Childbirth has always carried an air of awe and mystery, but some stories are so powerful they ripple across the world. One such story is the viral home birth of triplets, attended by veteran midwife Kristine Lauria.
On the Pain Free Birth Podcast, host Karen Welton sat down with Kristine to unpack her decades of midwifery experience, the extraordinary triplet birth that captured global attention, and why the way a woman gives birth is just as important as the outcome. This episode offers a rare look behind the scenes of physiological birth — from refugee camps in South Sudan to living rooms in rural America.
Who Is Kristine Lauria?
With nearly four decades in midwifery and over 5,000 births attended, Kristine Lauria is not only a practicing midwife but also a teacher, trainer, and global voice for physiological birth.
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She serves as the Global Midwifery Director for Breech Without Borders, an international nonprofit dedicated to restoring breech skills among birth workers.
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She has worked with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in refugee camps and conflict zones, where she learned to manage birth in some of the most challenging conditions on earth.
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She specializes in breech, twins, and multiples, training midwives and physicians around the world.
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She is featured in the upcoming documentary Allowed to Birth, which chronicles her work and philosophy of undisturbed birth.
Kristine is best known for her ability to blend clinical excellence with gentle, respectful care, believing that women deserve both safety and dignity in childbirth.
Why Vaginal Triplet Birth Is So Rare
When Karen asked why vaginal triplet birth is almost unheard of in the U.S., Kristine explained it comes down to two things:
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Fear and Risk Perception – In most hospitals, multiples are automatically classified as high-risk. Providers focus on worst-case scenarios rather than the statistical likelihood of safe outcomes.
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Lack of Breech Skills – With twins and especially triplets, it’s common for at least one baby to be breech. Many providers today simply aren’t trained in vaginal breech delivery, which means cesarean becomes the default.
Kristine pointed out that while complications are possible, the absolute risk of poor outcomes is often much lower than what parents are told. For example, the chance of fetal demise with twins at 40 weeks is 0.47% — meaning there is a 99.53% chance everything will be fine. Yet fear drives interventions.
“When we don’t know something is possible, we default to fear,” she said. “But the truth is, birth works most of the time if we don’t interfere.”
The Viral Triplet Birth Video
The conversation turned to the now-famous Amber Johnson triplet home birth video, which has been viewed millions of times on social media.
Amber, a mother of six at the time, was pregnant with her seventh, eighth, and ninth children. Determined to birth at home, she contacted dozens of midwives — and Kristine was the only one who said yes.
In the video:
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Baby A was born head-down.
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Baby B followed as a frank breech.
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Both babies were caught not by Kristine, but by Amber’s mother — fulfilling a deeply personal wish.
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Then came Baby C, who presented a complication: he was transverse with a dropping heart rate.
This is where Kristine’s skill and calm presence made all the difference.
Inside the Breech Extraction
As Baby C struggled to descend, Kristine recalled the preparation she had done with Amber beforehand. Prenatally, she had explained the possibility of a breech extraction, ensuring Amber understood and consented before labor even began.
When the moment came, Kristine calmly explained what needed to happen. While the birth team readied resuscitation equipment, she guided the baby out by his feet.
“It wasn’t pleasant for either of us,” Kristine admitted, “but it was necessary. If I hadn’t acted quickly, and we waited for a rural transfer, we could have lost that baby.”
Despite the intensity, the baby was born in excellent condition. None of the three needed resuscitation.
Karen reflected, “From the outside, people may not realize the level of emergency. But what looked calm on video was actually a skilled, life-saving maneuver.”
Why Gentleness Matters
Kristine is known for her gentle hands — something hospital staff have repeatedly commented on when seeing her work. In contrast, she explained, many hospital procedures are done forcefully, often because women have epidurals and cannot feel what is happening.
“I’m always gentle, even if someone has anesthesia,” she said. “Respecting the body and tissue is part of respecting the process.”
This gentleness matters not just for safety but also for reducing trauma. Many women describe their births as traumatic not because of emergencies but because of how they were treated. Kristine’s philosophy is clear: calm communication and respect preserve dignity, even in emergencies.
Prepared for Every Emergency
One criticism of home birth is the assumption that midwives aren’t prepared for emergencies. Kristine’s story proves otherwise.
