Faith Over Fear: The Christian Pregnancy & Birth Podcast

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In this episode, I'm joined by Camille Beckstrand, certified mental health coach, mom of four, and co-creator of the Mommy Tummy Fix, for an honest conversation about postpartum recovery, identity, and inviting God into the healing of both body and heart.

After her fourth baby, Camille still looked pregnant months later, despite working out and "doing all the things." Her low back pain, weak core, and quiet comparison left her frustrated with her body, until her husband, a doctor of physical therapy, discovered she had a three-finger ab separation called diastasis recti. What started as a physical diagnosis became a deeper invitation from the Lord to stop striving, let go of timelines, and learn to steward her body as an act of worship.

Whether you're freshly postpartum, years past your last baby and still dealing with a "mommy tummy," or simply feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to bounce back, this episode is full of encouragement and practical wisdom for your heart, mind, and body.

In this episode, Camille shares:

🌸 What diastasis recti is, why it's so common, and how it can affect moms for years (even decades!) after birth

🚶‍♀️ Why she traded intense bootcamp workouts for prayer walks and gentle core rehab

💭 How "belief thoughts" rooted in truth helped her replace negative self-talk

✝️ Why choosing faith over fear doesn't end in the delivery room

🤍 A fresh look at what it means to take Jesus's yoke upon us and walk in step with Him

Scripture Shared:

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." – Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV)

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more

💕 Work with Me 1:1 – Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards: You can now purchase them here

✨ The Mommy Tummy Fix - Camille's at-home postpartum core rehab program, created with her husband, a doctor of physical therapy

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one birth story at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

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In this episode, I'm sharing the story of how I almost failed my gestational diabetes screening during my third pregnancy, and what that close call taught me about blood sugar, stewardship, and the difference between wisdom and control.

That near miss shook me a little, not because I was afraid of a diagnosis, but because I realized I didn't really understand what was happening with blood sugar in pregnancy or why it really mattered. With my midwife's encouragement, I started checking my own numbers, and what I learned about my "healthy" breakfast surprised me. It changed how I fed and cared for my body for the rest of that pregnancy.

Whether you have a glucose screening coming up, you've just gotten a high number, or you're simply tired of the energy crashes, this episode will help you understand what's happening in your body so you can talk with your care team and make decisions from a place of wisdom rather than fear.

In this episode, I share:

🩸 What blood sugar actually is and why pregnancy naturally changes the way your body handles glucose

🧪 What to expect from glucose screening, why protocols vary, and the questions to ask your provider before your test

🍳 How I changed my breakfast without cutting out the foods I love, and simple ways to support steadier blood sugar

💛 Why needing medication or extra support is not a failure, and how stewardship sometimes looks like receiving help

✝️ How to tell the difference between wisdom and control as you prepare, and a prayer for the mama feeling anxious about her results

Scripture Shared:

"The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight." (Proverbs 4:7, ESV)

Mentioned in this episode:

🤰 Real Food for Gestational Diabetes by Lily Nichols

🍉 Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols

🍌 Real Food for Fertility by Lily Nichols

🍋 The Fresh Test: an alternative glucose screening drink to ask your provider about

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more

💕 Work with Me 1:1 – Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards: You can now purchase them here

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one birth story at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

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In this episode, I'm joined by Jasmine and Dominic, who share the incredible story of their daughter's birth—a story that stopped me in my tracks the first time I heard it, and I know it will do the same for you.

Jasmine and Dominic weren't expecting to be pregnant, but they welcomed the surprise with open arms and leaned hard into spiritual preparation from the very start. What began as a fairly typical labor at 36 weeks took a dramatic turn when hospital staff didn't respond in time—and Dominic ended up delivering their baby girl himself. When she was born not breathing, it was the infant CPR Dominic had felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to learn just the night before that helped save her life.

This episode is a powerful reminder that God goes before us, prepares us for what we can't yet see, and meets us in the moments we feel most unprepared. Whether you've experienced a birth that didn't go as planned, wrestled with feeling unheard by medical staff, or simply need to be reminded that the Lord is present in every detail of your story—this conversation will minister to your heart.

