On this episode of the Pain Free Birth Podcast, host Karen Welton welcomes first-time mom Brenna Burkins to share her incredible, faith-filled birth story. Brenna’s testimony stands out as a beautiful reminder of what’s possible when a mother approaches birth with bold faith, deep preparation, and a firm belief in God’s design for labor.
As a first-time mom, Brenna experienced a quick, four-hour labor at home, pain-free after releasing fear and aligning her heart with God’s promises. Her story is filled with laughter, peace, and divine presence—offering encouragement and hope for other women believing for a supernatural childbirth.
A Radical Belief: Pain-Free Birth is Possible
Brenna’s journey toward a pain-free birth began before she was even pregnant. While attending her father-in-law’s church, she met an older woman who had birthed all three of her children without pain.
“Because Jesus died on the cross, that doesn’t have to be your portion,” the woman told her.
Those words planted a seed. When Brenna became pregnant with her first child, another woman handed her a copy of Supernatural Childbirth by Jackie Mize and told her, “I believe this for you.” That moment marked the beginning of Brenna and her husband’s decision to believe God for a supernatural birth—one without fear, pain, or trauma.
Faith Over Fear: Preparing Spiritually and Mentally
Brenna’s approach to preparation wasn’t just about faith declarations. She dug deep into understanding what the body does during labor. She explained that she connects with God through learning, and the more she understood the physiological process of birth, the more confidence she felt.
By learning what contractions are, why they happen, and how the body opens to bring a baby into the world, she removed fear from the equation.
“When you know what your body is doing, there’s no reason to fear it,” she explained. “It’s just like flexing a muscle.”
This foundation of both faith and education allowed Brenna to enter labor fully convinced that birth didn’t have to be traumatic—it could be joyful.
Labor Begins: A Middle-of-the-Night Surprise
On March 17, just days before her due date, Brenna experienced five hours of prodromal labor that eventually faded away. That evening, she and her husband were laughing with a friend when she felt a small trickle.
“I think I peed my pants,” she told her husband, who suspected her water had broken.
At 2:00 AM that night, she woke up and realized—her water had actually broken. By 2:30 AM, her contractions had started.
The labor quickly became intense, and at one point Brenna admitted, “This hurts. How am I going to do 24 hours of this?” That fear opened the door to pain—until she stopped and remembered what she had prayed for.
“I’ve been praying for a pain-free birth. I refuse this pain.”
With that declaration, her husband prayed over her. She reframed what was happening, remembering that a contraction is just the uterus flexing—a tight sensation, not a punishment. From that moment forward, she no longer experienced pain. Her labor remained intense but completely manageable.
Rapid Progression: Calling the Midwives
Brenna’s labor progressed incredibly fast. Contractions moved from five minutes apart to three minutes apart in a short amount of time. Though she wasn’t experiencing pain, she felt the intensity growing and knew things were moving quickly.
Because of the speed, she began alternating between the warm shower and sitting on the toilet—what she called the “dilation station.” The hot water on her back brought comfort, and she kept feeling the urge to pee, a common sensation in transition.
Soon, she told her midwives, “I need you to come. I think this baby is coming so fast.”
Birth Space Ready: A Sacred Setup in Her Dad’s Pool House
At the time, Brenna and her husband were living in her dad’s pool house. They had transformed a small living space into a peaceful birth environment with candles, worship music, and a birth pool set up in the back living room.
When they walked into the space, things escalated quickly. Brenna told her husband, “I feel like I have to poop,” a telltale sign of the baby descending.
The midwives arrived, and when they checked her, they were shocked: “I can see his head. Do you want to get in the birth pool?”
Brenna wasn’t expecting to be that far along, nor were her midwives. She was so calm and composed that they didn’t anticipate how close she was to delivery.
In the Pool: Laughter, Joy, and the Ring of Fire
Once Brenna got into the birth pool, she didn’t feel any contractions at all. She only sensed the pressure of needing to push. Not knowing how hard to push—because she wasn’t feeling the typical pain cues—she began gently bearing down.
Her midwives encouraged her to reach down and feel her baby’s head. When she did, she was overjoyed.
“I got so excited. I wanted to meet my baby.”
She began pushing more intentionally. The moment she did, she experienced the ring of fire as the baby crowned. She described it as the most painful part of her birth—but even then, she was laughing.
In fact, her husband commented, “I’m so glad we’re not giving birth in a hospital, but also so glad we’re not free birthing.” They laughed together, fully aware and present in the holiness of the moment.
Baby Arrives: “Thank You, Jesus”
With one more strong push, Brenna’s son was born. Her husband caught the baby and placed him on her chest.
“I just cried and said, ‘Thank you, Jesus.’”
She described the sensation of her baby being born as surprisingly soft and jelly-like. What shocked her even more was how fast it all happened—just four hours from the first contraction to holding her son in her arms.
One especially touching detail: Brenna’s parents were in the room next door. Through the walls, they were able to hear their grandson’s first cries and Brenna’s praises to the Lord. The moment was intimate, joyful, and full of worship.
Reflections on Birth, Faith, and Identity
Looking back, Brenna shared that the speed of her labor required some emotional processing afterward. It all happened so quickly that she almost struggled to believe it was real. But ultimately, she recognized the beauty and perfection in the way her son was born.
“The Lord made my body exactly the way it’s supposed to be.”
Brenna’s story is a powerful reminder that birth doesn’t have to be filled with fear, trauma, or helplessness. It can be full of joy, intimacy, and strength. It can even be pain-free—when the mind and spirit are aligned with peace and truth.
She also emphasized the importance of partnership. Her husband’s unwavering belief, prayers, and emotional support were key to staying grounded throughout labor.
Encouragement for Moms Who Want the Same
Brenna offered encouragement to any woman who desires a similar birth experience:
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Listen to positive birth stories. Fill your heart and mind with testimonies of what’s possible.
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Surround yourself with believers. Find people—your spouse, doula, or birth team—who will pray and believe with you.
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Stay in the Word. Scripture anchored her mindset, especially 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
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Set the atmosphere. Brenna created a playlist that helped her stay in peace during labor. Worship music helped shift the room and invited God’s presence in.
A Glimpse Into Glory
Brenna’s birth story is more than a timeline of events—it’s a glimpse into the glory of God made manifest in motherhood. It’s a reminder that faith changes everything.
Her experience was not only pain-free—it was joyful. It was fast. It was holy. And it was hers.
For any mother wondering whether this kind of birth is possible, Brenna’s story is proof: yes, it is.
More about Brenna:
Want to Experience a Faith-Filled Birth Too?
If you’re ready to transform your mindset and birth with peace and purpose, check out the free Unlocking a Pain Free Birth Masterclass. Discover the 3 keys to a Pain-Free birth so you can experience the joyful, supernatural power of birth the way God designed it.
