Pain Free Birth

Karen Welton
  • 4.9 (195)
  • Alternative Health
  • 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. 2d ago

    #127 | Against the Odds: A 32-Hour Unmedicated Hospital Birth in South Africa

    What if your labor lasted 32 hours, your birth plan was tested, and you discovered that the greatest strength you had was learning to surrender? In this powerful episode of the Pain Free Birth Podcast, Karen sits down with Meghan Kuiper, a first-time mom from South Africa who experienced a 32-hour unmedicated hospital birth in a country where cesarean rates in private hospitals are exceptionally high. Meghan shares how preparing through the Pain Free Birth Course helped her understand the physiology of labor, trust her body's natural process, and confidently navigate a long first birth. From laboring peacefully at a friend's home for more than 24 hours to welcoming her daughter Hannah into the world without an epidural, Meghan's story is a beautiful reminder that birth doesn't have to unfold according to our expectations to be deeply empowering. But Meghan's experience wasn't completely pain free, and that's what makes her story so meaningful. She opens up about the moment she stopped trying to think her way through labor, the emotional release that helped her surrender, and how her husband's preparation through the Birth Partner Bootcamp allowed him to become her steady source of safety and support. Together, Karen and Meghan explore the difference between pain and fear, the importance of choosing a supportive birth provider, and the incredible transformation that can happen when a woman feels educated, supported, and free to experience birth on her own terms. Tune in to hear: How Meghan prepared for an unmedicated hospital birth in South Africa, despite the country's high private-hospital C-section rates.Why understanding the physiology of labor helped her remain calm during more than 24 hours of early labor.How she knew when to stay outside the hospital and when it was time to go.The emotional moment of surrender that changed the way she experienced labor.Why her 32-hour birth wasn't entirely pain free, but was profoundly different because she understood what was happening.How the Birth Partner Bootcamp prepared her husband to support her with counter pressure, breathing, hydration, and practical advocacy.What she learned about hospital monitoring, freedom of movement, and preparing for unexpected decisions.How she experienced instinctive pushing, delivered on hands and knees, and welcomed her daughter without tearing or stitches.Why she describes giving birth as one of the greatest honors of her life.Her encouragement for first-time moms who dream of a natural, unmedicated, or fear-free hospital birth.Connect with Meghan Kuiper: Meghan Kuiper Counseling Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seasons_of_becoming/ Meghan Kuiper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meg_kuiper/ Counseling Website: https://www.meghankuiper.co.za/ Uleen Fourie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uleenfourie?exln=M2cxN2FyYjNudGgz Doors are open for the Doula Certification Program. Grab your spot here: https://mastermind.painfreebirth.com/pfbdoulacertification-rp?%E2%80%A6 CONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Submit Your Birth Story Apply to Come on the Podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube Looking for a like-minded provider? View the PFB Directory HERE. Want to join the PFB provider directory? JOIN HERE Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual health, pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessaril...

