Pain Free Birth

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:
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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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Facebook
YouTube

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
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube