Pain Free Birth

#111 | An Unexpected Pain-Free Resort Birth at 42 Weeks

What happens when your carefully planned home birth turns into an unassisted birth at a family resort?After five years of hoping for a baby, fertility treatments, surgery, and the removal of one fallopian tube, Jessica Richards and her husband were overjoyed to conceive naturally. They prepared for a peaceful home birth with a trusted midwife, but when Jessica reached 42 weeks pregnant, their baby still had not arrived. With her midwife’s approval, the couple decided to join their family for a Christmas trip at a resort two hours from home.A day filled with laughter, water slides, connection, and relaxation soon became the beginning of labor. When Jessica’s contractions intensified and her water broke as they attempted to leave, she and her husband realized they would not make it home. Instead of panicking, they returned to their room, leaned into the physiological process, and welcomed their son in the bathtub with no birth team present. Jessica shares how preparation, prayer, movement, surrender, and trust helped her remain peaceful during an experience she never could have planned.Tune in to hear:Jessica’s journey through infertility, surgery, and naturally conceiving with one fallopian tubeWhy she felt peaceful traveling at 42 weeks pregnantHow relaxation, family connection, and oxytocin may have helped labor beginThe signs that told Jessica’s doula she was close to birthWhy Jessica and her husband chose to return to their resort roomHow water, movement, breathing, music, and low vocalization supported her laborWhat it felt like to experience spontaneous pushing without forcing her bodyThe surreal moment Jessica caught her own baby in the bathtubHow her husband remained calm and supported her throughout the unexpected birthThe role faith and surrender played in Jessica’s mindsetHow Jessica prepared physically with walking, chiropractic care, massage, and pelvic floor therapyWhat happened after the baby and placenta were bornWhy the family stayed at the resort for another nightJessica’s encouragement for women struggling with fear, anxiety, or going past their due dateHow this birth strengthened Jessica’s trust in her maternal instinctsCONNECT WITH KAREN:Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERESubmit your birth story and apply to come on the podcastInstagramFacebookYouTube

#110 | God Redeemed Her Unexpected Pregnancy and Gave Her a Pain-Free Home Birth

What happens when an unexpected pregnancy disrupts the life you thought you had finally learned to accept?When Amanda discovered she was pregnant with her fifth baby, she did not feel the immediate excitement she had experienced with her previous pregnancies. Instead, she felt shocked, angry, disconnected, and ashamed of her own emotions. For months, she struggled privately while pretending everything was fine. Through prayer, counseling, humility, and surrender, Amanda experienced a powerful change of heart that transformed the pregnancy she had resisted into one of the most redemptive stories of her life.That redemption continued into birth. Although Amanda secretly longed for a home birth, she and her husband planned to deliver at the hospital. But when labor progressed faster than expected, her water broke at ten centimeters while her midwife was already in the house. Amanda remained home, experienced a peaceful rest and be thankful phase, and delivered her baby in the bathtub after only three minutes of pushing. After four hospital births, she describes this unmedicated home water birth as her calmest and least painful birth.Tune in to hear:Amanda’s honest reaction to discovering she was unexpectedly pregnant with her fifth babyWhy she felt ashamed of struggling to accept a pregnancy that others would consider a blessingHow resentment began affecting her marriage and emotional well-beingThe role prayer, therapy, humility, and surrender played in changing her heartHow Amanda intentionally connected with her baby after months of feeling detachedWhy she chose midwifery care after four pregnancies with an obstetricianHow God opened the door for her to work with the Christian midwife she had specifically prayed forWhat prodromal labor felt like after four previously fast and straightforward laborsThe moment Amanda’s water broke at ten centimeters in her living roomWhy her midwife recommended staying home instead of rushing to the hospitalHow the rest and be thankful phase gave Amanda time to prepare for birthWhat made this water birth less painful than her previous hospital and epidural birthsHow breathing, worship music, gratitude, and Christian hypnobirthing supported her laborWhy physiological birth education changed Amanda’s fifth birth experienceHow this unexpected baby became an irreplaceable blessing to the entire familyCONNECT WITH KAREN:Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERESubmit your birth story and apply to come on the podcastInstagramFacebookYouTubeConnect with Amanda:https://www.instagram.com/amanda_joy_photography/

#109 | Two Sets of Twins, Two Unmedicated Hospital Births, One Incredible Testimony