    #127 | Against the Odds: A 32-Hour Unmedicated Hospital Birth in South Africa

  2. Nov 3

    #126 | The Secret to an Empowered Birth? Irrational Confidence

    What if the secret to a beautiful, empowered birth isn't having the perfect circumstances, but developing a level of faith and confidence that the world simply cannot understand? In this powerful solo episode of the Pain Free Birth podcast, Karen shares a heartfelt message for women preparing for pregnancy, navigating motherhood, or believing God for a supernatural birth experience. In a world where pregnancy and childbirth are often surrounded by fear, medical intervention, and uncertainty, Karen invites you to embrace a radically different perspective. What if you could approach birth with irrational confidence, knowing that God designed your body with incredible wisdom and purpose? Through Scripture, personal experiences, and inspiring birth testimonies, Karen explores how to overcome fear of childbirth, renew your mindset, and partner with God in preparing for birth. You'll discover why true birth confidence comes from combining an understanding of physiological birth with a deep, personal faith in God's goodness. Whether you're dreaming of a pain free birth, preparing for a VBAC, processing a previous birth experience, or simply longing to trust your body again, this episode will encourage you to believe for something greater. Tune in to hear: Why Karen believes irrational confidence is essential for preparing for a supernatural birth.How fear-based birth culture can shape your expectations before pregnancy even begins.Three foundational truths to renew your mindset about pregnancy, birth, and motherhood.What John 16:33 teaches us about finding peace and overcoming fear.How understanding physiological birth can strengthen your confidence in your body.The difference between blind faith and faith strengthened through personal experience.Incredible birth testimonies that demonstrate perseverance, provision, and unexpected breakthroughs.Why faith and medical wisdom can work together when birth plans change.Practical ways to train your mind, strengthen your faith, and prepare for an empowered birth.How the Pain Free Birth course helps women combine birth education, faith, and practical preparation.Previous Podcast Links: Lacey Coffey: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/123-god-showed-her-the-birth-before-it-happened-a/id1696179731?i=1000796093891 Christine Janicke: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/103-29-days-overdue-fully-trusting-god-the-3-push-joy/id1696179731?i=1000769608664 Amanda Johnson: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/22-finding-twins-at-32-weeks-a-successful-home/id1696179731?i=1000658671561 Leslie Burris: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/6-consider-that-its-possible-with-leslie-burris/id1696179731?i=1000645977685 Doors are open for the Doula Certification Program. Grab your spot here: https://mastermind.painfreebirth.com/pfbdoulacertification-rp?%E2%80%A6 CONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Submit Your Birth Story Apply to Come on the Podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube Looking for a like-minded provider? View the PFB Directory HERE. Want to join the PFB provider directory? JOIN HERE Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual health, pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessaril...

    #126 | The Secret to an Empowered Birth? Irrational Confidence

  3. Oct 27

    #125 | A Supernatural, Pain-Free Home Birth After Cesarean

    What if your first birth left you believing your body had failed, but your next birth became a beautiful testimony of healing, surrender, and freedom from fear? After nearly 48 hours of labor at home, Katie Caceres's first birth ended in a hospital transfer and an unexpected cesarean. She carried feelings of failure, disappointment, and unresolved birth trauma into her next pregnancy. But instead of allowing her first experience to define her second, Katie began a journey of healing, faith, and intentional birth preparation that completely transformed how she understood her body and the birth process. In this powerful episode of the Pain Free Birth podcast, Katie shares how the Pain-Free Birth course, understanding physiological birth, prayer, and a deeply supportive midwife helped her experience a peaceful, five-hour, pain-free home birth after cesarean (HBAC). From worshiping through contractions to trusting her body's instinctive movements, Katie's story is a beautiful reminder that a difficult first birth does not have to define your future. Even when an unexpected fourth-degree tear required hospital care, she discovered that receiving medical help did not take away from the beauty of her daughter's birth. Tune in to hear: How Katie's first planned home birth ended in a cesarean after nearly 48 hours of labor.The hidden fears and beliefs she uncovered while processing her traumatic first birth.Why understanding birth physiology and the fear response transformed her confidence.How the Pain-Free Birth course helped her prepare emotionally, physically, and spiritually for her VBAC.The importance of choosing a midwife who listens, supports informed choices, and builds trust.How Katie navigated two weeks of prodromal labor without losing her peace.The moment prayer helped her move through an unexpected wave of fear during active labor.What it felt like to worship, pray, and surrender through pain-free contractions.How she intuitively responded to the changing stages of labor.The incredible moment her daughter was born at home after approximately five hours of active labor.How Katie navigated a fourth-degree tear, surgical repair, and a surprisingly healing hospital experience.Her encouragement for mothers processing birth trauma and hoping for a different experience next time.Connect with Katie:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiecaceres_/ Doors are open for the Doula Certification Program. Grab your spot here: https://mastermind.painfreebirth.com/pfbdoulacertification-rp?%E2%80%A6 CONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Submit Your Birth Story Apply to Come on the Podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube Looking for a like-minded provider? View the PFB Directory HERE. Want to join the PFB provider directory? JOIN HERE Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual health, pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessaril...

    #125 | A Supernatural, Pain-Free Home Birth After Cesarean

  4. Oct 20

    #124 | She Breathed Out a 9 lb 12 oz Baby Without Pushing - A Supernatural Home Birth Story

    What if you were told you weren't dilating, your midwife went home, and less than two hours later you were holding your nearly 10-pound baby in your arms? After a difficult first hospital birth that left her baby with a broken collarbone, former professional basketball player and mom of three Vanessa Sugg knew she wanted a different experience. Through the Pain Free Birth course, prayer, and a deeper understanding of physiological birth, Vanessa went on to experience two incredible home births. But nothing could have prepared her for the beautiful, faith-filled arrival of her third baby. In this powerful Christian home birth testimony, Vanessa shares how she went from zero centimeters dilated to birthing her 9 lb 12 oz baby in under two hours, without coached pushing or tearing. From the discouragement of being told her baby wasn't coming that night to surrendering her fears, laboring peacefully in warm water, and breathing her baby into her own hands, her story is a beautiful reminder of the power of birth preparation, trusting your body, and leaning into God's peace. Tune in to hear: How Vanessa's difficult hospital birth inspired her journey toward natural home birthWhy the Pain Free Birth course completely transformed her mindset and confidenceHow Vanessa and her husband created a list of 30 specific prayers for pregnancy and birthWhat happened when her midwife checked her cervix, found zero dilation, and went homeHow she navigated discouragement, fear, and emotional surrender during laborWhy warm water and her husband's incredible support made such a differenceHow she used gentle breathing instead of forceful pushing to birth her 9 lb 12 oz babyWhy she believes slowing down helped her experience a birth without tearingHow she embraced a peaceful, nourishing postpartum seasonHer encouragement for first-time moms who want to replace fear with confidence, preparation, and faithResources mentioned: The First 40 Days Connect with Vanessa: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veesuggs/ Doors are open for the Doula Certification Program. Grab your spot here: https://mastermind.painfreebirth.com/pfbdoulacertification-rp?%E2%80%A6 CONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Submit Your Birth Story Apply to Come on the Podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube Looking for a like-minded provider? View the PFB Directory HERE. Want to join the PFB provider directory? JOIN HERE Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual health, pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessaril...

    #124 | She Breathed Out a 9 lb 12 oz Baby Without Pushing - A Supernatural Home Birth Story

  5. Oct 13

    #123 | God Showed Her the Birth Before It Happened: A Pain-Free Christmas Eve Water Birth

    What if the birth you are praying for could become an invitation to trust, surrender, and experience God in a completely new way? After an intervention-filled first birth and a heartbreaking miscarriage, Lacey Coffey longed for redemption. In the middle of her grief, she began praying for God to show her what was ahead. Lacey says dreams, visions, and signs began pointing her toward something incredibly specific: a rainbow baby, a Christmas birth, and a peaceful water birth. But getting there was not simple. Lacey navigated gestational diabetes, kidney stones, bleeding, and weeks of prodromal labor while continually returning to what she believed God had shown her. Then, in the early hours of Christmas Eve, everything changed. Her water broke, labor intensified quickly, and what followed was a breathtaking 2.5-hour birth filled with worship, surrender, laughter, and a race to the birth center that ended just five minutes before her daughter was born. Tune in to hear: How Lacey’s first birth and miscarriage shaped her desire for a redemptive birthThe dreams and visions that pointed her toward a Christmas water birthHow she navigated gestational diabetes, kidney stones, and weeks of prodromal laborThe breathing, relaxation, and surrender practices that prepared her for a pain-free birthHow she moved through fear by returning to “trust, relax, allow”The wild one-hour drive to the birth center while her body was already pushingHow her daughter was born in the water just five minutes after they arrivedWhat this birth taught Lacey about trusting God, surrender, and motherhoodCONNECT WITH LACEY: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/softbabynames/ Doors are open for the Doula Certification Program. Grab your spot here: https://mastermind.painfreebirth.com/pfbdoulacertification-rp?%E2%80%A6 CONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Submit Your Birth Story Apply to Come on the Podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube Looking for a like-minded provider? View the PFB Directory HERE. Want to join the PFB provider directory? JOIN HERE Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual health, pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessaril...

