Pain Free Birth

Karen Welton
  • 4.9 (175)
  • 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. #104 | Free Birth, Medical Emergencies, and the Truth No One Wants to Talk About

    1d ago

    #104 | Free Birth, Medical Emergencies, and the Truth No One Wants to Talk About

    Can you trust your body completely and still acknowledge that medical emergencies sometimes happen in birth? In this episode, Karen shares a perspective she's never publicly discussed before and diving into the recent conversations surrounding free birth, birth emergencies, and the growing divide between the natural birth community and the medical model of care. This conversation is not about fear. It's about wisdom. It's about holding confidence in the body's design while also recognizing that true emergencies can happen.  Whether you're planning a home birth, hospital birth, birth center birth, or free birth, this episode will help you navigate conflicting messages and make informed decisions rooted in both faith and discernment. Tune in to hear:  Why I decided to speak publicly about free birth and birth emergencies  The growing divide within the birth community  What the natural birth movement gets right about physiology  What concerns me about some free birth teachings  How to distinguish between physiological birth and pathology  Why medical intervention is sometimes life-saving  The difference between overmedicalization and undermedicalization  Common red flags women should never ignore in labor  Why informed consent requires understanding both risks and benefits  The role intuition plays in preventing poor outcomes  How birth trauma can occur in any setting  Why needing help in labor is not a failure  What true radical responsibility looks like  Encouragement for mothers healing from birth disappointment and trauma  How to prepare for birth with both confidence and wisdom Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERE CONNECT WITH KAREN: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/ Spotify Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731 Website - https://painfreebirth.com/ Email List https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in

    55 min
  2. #103 | 29 Days Overdue & Fully Trusting God: The 3-Push Joy Filled Birth She Prayed For

    May 26

    #103 | 29 Days Overdue & Fully Trusting God: The 3-Push Joy Filled Birth She Prayed For

    What would you do if you were 29 days overdue… and everyone around you was afraid? In this episode of the Pain-Free Birth Podcast, Karen sits down with Christine Janicke, a mom of five, who shares her incredible story of carrying her fifth baby to 44 weeks + 1 day before experiencing a beautiful, natural home birth. Christine opens up about the intense mental, emotional, and spiritual journey of waiting far beyond what most providers (and most people) would consider “normal.” From navigating fear-filled comments and pressure from others to learning how to radically surrender and trust the Lord, this episode is packed with wisdom, encouragement, and perspective-shifting conversations around birth, intuition, and motherhood. You’ll hear how Christine protected her peace during those final weeks, the profound spiritual lessons God taught her through the waiting, and the miraculous moment she specifically prayed for a 3-push delivery… and got exactly that. Tune in to hear:  What it was like being 29 days overdue  Navigating fear and outside pressure during pregnancy  Trusting God when everyone around you is afraid  The emotional and spiritual surrender of motherhood  Why Christine intentionally kept her circle small  The difference between intuition vs fear in birth  How mindset changes the experience of labor  The surprising reality of her healthy placenta and baby at 44 weeks  Her fast, joy-filled 3-push home birth  Why “surrendering to God will never disappoint”CONNECT WITH KAREN: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/ Spotify Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731 Website - https://painfreebirth.com/ Email List https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in

    54 min
  3. #102 | After Birth Trauma & C-Section, She Had a Supernatural Hospital VBAC at 40

    May 19

    #102 | After Birth Trauma & C-Section, She Had a Supernatural Hospital VBAC at 40

    Could you trust your body after a traumatic birth experience? In today’s episode, Karen sits down with Connie Johnson, a mom of four from Phoenix, Arizona, who shares her incredible journey from a traumatic military hospital birth and C-section to experiencing three redemptive VBACs—including a completely peaceful, supernatural hospital birth that ended with her baby being born before the doctor even made it into the room. This episode is a powerful reminder that hospital birth does not have to equal fear, trauma, or loss of control. Her story is deeply encouraging for moms preparing for VBACs, hospital births, or healing after previous traumatic birth experiences.   Tune in to hear:  Connie’s traumatic first birth in a military hospital during COVID  The pressure and fear surrounding “geriatric pregnancy”  How induction led to a 36-hour labor and eventual C-section  The emotional impact of birth trauma and NICU separation  Why she chose to pursue a VBAC after her first experience  The importance of choosing the right birth team  How mindset shifts transformed her subsequent births  Navigating grief and pregnancy after losing her father  The connection between fear, tension, and pain during labor  How she prepared mentally and spiritually for birth  Creating a peaceful worship-filled hospital birth environment  What physiological pushing actually felt like  The incredible moment her body birthed her baby naturally  Why her doctor completely missed the birth  How she recovered immediately after birth without exhaustion  Encouragement for moms believing for a redemptive birth storyCONNECT WITH KAREN: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/ Spotify Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731 Website - https://painfreebirth.com/ Email List https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in

