Westcott, creator of Sensible Mama, to share two transformative home birth stories that radically changed the way Polina views birth, fear, pain, and personal authority. Polina opens up about her first pregnancy, where everything seemed medically “normal” until routine testing suddenly turned her pregnancy into a problem to be managed. When questioning protocols led to pushback from her providers, Polina made the bold decision to fire her OB team at eight months pregnant and pivot to a home birth. What followed was a long, challenging, and deeply empowering first labor that revealed strength she never knew she had. Her second birth could not have been more different. She shares how mindset, education, and surrender completely transformed how her body responded to contractions and labor progression. This episode dives deep into birth autonomy, informed consent, intuition, and the mind-body connection in labor.  Tune in to hear: Why Polina chose to fire her OB team late in pregnancyHow questioning medical authority led her to reclaim birth autonomyWhat really happens during transition and why many women want to “tap out”The doula moment that changed everything during her first laborHow mindset radically altered her second birth experienceWhat fetal ejection reflex actually feels like in real lifeWhy trusting intuition protected her during the third stage of laborHow fear, resistance, and control affect labor progressionWhy birth can be an initiation into motherhood, strength, and self-trustConnect with Polina: Www.sensiblemama.com https://www.youtube.com/@sensible_mama IG: @sensible_mama CONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Instagram Facebook YouTube

    1h 5m
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4.9
out of 5
168 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
    96
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pain Free Birth
  • Show Website
    Pain Free Birth

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