Have you ever wondered if a twin birth can truly be peaceful, unmedicated, and even pain free?In this powerful episode of the Pain Free Birth Podcast, Karen sits down with Destiny Randolph, a mom of six who has birthed two sets of twins naturally, unmedicated, and in the hospital. Destiny shares the incredible story of conceiving both sets of twins naturally, navigating the mental weight of a “high risk” label, and learning to trust her body, her intuition, her husband, her care team, and the Lord through it all.This conversation is full of practical wisdom for any mama preparing for birth, especially those navigating hospital birth, induction, twin pregnancy, provider pressure, or fear of the unknown. Destiny’s story is a beautiful reminder that your internal environment matters deeply, that advocacy can be peaceful and collaborative, and that birth can be powerful, holy, joyful, and far less painful than you have been led to believe.Tune in to hear:Destiny’s story of conceiving two sets of twins naturallyHow she processed the shock and fear of finding out she was pregnant with twins againWhy twin pregnancy felt mentally and physically harder, but twin birth felt easier than her singleton birthsHow she prayerfully navigated an induction recommendation at 37 weeks and 4 daysWhy she chose Pitocin but declined breaking her water right awayThe role of her husband in advocacy, decision making, and emotional supportHow a supportive nurse helped her trust her body and make decisions with peaceWhy cervical checks can impact labor mindsetThe “open hands” practice that helped her relax through intensityHow worship music, water, closed eyes, and her husband helped her stay focused in the ORWhat happened when Baby A was born in the OR and Baby B came later in the labor roomThe shocking moment Baby B came flying out in her sac while the nurses thought it was “just fluid”Why Destiny believes hospital birth can still be beautiful, spiritual, and empoweringHer encouragement for twin moms, hospital birth moms, and women afraid birth will ruin their bodiesThe deeper lesson Destiny learned about surrender, trust, and letting go of controlCONNECT WITH KAREN:Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERESubmit your birth story and apply to come on the podcastInstagramFacebookYouTube

#108 | The Hidden Harm Behind "Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby"

Did you have a healthy baby, but still feel broken after birth?For decades, women have been told that if their baby is healthy, they should simply be grateful. But what happens when your body, your heart, and your spirit are still carrying the weight of a birth that left you feeling unheard, violated, disappointed, or ashamed?In this deeply personal episode, I unpack the hidden damage behind the phrase "healthy mom, healthy baby," why birth trauma is so often minimized, and how true healing begins. Whether your birth included unexpected interventions, a cesarean, feelings of failure, or simply didn't unfold the way you dreamed, this conversation will remind you that your story matters and that healing is possible.Tune in to hear: Why "healthy mom, healthy baby" has become one of the most harmful phrases women hear after birth  How birth trauma happens, even when everyone says your birth was "normal"  The emotional signs that you may still be carrying unresolved birth trauma  Why trauma is about what happened inside of you, not just what happened to you  The connection between birth trauma, nervous system regulation, and postpartum healing  How shame, fear, and self-blame become trapped in the body  The powerful role forgiveness plays in healing, including forgiving yourself  Questions that help uncover the root of birth trauma and lifelong patterns  What family, friends, doulas, and birth workers can say instead of "At least you had a healthy baby"  Practical first steps for processing grief and reconnecting with your body  Why empowered mothers create healthier families and healthier birth culture  Resources available through Pain Free Birth for deeper healing and supportCONNECT WITH KAREN:Use code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERESubmit your birth story and apply to come on the podcastInstagramFacebookYouTube

#107 | She Faced a 40-Hour Induction and Still Loved Her Birth with Eliana Ghen

What if your birth doesn't go according to plan, but becomes even more transformative because of it?In today's episode, actress, filmmaker, and creator Eliana Ghen shares her incredible 42-week induction journey. After being pressured toward an early induction for a suspected IUGR diagnosis, Eliana learned to advocate for herself, trust her body, and ask better questions. That decision ultimately allowed her baby more time to grow and led her into one of the most transformative experiences of her life.What followed was a 42-hour labor that tested every mental, physical, and emotional reserve she had. Through Pitocin, Cytotec, Foley balloon induction, relentless back labor, extreme exhaustion, and moments where she believed she couldn't continue, Eliana discovered a level of strength she never knew existed. Her story is a powerful reminder that birth does not have to be perfect to be empowering.Tune in to hear:• How a suspected IUGR diagnosis almost led to a 37-week induction• Why she chose to continue her pregnancy past 42 weeks• What really happened during her Foley balloon and Cytotec induction• The truth about Pitocin and whether it made contractions more painful• How mindset preparation changed her entire labor experience• The fear release exercises that helped her stay grounded• Why back labor became the biggest challenge of her birth• The moment she nearly chose an epidural• How her husband helped her avoid a decision she wasn't ready to make• What happened when her water was finally broken• Why pushing felt completely different than labor• The surprising pain-free ending after 42 hours of labor• How birth transformed her confidence forever• Her advice for women facing induction• Why empowerment matters more than any specific birth outcomeConnect with Eliana:ElianaGhen.comTikTok: Eliana GhenYoutube: Eliana GhenInstagram: eliana_ghenFacebook: Eliana GhenUse code PODCAST to get $50 off the Pain Free Birth E-course HERECONNECT WITH KAREN:Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirthInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/Spotify Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMSApple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731Website - https://painfreebirth.com/Email List https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in