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 them
• How mindset and mental preparation impact the experience of labor
• The role of surrender and faith in pain-free birth
• Why identifying and targeting specific fears is more effective than avoiding them
• How breath, prayer, and focus can change how contractions feel
• What it’s like to actively push and birth at home as a first-time mom
• Why support from a doula and birth team matters, even for birth professionals

Connect 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

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