021: Pain-Free Birth Tips, How To Have A Natural Birth with Doula & Birth Educator Karen Welton

Don’t believe the myth that giving birth is painful!  Earlier this week, we told Dawson’s birth story on the podcast. Our experience was raw, real, and it was one of the most empowering moments of our lives–and that has a lot to do with our guest today.   Today we’re joined by Karen Welton, who is passionate about helping women overcome fear and pain and discover how powerful they really are. As a doula and childbirth educator she has supported hundreds of women in their childbirth journey. Her E-Course, Pain Free Birth and Postpartum Bliss teach women how to partner with our body’s divine design to have a pain free, ecstatic birth and (and postpartum!) experience. In the past year she has grown her following of 200,000 women from around the world. Her goal is to change the global culture of birth so that women no longer fear birth, but look forward to it with joy.   If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, this was definitely an interview you HAVE to listen to. Click play now to hear how YOU can have a pain-free birth… yes, without medication!

Birth Doesn’t Have to Hurt

In our conversation, Karen shared her personal experience of being scared during her first pregnancy, having only been exposed to horror birth stories and videos in health class. However, she challenged this narrative and began researching and understanding the physiology of birth. She also sought out birth stories from women who had experienced pain-free births, which helped her believe that it was possible for her too.   Karen has since had three pain-free births and created the Pain Free Birth course to teach women how to do it without medication. Erica and Kyle took the course and found it pivotal in preparing for their challenging birth.   The idea that birth doesn’t have to be painful is a powerful one, as many women enter pregnancy with fear and anxiety about the pain they will experience. However, Karen’s experience and the stories of other women prove that it is possible to have a pain-free birth.  

Active Labor Can Be Enjoyable

Karen’s story is a testament to the fact that active labor can be enjoyable. She describes her experience as fun and exciting, and even during the most intense moments, she was able to surrender and let go of control, which allowed her to have a pain-free birth.    Karen’s decision to have a home birth was based on her desire for a gentle, natural experience and the option of a water birth. She trusted her body and her intuition, and even though she didn’t ask all the questions she should have, she knew that she was in good hands.    During active labor, Karen was surprised to find that she wasn’t in pain. Instead, she felt intense pressure and tightening, but it wasn’t a painful experience. She was able to enjoy the process and even had a burst of oxytocin when she realized that everything she had been praying for and preparing for was happening.    Transition was the most intense part of Karen’s labor, but she was able to surrender and let go of control, which allowed her to have a pain-free birth. The pushing surges were intense, but she didn’t actively push until the very end, and she was able to feel her baby shifting down and kicking off the top of her uterus to push herself out.   

Relaxation and Breath Work Are Essential

Karen teaches in her course, Pain Free Birth, that once a mother can lock into a relaxation zone, it becomes easier to maintain it throughout the labor process. Techniques such as breath work and timing contractions can help make every contraction pain-free, allowing mothers to ride the waves and be present in their bodies.   She also stresses the importance of being fully present in your body and experiencing the surge of power happening inside. This involves harnessing that power and being loose and open, which is only possible when the mind is in a state of relaxation. When the body and muscles are relaxed, it becomes easier for contractions to open and dilate the cervix.   We also discussed the dangers of the traditional hospital method of pushing during labor. This method involves holding one’s breath and pushing, which can be incredibly damaging to the pelvic floor and can cause incontinence and fetal distress. Instead, mothers should learn to relax and use their breath to guide the baby down and out, allowing the uterus to push the baby out like a piston.   By celebrating the beauty and power of birth, we can honor the sacred and transformative experience of bringing new life into the world. If you loved this episode, check out Karen’s course on how to have a Pain Free Birth by using code ERIKA10 at https://painfreebirth.com/e-course/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fpain-free-birth.mykajabi.com%2Fa%2F43606%2FoGUsNyMm.

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