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

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

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 story

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

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 body

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

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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 mother

Mothers 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

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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

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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-fuck-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

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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

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Facebook

YouTube

What if birth didn’t have to be something you “push through”… but something you fully surrender to? 

In this episode of the Pain-Free Birth Podcast, Karen sits down with Zatha Aiken, a former U.S. Marine Corps Intelligence Officer turned stay-at-home mom of three, who shares her incredible journey from control, compliance, and “pushing through” to complete surrender, trust, and experiencing a pain-free birth.

After her first birth within the medical system and a second free birth, Zatha entered her third birth with a radically different mindset: instead of bracing against the sensations, she chose to fully feel them. What followed was a deeply spiritual, fully present, and pain-free birth experience that transformed not just how she views birth, but how she experiences life, emotion, and her relationship with God. 

This episode is an exploration of the fear-tension-pain cycle, the shift from masculine to feminine energy in birth, and what becomes possible when women release fear and trust their bodies as they were designed.

Tune in to hear:

•  Zatha’s journey from military conditioning and compliance to full bodily autonomy 
•  Why she initially saw birth as something to “push through” like any other challenge 
•  The moment everything shifted from control to surrender in her third birth 
•  How understanding physiology changed her entire perception of pain 
•  The powerful mantra that transformed her experience: “Feel it, don’t fear it”
•  Why pain in birth is often tied to fear not the sensations themselves 
•  What it actually means to experience a pain-free birth (and why it’s not what you think) 
•  The role of awareness, curiosity, and presence in eliminating fear during labor 
•  How her birth journey mirrored a deeper spiritual healing and emotional transformation 
•  Why she believes pain-free birth is possible for every woman 

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

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Facebook

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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 twins
• Why hospital protocols for twins often lead to unnecessary C-sections
• The mindset shift that replaced fear with peace during her pregnancy
• How she prepared her body physically for a twin birth
• The moment she went from 1 cm to 9 cm instantly during labor
• Why oxytocin (not control) was the key to her labor progressing
• What pushing actually felt like during a twin birth
• How baby #2 was born just minutes after the first
• The truth about “pain” vs. intensity in labor
• What postpartum life with twins really looks like (including sleep + breastfeeding!)
• Encouragement for moms navigating fear, pressure, or “high-risk” labels

Resources 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