    1h 1m
  4. #101 | Planned Hospital Birth Turned Peaceful Free Birth in a Truck

    May 12

    #101 | Planned Hospital Birth Turned Peaceful Free Birth in a Truck

    What started as a planned unmedicated hospital birth quickly turned into an unexpected free birth on the side of the highway. In this episode, Selina shares the incredible story of giving birth to her posterior baby in the front seat of a truck before ever making it to the hospital. From laboring alone in her bathroom to feeling her baby’s head in her own hand, this story is filled with faith, surrender, instinct, and the undeniable power of the female body. This episode is an emotional, empowering reminder that birth is not something to fear and that our bodies were beautifully designed for this work. Tune in to hear:  Why Selina originally planned a hospital birth instead of a home birth  How hearing positive birth stories helped eliminate fear around birth  The moment she realized labor was progressing quickly  What it felt like to experience the fetal ejection reflex  Why she says the contractions were painful but the actual birth was painless  How she accidentally delivered her baby in the truck on the side of the highway  What it was like to catch her own posterior baby  The emotional moment she saw her baby’s face before his body was born  Why she felt complete peace immediately after birth  The prayers she says God answered throughout her labor and delivery  How unmedicated birth transformed her faith and confidence as a woman  Karen’s insights on surrender, physiological birth, and trusting the bodyCONNECT 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

    47 min
  5. #100 | From Maiden to Mother: A Special Mother’s Day Message from Karen

    May 5

    #100 | From Maiden to Mother: A Special Mother’s Day Message from Karen

    What if motherhood isn’t something you’re losing yourself in… but something you’re being reborn through?   We are celebrating 100 episodes of Pain Free Birth! In this episode, we are re-airing a powerful message from Karen on the transformation from maiden to mother and the sacred, often overlooked rite of passage that motherhood truly is.    With Mother’s Day as the backdrop, this conversation honors both the beauty and the weight of motherhood. Karen speaks directly to the emotional, physical, and spiritual shifts women experience as they step into this role highlighting the surrender, identity shifts, and deep inner work that come with it.   In this episode, you’ll learn:  Why motherhood is a sacred rite of passage, not just a life transition  The emotional and identity shifts that happen from maiden to mother  How surrender in birth mirrors surrender in motherhood  Why resisting the process creates more pain—and how to release control  The difference between masculine productivity and feminine presence  How cultural expectations can disconnect women from their intuition  Why feeling like you’ve “lost yourself” may actually be a rebirth  The power of embracing each season of motherhood without judgment  How to navigate doubt, overwhelm, and identity shifts with grace  A new perspective on what it means to be “doing enough” as a motherMothers Day Sale: Get $60 off the Pain Free Birth E-Course and get Birth Partner Bootcamp Free: https://resources.painfreebirth.com/pfb-ecourse-mothers-day-2026  CONNECT WITH KAREN: Submit your birth story and apply to come on the podcast Instagram Facebook YouTube

    39 min
  6. #99 | When God Rewrites Your Birth Plan: A Miraculous Breech Hospital Birth

