Is 'Pain Free Birth' a Scam? | Ep 1047

Today, we break down the pain-free-birth movement and explore its theological roots. Can women truly experience a pain-free birth? Where did this concept originate, and why is it so controversial? In this episode, we dissect the claims made in the book "Supernatural Childbirth" by Jackie Mize. Mize encourages women to believe that with enough faith, they can overcome fear and pain, commanding their bodies to obey their faith declarations.

#painfreebirth #jackiemize #wordoffaith #birthstory #hypnobirthing #alliebethstuckey #relatable #religion #news #politics #christianity #christian #bible #conservative #theology

---
Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction
01:25 Intro to pain-free birth
04:00 Allie’s birth story & pain-free birth summary
07:04 Word of Faith movement
25:20 Birth free from pain
43:17 Is it physiologically possible?
47:30 Hypnobirth
50:46 Responses to claims of pain-free birth

---

Today's Sponsors:

---

Relevant Episodes:

Ep 490 | Most Misused: Philippians 4:13

Ep 528 | What Progressive Christianity & Prosperity Gospel Get Wrong About Jesus | Guest: Costi Hinn

Ep 257 | Leaving the Prosperity Gospel Behind and the Deconversion of Christians | Guest: Costi Hinn

Ep 267 | New Age vs. Christianity, Part 2: 'The God of Self' | Guest: Steven Bancarz

Ep 903 | My Birth Story with a VBA2C

Ep 1046 | Ex-Psychic on Demonic Possession & Taylor Swift | Guest: Jenn Nizza

---

► Subscribe to the podcast:

► Connect with Allie on Social Media:

[heatherbrock]

11 months post-partum Christian woman here. I had a home, unmedicated birth and absolutely loved it. The birth course that I took was literally titled "Pain Free Birth" with doula Karen Weldon (who I first saw on the christian-conservative podcast The Spillover.) What I got out of her course was that when you approach labor with a complete understanding of how physiological birth works especially in regards to the natural hormones of oxytocin and cortisol (the two major players in labor) and create for yourself an environment in which you feel most safe with a birth team that you trust, ect, that it makes it easier to lean into those natural oxytocin surges which work to natural block the pain-receptors in your brain. This is science.

We see in nature how other mammals give birth and it is completely opposite of the environment being modeled in hospitals. Many in the "holistic" birth world (as Allie called it) agree that the modern-day hospital approach to giving birth is not using evidence-based practices and has led women to be completely TERRIFIED of the labor experience because it capitalizes on FEAR and the idea that giving birth is some kind of medical emergency rather than a perfectly designed, natural process that God designed a woman's body to intuitively know how to do.

Karen, in her course, does not promise you a "pain free birth" but she explains that when you understand how the body works during labor and if you can lean into the natural hormones that God purposely and incredibly designed into the natural birth experience, and you approach birth with the confidence instead of fear, that it is POSSIBLE actually ENJOY giving birth. The way that labor is described is that it's the single most painful experience that you can ever possibly imagine - and it doesn't actually have to be like that - it's just that women today are completely naive to the natural birth process and instead "trust the professionals" and it's leading women to have these traumatizing birth experiences.

I appreciate Allie's deep dive into the history of the pain free birth movement and obviously ANYTHING that has to do the "prosperity gospel" "name it claim it" "evangelical" "new age" type of practices should be AVOIDED and are based in lies. I have never read or heard of the book that she was talking about so I cannot speak to that "wing" of the pain free birth movement. I agree that there are certain practices such as hypno-birthing, mantras, referring to birth as "sacred", ect. that should send up some major red- flags to Christians so you do have to be careful and use discernment not to go down any misleading paths. HOWEVER, I do hope that this episode does not deter any women from exploring and learning more about physiological birth because I speak from experience when I say that a natural, unmedicated birth was THE most incredible experience that I've ever had, yes it was uncomfortable, yes it was hard, but it was NOT the unbearable pain that you see depicted in the movies. If you're praying to God, worshiping God, thanking God, praising God, turning to God for strength when you get to the end of yourself and feel like you can't do it anymore in labor it is quite a beautiful experience.

[racheln]

I’ve had four home births. They all involved pain, but it was SO much more manageable to the point I wouldn’t say it “hurt” when I was mentally in the right place, calm, prepared, and unafraid.

Marathons are painful too but you also have the runners high!

[julisagonzalez]

I used to think pain free birth was not possible and was so unrealistic! I had two home births and my first birth was so painful, 8 hours long and I had my son in a birth pool. The pushing stage was alittle traumatic but I did it! My second one however.. was way different. 2 hours from start to finish I only felt pressure never pain. I never even pushed my baby litterally was just falling out. it was the weirdest craziest experience.. I never believed the women who preached a pain free birth but here I was living it. Definitely keep an open mind! I would have never agreed with a pain free birth but then I had one..

