Pain Free Birth

In today’s episode, Karen sits down with Tommi Kirkpatrick, a mother of six whose powerful story captures the highs, lows, and supernatural beauty of birth and motherhood. From her first home birth to the moment she thought she couldn’t go on, Tommi vulnerably shares how each of her births shaped her faith, her family, and her understanding of what it means to be a mother.  Whether you’re preparing for your first baby or your sixth, this conversation will give you hope, courage, and a renewed belief in the way God designed birth. Tune in to hear: * How Tommi’s early births stretched her limits and reshaped her expectations * Why brokenness in motherhood can actually be a gift * The role of community, faith, and support when raising little ones * What shifted between her fifth and sixth births * The incredible story of her first pain-free birth after five babies * How birth can become your greatest “pep talk” for life and motherhood Connect with Karen: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth [https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/ [https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/] Spotify Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS [https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS] Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731 [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731] Website - https://painfreebirth.com/ [https://painfreebirth.com/] Email List https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in [https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in]

What if the “impossible” was actually possible? In this jaw-dropping episode, Karen sits down with midwife Kristine Lauria, a global midwifery director with more than 30 years of experience, to unpack the viral story of a home birth triplet delivery. Kristine has attended over 5,000 births worldwide — from refugee camps in South Sudan with Doctors Without Borders to high-risk deliveries in the U.S. — and she brings an unmatched perspective on what physiological birth can truly look like. Tune in to hear: * The incredible story of Amber’s viral home birth with triplets * What actually happens in a breech extraction (and why it was needed in this case) * How Kristine stayed calm in an emergency and why that saved a life * Why the role of a good midwife often means having the skill to do nothing * The difference between scary and traumatic births — and how a mother’s experience matters just as much as the outcome * What Kristine has learned from thousands of births in hospitals, homes, and disaster zones around the world * Why hospital cesarean rates don’t compare to what’s possible when birth is left undisturbed * The spiritual and emotional side of birth that modern maternity care often overlooks Triplet home birth video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C38V_IIpWzX/  Connect with Kristine:  @globalmidwife64  @allowedtobirth Connect with Karen: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth [https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/ [https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/] Spotify Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS [https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS] Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731 [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731] Website - https://painfreebirth.com/ [https://painfreebirth.com/] Email List https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in [https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in]

What happens when you’ve been told your body “can’t” birth vaginally… and then God writes a different story? In this episode, Karen sits down with Audrey Stinson, a mom of four, who went from believing she would never experience a vaginal birth to having not one, but two redemptive home births—the last being completely pain-free. Audrey vulnerably shares her journey through two cesareans, the heartbreak of feeling her body was “broken,” and the desperate prayers that led her to invite God fully into her birth story. With the support of her doula, a faith-filled mindset shift, and leaning deeply on God’s presence, Audrey discovered strength, redemption, and joy in birth that she never imagined possible. Tune in to hear: * The limiting beliefs that often follow cesarean birth—and how faith can rewrite them * How prayer and preparation paved the way for a redemptive VBAC at home * The integral role a doula played in supporting Audrey and empowering her husband * The difference between “intensity” and “pain” in labor * How inviting God into every part of pregnancy and birth can transform the experience * Audrey’s pain-free birth story with her fourth baby and how she walked away with an even deeper faith Join the Doula Mastermind: https://painfreebirth.com/doula-mastermind/ Connect with Audrey: IG: @faithful.labor Connect with Karen: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth [https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/ [https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/] Spotify Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS [https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS] Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731 [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731] Website - https://painfreebirth.com/ [https://painfreebirth.com/] Email List https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in [https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in]

In this episode, Karen sits down with Kendall Pattillo — a mom of two (with one on the way!), wife, follower of Christ, and graduate of the Pain Free Birth Doula Mastermind. Although she’s just beginning her doula career, Kendall has already supported a variety of powerful births: VBACs, hospital births, birth center births, and home births. Whether you’re a new doula searching for wisdom, a mom preparing for birth, or a partner curious about how doulas support families, this episode is full of encouragement, practical insights, and inspiration. Tune in to hear: * Kendall’s calling into birth work and how God opened the doors for her * The powerful VBAC story she supported at her very first birth as a doula * Why doulas are both servants and shields in the birth space * Practical doula tips — knee pads, birth stools, showers, and headphones * How doulas enhance a partner’s role instead of replacing it * Lessons on presence, boundaries, and avoiding burnout as a new doula * The confidence and tools Kendall gained through the Pain Free Birth Doula Mastermind Join the Doula Mastermind: https://painfreebirth.com/doula-mastermind/ Connect with Kendall: IG: @everedendoulaservices @kendallpattillo Website: https://everedendoulaservices.com/ Connect with Karen: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth [https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/ [https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/] Spotify Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS [https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS] Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731 [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731] Website - https://painfreebirth.com/ [https://painfreebirth.com/] Email List https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in [https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in]

What if walking into a hospital birth didn’t mean giving up your voice? In this powerful conversation, Meredith and Alicia from Intentional Birth share how to advocate for yourself in a hospital setting so you feel respected, informed, and truly in charge of your birth. From simple language shifts to knowing your legal rights, you’ll walk away with practical tools you—and your partner—can use to create a positive, empowering experience, no matter what unfolds. Tune in to hear: * Why birth trauma is often less about what happened and more about how you were treated * The difference between hospital policy and patient consent (and why policy does not override your rights) * A simple 3-step framework (OWN IT) to decline procedures without confrontation * The role of your partner as the guardian of the birth—and how they can protect your space * Key phrases that change the room instantly: “We do need her consent” and “Please document that I am declining ___” * How to use the chain of command if you’re not being heard (charge nurse → nurse manager → house supervisor) * “Secret menu” options in the hospital most families don’t know they can request * A real-life VBAC story where intentional advocacy led to a hospital water birth, minimal interventions, and an unhurried third stage Join the Doula Mastermind: https://painfreebirth.com/doula-mastermind/ Resources mentioned: 5% discount on the Advocacy Trainings [https://community.intentionalbirth.co/a/2147925238/tg5NLcbC ]: Code: PAINFREEBIRTH IG:  @intentional.birth Website: www.intentionalbirth.co Connect with Karen: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth [https://www.facebook.com/painfreebirth] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/ [https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/] Spotify Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS [https://open.spotify.com/show/5zEiKMIHFewZeVdzfBSEMS] Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731 [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pain-free-birth/id1696179731] Website - https://painfreebirth.com/ [https://painfreebirth.com/] Email List https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in [https://pain-free-birth.mykajabi.com/website-opt-in]