    Apr 28

    #99 | When God Rewrites Your Birth Plan: A Miraculous Breech Hospital Birth

    What would you do if your dream birth plan completely fell apart… and still turned out better than you ever imagined? In this powerful episode of the Pain-Free Birth Podcast, Karen sits down with Brie Kuikahi, who shares her incredible first birth story-a breech hospital birth during COVID that she describes as “better than I imagined” and “absolutely perfect.” After planning for a natural birth center experience, Brie’s baby remained breech, and due to state laws, no midwives were able to support her. What followed was a journey filled with fear, surrender, and ultimately, divine alignment. Despite every obstacle, Brie had the birth she prayed for: minimal intervention, deep connection with her husband, and a delivery that “went perfectly.” This episode will encourage any mama navigating uncertainty, unexpected changes, or fear around birth.   Tune in to hear:  What happens when your baby stays breech—and your options feel limited  The emotional reality of being denied support for your birth preferences  How Brie navigated fear, disappointment, and uncertainty during pregnancy  The moment everything shifted—and she found the only supportive provider  What it’s like to have a vaginal breech birth in a hospital setting  How mindset, faith, and surrender transformed her birth experience  Why “losing control” can actually lead to your most powerful birth  The role of a supportive partner during labor (and what helped most)  How her birth ended up being better than she ever imagined Connect with Brie: @Briekuikahi 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

    48 min
  7. #98 | How to Get Your Husband On Board with Home Birth & Prepare for Birth like a CEO

    Apr 21

    #98 | How to Get Your Husband On Board with Home Birth & Prepare for Birth like a CEO

    What if the most important factor in your birth experience isn’t where you give birth… but how safe you feel?  In today’s episode of the Pain-Free Birth Podcast, Karen sits down with trauma healer and embodiment coach Monica Yates to unpack her powerful first-time home birth story and the mindset, preparation, and support that made it possible. From having a husband who was initially 100% against home birth… to witnessing a complete transformation after experiencing it firsthand, this conversation dives deep into what it really takes to advocate for your birth, trust your intuition, and create an environment where your body can fully open and surrender. This episode also explores the often-overlooked connection between postpartum struggles and lack of support, and why so many women are left trying to “do it all” instead of being deeply cared for.   Tune in to hear:  How Monica shifted her husband from fear to full support for home birth  Why feeling safe is the #1 factor in how your labor unfolds  What it looks like to prepare for birth like a high-performing woman  The mindset shift that helped her move through intense sensations without fear  Why she never pushed during labor and what that reveals about the body  The powerful role of masculine support in helping women fully surrender  The real reason many women struggle postpartum (and how to avoid it)  Why asking for help is the most important thing you can do as a new mom  How to proactively set yourself up for a peaceful, supported postpartum  The emotional and relational transformation that birth can create in your marriage  Connect with Monica: Feminine as F*ck Podcast: https://monicayateshealth.com/pages/feminine-as-f**k-the-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicayateshealth/ Website: https://monicayateshealth.com/   Birth story on Youtube: YouTubeMy Birth Story: A Positive Unmedicated Home Birth   The Immersion: Somatic immersion that will guide you home to yourself through deep trauma healing and embodiment work with women IN PERSON over the course of 3 days https://monicayates.samcart.com/referral/BeBgbeVO/kiAUM0YexLSEstlR Use Code: WELCOME500 for $500 off    Book: https://www.becomingherbook.com/ 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 13m
  8. #97 | Home Birth vs Hospital Birth: What’s ACTUALLY Safer?

    Apr 14

    #97 | Home Birth vs Hospital Birth: What’s ACTUALLY Safer?

    Is home birth actually safe… or have we been asking the wrong question all along? In this nuanced episode, Karen dives into one of the most debated topics in the birth world: home birth vs hospital birth and what’s truly the safest option. Instead of taking sides, this episode breaks down the evidence, the misconceptions, and the emotional layers behind birth choices so you can make a decision that feels aligned, informed, and confident. You’ll learn why “safety” isn’t as black and white as we’ve been taught, how your environment impacts your body in labor, and what the research actually says about outcomes for low-risk women. Whether you're considering a home birth, planning a hospital birth, or somewhere in between, this episode will help you cut through the noise, release fear, and trust your body.  Tune in to hear:  Why the question “what’s the safest place to give birth?” might be misleading  The difference between what is safe vs what is safest for YOU What large-scale research (including the Lancet study) actually says about home birth safety  Why comfort and safety are directly connected in labor  The truth about interventions and over-medicalization in hospital birth  What really happens if something goes wrong during a home birth  Why a hospital transfer does NOT mean failure The real role of midwives and how they handle emergencies  The pros and limitations of birth centers (and why they aren’t necessarily “safer”)  How to choose the right birth environment based on your body, your needs, and your intuition Grab the Questions to Ask Your Birth Provider Resource: 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

    59 min
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4.9
out of 5
175 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
    107
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pain Free Birth
  • Show Website
    Pain Free Birth

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