[rebeccafalkner]

It’s absolutely possible! Birth can be intense, challenging, and difficult but isn’t always painful. Each birth is different ❤

[Allthingsmom]

There’s a difference between claiming something and having confidence in God based on what his will is.
We don’t claim or tell God what is Good for us. We pray and ask, and we can have confidence that he heard us and he will answer us according to his will and what is best for us.

[TaylorNGordon]

The Lord allowed me to have 3 pain-free, natural, un-medicated, empowering home births. There were moments of intensity, but I wouldn't describe it as painful. I don't think I am an exception, as I know other women with similar experiences.

There are a lot of strategies that are very useful in allowing birth to be easeful. The biggest thing for me was reframing view on childbirth being inherently horrible and painful, but normal and physiologally possible.

I also prayed A LOT over my birth experiences. We didn't tell many people our plans for our first one because we didn't want to deal with other's opinions. I focused on positive birth stories (I love the Happy Homebirth Podcast!), meditated on scripture throughout my pregancy, maintained a healthy lifestyle, and read Mize's book (for baby #1). Preparing for an easeful, uncomplicated pregnancy and birth takes work!

Other practical strategies: breathing my babies out, physical back/hip support from my husband and doula, and nipple stimulation from my husband (what gets baby in, gets baby out 😉).

I do think there is a moment that you have to push past what you think you are capable of. At the moment, you will know that you will meet your baby so soon!

[marionosmond]

My first birth was so easy, smooth and fast, and although not pain free, I couldn’t believe how easy it was! My second birth almost killed me, literally. I was whisked away in an emergency situation leaving my husband holding our newborn son, thinking he might be left a single parent. Each birth is different and all we can do is pray that God protects us through it. 🙏

[stephaniebutler]

Oh Allie! I am SO, SO GLAD you are talking about this! Thank you! When I was pregnant with my first, this book was popular, and I followed EVERYTHING it said! I read all the testimonies and knew it would "work" for me too. When I went into labor, it was NOT pain-free and I ended up with a c-section anyway. For about 10-15 years after that my faith was very shook, because people would say I must not have had enough faith. But the thing was, I KNEW I did! There wasn't anything I didn't believe about that process. It's not that my faith in God was shook, I knew He could do it, it was me. I didn't know how to have faith. I mean, I must not even understand what it was if I couldn't 'do it right'. Looking back I can see I was looking at it all wrong, but it did some damage because I will never forget how I felt back then. Like I said, it took me so many years to realize that the "word of faith" lifestyle was not Biblical. I realized I was right that God could do anything, but it's not up to me to manipulate Him into doing what I want and just "claiming" it! There's more I could say. This hits deep for me. I was so shocked you are speaking about this. I have felt very alone in the past.

[NyssaOwens]

I just had an unmedicated, athome free birth 6 weeks ago. I experienced zero pain the whole time except for pressure. Pain free birth is definitely possible.

[tracietrim]

Someone gave me this book 24 years ago when we were trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant. I read a couple pages and said nope. I never got pregnant, not because I didn't have enough faith, but because God had two boys for me to adopt. I'm so glad I didn't fall into that trap. Trusting God is about seeking His will and knowing whatever He does is for His glory and my good.

[dannie]

I'd like to share my story with this because maybe it could help someone. In March of this year, I found out I was expecting my second child. I was so excited and it just so happened that the due date for this child would be the week before my son's second birthday. I felt like it was perfectly timed. I stumbled uponthe supernatural childbirth book and decided to give it a read. The comments about preventing miscarriage with faith seemed iffy as well as a part where she talks about choosing your child's features from gender down to hair & eye color by using faith. I finished the book and didn't think too much of it except that maybe God would allow me to have that as well. Well, at around 8 or 9 weeks I found out my baby didn't have a heartbeat and was measuring small. I didn't know what to think, But i remembered the book and tried earnestly praying with family and friends that I wouldn't lose my baby. This went on for almost a week. Then the bleeding started and I kept trying to hold on. To tell God that his word promises that I won't miscarry because I am his child and I have faith. I kept this up until I got to the end of whatever strength I thought I had and I told God "Forgive me. Not my will but yours." and not even 20 minutes later I knew the answer. I was going to lose my baby. I come from a Mormon background so alot of these man centered gospels can slip me up, but I realized then as much as I do now that nothing I do can change the will of God. But I will say that even on that worst night of my life, he never left me. I felt his love and peace through every second. God can do anything. He can heal the sick, raise the dead, give the barren woman a child, part the sea, calm the weather, give sight to the blind and so much more than we could ever imagine, but even if he doesn't, he's still good, worthy, and holy above all. And he loves each of us. ❤ If we keep our eyes on him, he will help us weather life's storms.