At Amber’s birth, her team had:
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Multiple dopplers to monitor each baby
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IV access and fluids ready for dehydration or blood loss
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Medications for postpartum hemorrhage
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Resuscitation equipment in case a baby needed support
Kristine stressed that she only attends triplets with highly skilled teams. “I don’t want 20 people in the room. I want the right people — those who won’t bring fear, but who know exactly what to do without me micromanaging.”
Lessons from 5,000+ Births
Beyond the triplet birth, Kristine shared wisdom from attending thousands of births around the globe.
From Refugee Camps in South Sudan
Working in settings with little to no access to surgery taught her profound lessons:
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Birth works, even in the most high-risk populations.
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Most emergencies are best managed with patience and small interventions, not panic.
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Even complicated pregnancies often resolve with minimal interference.
On Cesarean Rates
While U.S. cesarean rates hover around 30%, Kristine’s lifelong rate is around 3–4% — even when attending high-risk cases overseas.
Her takeaway: “It’s not that emergencies don’t happen. It’s how we respond to them that matters. Most births don’t require surgery. They require skill and trust.”
The Spiritual Side of Birth
Kristine emphasized that birth is not just physical but profoundly spiritual.
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Birth is one of the only two universal experiences humans share — being born and dying.
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The experience matters for both baby and mother, shaping their relationship and even family dynamics for generations.
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Trauma in birth can linger for a lifetime, influencing how a woman mothers and remembers her story.
She recounted how her own grandmother, at age 83, spoke on her deathbed about the trauma of her daughter’s birth — proof of how deeply these moments stay with us.
Why the Mother’s Experience Matters
In Western culture, outcomes are often prioritized over experiences. As long as a healthy baby is born, the mother’s story is sometimes dismissed.
Kristine passionately disagrees.
“The birth experience for the mother is exceedingly important. Trauma doesn’t just disappear. It affects how she mothers, how she parents, how she carries herself for the rest of her life.”
This is why she insists on clear communication, gentle care, and respecting autonomy. A woman who feels seen and supported — even in emergencies — can walk away empowered instead of traumatized.
A Call for Breech Skills
One of Kristine’s strongest messages is the urgent need for providers to relearn breech.
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3–4% of babies are breech.
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Without providers trained in vaginal breech, cesarean becomes the only option.
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This leaves women with unnecessary scars and fewer options for future births.
“Doctors go through years of schooling and yet graduate unable to manage something as basic as a breech,” Kristine said. “We are failing women if we can’t support them through a normal variation of birth.”
Organizations like Breech Without Borders are working to restore these essential skills — but there’s still a long way to go.
Advice for Mothers Facing Pushback
For women carrying twins, triplets, or breech babies, pushback from providers is almost inevitable. Kristine’s advice is clear:
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Do your research — but seek evidence-based sources, not fear-driven pamphlets.
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Find experienced voices — consult midwives and physicians with real breech and multiples experience.
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Understand your own values — home birth is not for everyone, but for those committed to it, mindset is everything.
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Know your provider’s skills — the safety of your birth often depends less on “what ifs” and more on whether your team is equipped.
Passing the Torch
Today, Kristine no longer runs a private practice, but she still attends select births — particularly breech and multiples — and teaches midwives around the world.
Her upcoming documentary, Allowed to Birth, will shine a light on her work and the larger movement to reclaim physiological birth. She believes these skills must be passed on.
“I can’t be everywhere,” she said. “But this isn’t rocket science. It can be done. It’s about learning, understanding, and respecting the process.”
Final Reflections
The viral triplet birth wasn’t just a sensational story. It was living proof of what is possible when birth is left to unfold naturally, with skilled midwives prepared to intervene gently only when necessary.
Kristine Lauria’s decades of service — from rural America to the frontlines of humanitarian crises — reveal a simple truth: birth works.
And perhaps most importantly, as Kristine reminds us, how a woman experiences her birth matters as much as the outcome. It shapes not only the beginning of life but the story a family carries for generations.
Resources & Links
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Follow Kristine on Instagram: @globalmidwife64
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Learn more about Allowed to Birth: @allowedtobirth
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Connect with Karen on Instagram: @painfreebirth
More about Kristine:
Want to Experience a Faith-Filled Birth Too?
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