    #123 | God Showed Her the Birth Before It Happened: A Pain-Free Christmas Eve Water Birth

  6. Oct 6

    #122 | The Spiritual Side of Childbirth: Surrender, Transformation, and Crossing the Veil

    What if the most powerful part of childbirth isn’t something you can prepare for with your mind, but something you have to surrender to with your whole being? In this episode of the Pain Free Birth Show, I’m exploring what I call “crossing the veil,” that profound shift that can happen during labor when birth moves beyond something you are thinking through and becomes something you are fully experiencing. It can be the moment when contractions intensify, time seems to change, your thinking brain quiets, and you are invited to surrender more deeply than you thought possible. We’re talking about the spiritual side of childbirth that so often gets overlooked in birth preparation. Birth is not simply a mechanical process of getting a baby out of your body. It can be a deeply transformative experience that brings your fears, doubts, trust, strength, and faith to the surface. This episode is an invitation to prepare not only your body and mind for birth, but also your heart and spirit, so that when you reach the place where control is no longer serving you, you can let go and allow birth to transform you. Tune in to hear: What “crossing the veil” can mean during laborWhy the transition from early labor into active labor can feel like entering an entirely different stateHow surrender can become one of your greatest tools during physiological birthWhy birth preparation is about more than information and checklistsHow women describe heightened intuition, altered awareness, and a sense of God’s presence during laborWhy your birth environment matters when you enter the deepest stages of laborWhat can happen when people interrupt, question, or try to manage a laboring mother who has gone inwardWhy trusting the mother and protecting her space can be so powerfulHow birth can bring fear, insecurity, doubt, trust, joy, and strength to the surfaceWhat it means to see birth as a transition from maiden to motherWhy pregnancy itself can become preparation for surrender and transformationHow faith can meet you when you reach the end of your own strengthWhy you don’t have to understand or control every part of birth to walk through it with confidenceThe invitation to see childbirth not simply as something to endure, but as an experience that can transform youDoors are open for the Doula Certification Program. Grab your spot here: https://mastermind.painfreebirth.com/pfbdoulacertification-rp?%E2%80%A6 CONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Submit Your Birth Story Apply to Come on the Podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube Looking for a like-minded provider? View the PFB Directory HERE. Want to join the PFB provider directory? JOIN HERE Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual health, pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessaril...

    #122 | The Spiritual Side of Childbirth: Surrender, Transformation, and Crossing the Veil