[mamainstinct]

I unexpectedly experienced pain free labour. It is 100% possible for everyone but it’s not ever certain. The more you can relax and surrender the less pain happens, so much easier said than done. Has to do with biological response’s, fight and flight equals more pain and a longer slower labour. Fear slows labour and culture of traumatic births especially in hospitals spreads this fear.

[kelcicundiff]

The comments are missing the point. Some of us are lucky enough not to have painful pregnancies/birth, some of us are helped by certain techniques, and some of us unfortunately will have a painful experience—one woman isn’t more holy or godly depending on the outcome of her birthing experience.

[katherinereynolds]

This is a topic I’m passionate about. Yes, what she is “preaching” is completely false. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a “pain free” birth. With my first I had no idea what I was doing, had to be induced, got an epidural. Now I’ve had 2 home births and am pregnant again. I simply learned techniques to handle the contractions all of the information you can find free online. It is all about your mentality while in labor.. as far as being pain-free also depends on the child’s position, but I never experienced what I would call pain just lots of pressure which is a very odd feeling, for sure! 😂 with my last baby it was not painful at all and I did not push, he came in two hours. I prayed to God during the “pushing phase” (not very calmly) lol and he was born! It is very much possible to have enjoyable births!

[jamieallen]

I’m glad I came to the comments. I am having my first baby and have been strongly considering unmedicated birth due to all the side effects of the common interventions used. I’m not against appropriate interventions in urgent and emergent situations but I want to do what is best for my baby and myself. I’m not expecting “pain free” and none of the information I have found has ever promised me that but do say you have to really prepare. Glad to see women in here that have had real experiences to share about it.

[coralsaintclair]

Allie I am soooo glad you covered this topic! This book was recommended to me during my first pregnancy and I definitely took a lot of it to heart and really started praying and believing that I could have this incredible birth without pain or even with pain just one that would go smoothly. And my experience was so far from that. I ended up with a 32 hour labor and 2 and 1/2 hours pushing. Shoulder dystocia. Extremely traumatic birth and post partum period. Thank the Lord my daughter and I were both okay but the concepts I learned in this book were so harmful to me and I felt woefully unprepared when labor came along and was incredibly difficult and painful. And it left me feeling angry at God afterwards and feeling like I didn’t do enough or have enough faith.

I came to realize within a couple of months, and after much thought and prayer, that this book was the culprit of a lot of my misled thinking and expectations about birth.

Thank you so much for covering this topic!

I know you’re by no means a birthing podcast but would you consider doing an episode on pregnancy and giving birth after having a traumatic birth in the past? I know you yourself have experienced this and I’m curious to know how you prepared mentally, physically, spiritually.

[saranovaa]

My doula told me that the pain and struggle we go through during pregnancy and labor prepares us for what we need to become as mothers on the other side of that journey. ❤

[moeliz]

Loved this video so much. I had a difficult labor and delivery, and it can get into my head sometimes of “if I had just done this, or this, I could’ve changed how it went”. When that was not the case, the Lord designed my labor and delivery perfectly how He wanted. Birth just like many ministries shouldn’t just focus on serving ourselves, but serving others and lifting up the Lord no matter the circumstance. “He causes ALL things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose!” This was a great reminder of what I needed to hear.

[HeheHannie]

I’m excited for this! I am pregnant with my first and I’ve been pretty disappointed with the promises so many make about birth online. I cannot expect a painless, easy birth. God’s Word describes it as work for me. Will it be the worst? Probably not. But it is LABOR. Work. Which is difficult to a degree and may be painful since we’re in a post-fall world. I and my body will work for hours for a beautiful baby to come. That is OKAY. Good doesn’t have to equal painless or easy. Especially when so many methods draw a woman away from truth she should be thinking on— God is good, He is in control, He will give me the strength and grace whatever the situation (even when my birth swerves wildly away from what I’d prefer). I could do everything right to prep and God could have a plan for me to face some really hard things in birth so that I am conformed into the image of Christ and glorify Him. I’m excited. I’m hopeful. We’ll see what it’s like! Maybe I’ll make other decisions to prep for the next one. But one thing is for sure, God will be glorified and He will take care of me, even if it’s hard and even if it hurts.

[jailabratton]

I’m currently pregnant and have read the book on the cover of the video, and just want to say that that particular book apart from the movement doesn’t promise that every one will have a pain free birth, and she even says that trying to do it naturally without medication while in pain isn’t impressing anyone. The whole point of the book is to increase faith that you and the baby will come out healthy