  7. Sep 29

    #121 | Two Pain-Free Births: How Surrendering to God Changed Everything

    What if birth was never meant to be something you had to endure in your own strength? After experiencing sexual trauma as a teenager and again as a young woman in the Air Force, Lauren Frazier entered motherhood with a deep desire to reclaim trust in her body. Across four births, God transformed that trust into something even deeper. What began as a determination to advocate for herself eventually became an invitation to surrender, listen, and experience birth in partnership with Him. In this episode, Lauren shares the progression from her first birth, where intervention dramatically changed an otherwise peaceful labor, to her second birth, where she learned to trust her body through pushing, and finally to two births she describes as completely supernatural and pain-free. During her third birth, Lauren arrived at the hospital already 7 centimeters dilated, yet she could not even feel the contractions appearing on the monitor. Her fourth birth unfolded with the same extraordinary peace at home. Through both experiences, Lauren says her focus was not on avoiding pain. It was on staying close to God, listening for His voice, and surrendering one moment at a time. Tune in to hear: How Lauren’s history of sexual trauma shaped her relationship with her body, autonomy, and birthWhy one intervention dramatically changed the course of her otherwise peaceful first birthHow prodromal labor during her second pregnancy deepened her trust in her body and GodHow discovering Supernatural Childbirth transformed the way Lauren prepared for her third birthWhat happened when Lauren arrived at the hospital 7 centimeters dilated and couldn’t feel her contractionsHow she recognized intrusive thoughts during labor and redirected her attention back to GodWhy listening for God’s voice became central to her pain-free birth experienceHow Lauren’s third baby was born in only two pushes, and the powerful response from her husbandHow her fourth birth became another peaceful, supernatural pain-free birth, this time at homeHow giving birth to her daughter became an unexpected part of Lauren’s healing from sexual traumaSupernatural Childbirth by Jaci Mize:https://amzn.to/4qFAf91 CONNECT WITH LAUREN: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liferich_coaching/ and https://www.instagram.com/laurenelizabethfrazier/ Website:  www.liferichcoaching.com Email:  lauren@liferichcoaching.com Doors are open for the Doula Certification Program. Grab your spot here: https://mastermind.painfreebirth.com/pfbdoulacertification-rp?%E2%80%A6 CONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Submit Your Birth Story Apply to Come on the Podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube Looking for a like-minded provider? View the PFB Directory HERE. Want to join the PFB provider directory? JOIN HERE Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual health, pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessaril...

    #121 | Two Pain-Free Births: How Surrendering to God Changed Everything

  8. Sep 22

    #120 | A 3-Hour Pain-Free VBAC After an Emergency C-Section

    What if the birth that broke your heart didn’t have to be the end of your story? After preparing for a natural birth with her first baby, Stephanie Andrade found herself transferring from a birth center to the hospital, receiving Pitocin, and eventually having an emergency cesarean. Although there were moments of peace and God’s presence throughout the experience, Stephanie was left processing disappointment, trauma, and questions about what future births might look like. When she became pregnant again, Stephanie knew she wanted to approach birth differently. She researched her options, communicated clearly with her midwife, learned to advocate for her preferences, and ultimately surrendered the outcome to God. What followed was something she never expected. Instead of making it to the hospital for her planned VBAC, Stephanie gave birth at home with only her husband present. Her labor was fast, instinctive, and pain-free, and her body pushed her baby out without conscious pushing. Tune in to hear: How Stephanie’s first birth went from a peaceful birth center labor to an emergency C-sectionWhy learning she had reached 10 centimeters during her first labor mattered when preparing for her VBACHow Stephanie processed the emotional impact of her cesareanThe fears she faced while preparing to give birth after a C-sectionWhy surrendering the outcome to God became a turning point in her pregnancyHow she approached informed consent and hospital VBAC protocols differently the second timeWhy communicating clear preferences with your birth team mattersHow Stephanie prepared to advocate for herself during laborWhy she didn’t realize how far into labor she actually wasThe moment a shower turned into an unexpected home birthWhat it felt like when her body pushed her baby out without conscious effortWhy Stephanie experienced intense pressure, but no ring of fireHow understanding birth physiology helped her stay grounded as her baby was bornThe dramatic difference between her cesarean recovery and natural postpartum recoveryStephanie’s encouragement for women hoping for a redemptive birth after a difficult or traumatic experienceConnect with Stephanie: Instagram: @stephreneeandrade Doors are open for the Doula Certification Program. Grab your spot here: https://mastermind.painfreebirth.com/pfbdoulacertification-rp?%E2%80%A6 CONNECT WITH KAREN: Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE Submit Your Birth Story Apply to Come on the Podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube Looking for a like-minded provider? View the PFB Directory HERE. Want to join the PFB provider directory? JOIN HERE Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding your individual health, pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessaril...

    #120 | A 3-Hour Pain-Free VBAC After an Emergency C-Section
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4.9
out of 5
195 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
    130
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pain Free Birth
  • Show Website
    Pain Free Birth

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