In this episode, we share:

🙏 How Dominic felt led by the Holy Spirit to learn infant CPR the night before delivery

👶 The moment Dominic ended up delivering their baby, with no medical training at all

💨 Walking through fear, feeling unheard by hospital staff, and choosing faith over panic

✝️ How prayer, scripture, and speaking God's promises carried them through the unexpected

🏡 How their church and family community held them up through postpartum

Scripture Shared:

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." – James 1:5 (ESV)

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more

💕 Work with Me 1:1 – Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards: You can now purchase them here

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one birth story at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

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In this episode, I'm closing out our Biblical Discernment of Birth Practices series by bringing it all home—not with a longer list of things to avoid, but with an invitation to trust the God who is so much bigger, and so much more intimately involved, than we often remember.

We've spent this series testing birth practices like yoga, hypnobirthing, acupuncture, and different ceremonies against Scripture, asking hard questions about where they come from and what they're really asking us to trust. In this finale, I want to bring it full circle. Because when we engage in things God has forbidden, it doesn't just make Him unhappy—it actually leads us away from the very peace, security, and freedom we're longing for in the first place.

But I don't want you walking away from this series feeling burdened or like discernment is one more thing to get right. My hope is that it stirs up joy, freedom, and a deeper hunger to invite the Lord into your birth preparation, instead of dread over one more decision to make on your own.

In this episode, I share:

🌌 The desires underneath so many birth practices—control, security, power, certainty—and why God offers us something better than any of them

🕊️ What Scripture actually says is behind spiritually risky practices, without fear-mongering or shame

🙏 Why obedience was never meant to be the price of God's love, but the fruit of it

✨ How meditating on the vastness of the cosmos and the intricacy of your own body can grow your trust in God's care over your birth

👣 A simple, practical way to start seeking God's wisdom in your everyday life, even in the busiest season

Scripture Shared:

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." – James 1:5 (ESV)

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, including the NEW Birth Practice Discernment Guide to walk through this framework yourself

💕 Work with Me 1:1 - Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards - You can now purchase them here

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one decision at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

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Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we're continuing our series on Biblical Discernment of Birth Practices with a look at some of the more subtle counterfeits showing up in birth culture today—the ceremonies, rituals, and beliefs that promise protection, healing, and identity apart from God.

This series has been walking through three simple questions for every practice we encounter: Where did it come from? What worldview am I holding while engaging with it? And what fruit does it produce? In this episode, we apply those questions to some practices that may be completely unfamiliar to you, and others you've probably encountered without even realizing what's underneath them.

Whether you're preparing for your own birth, working through a season of wanting more control than God is asking you to hold, or simply want to know how to discern what's out there—this episode is full of practical wisdom and scriptural grounding for your heart and mind.

In this episode, I share:

🕊️ The difference between a blessing way ceremony and a Christ-centered mother's blessing

🌿 What's really behind placenta encapsulation, lotus birth, and burying the placenta

👑 Why sacred feminine teaching feels like empowerment but functions as self-worship

🔮 How spirit baby communication and astrology echo an ancient temptation named in Isaiah

💬 My own story of repenting from the Enneagram, and why "you are enough" isn't the whole truth

Scripture Shared:

"When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consult God's instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn." – Isaiah 8:19–20

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, including the NEW Birth Practice Discernment Guide to walk through this framework yourself

💕 Work with Me 1:1 - Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards - You can now purchase them here

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one decision at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

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Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I'm continuing our series on biblical discernment of birth practices by looking at acupuncture, moxibustion, reiki, homeopathy, crystals, and sound healing. These are six practices that look completely different on the surface but share one common thread underneath.

I'll be honest, I've recommended acupuncture and moxibustion to clients more times than I can count, and I've engaged with acupuncture myself during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. This episode isn't me pointing fingers from the outside. It's me sharing what I've learned about the spiritual claims woven into practices that are often marketed simply as health and wellness.

Whether you've used one of these practices without a second thought, you're weighing whether to try one this pregnancy, or you just want a clear, faith-rooted framework for evaluating birth practices as they come up, this episode will give your heart and mind somewhere solid to stand.

In this episode, I share:

🌿 What "vital force" theology is, and how it quietly runs through acupuncture, moxibustion, reiki, homeopathy, crystals, and sound healing

🔍 The three questions we will use to test any birth practice: source, framework, and fruit

📖 Why biblical healing is fundamentally relational, not a technique for accessing a hidden force

🩺 How modern medicine holds up against these same three questions, and where the real discernment still needs to happen

🕯️ What Isaiah 50 teaches us about the difference between trusting God in the dark and lighting our own torch

Scripture Shared:

"Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God." – Isaiah 50:10 (ESV)

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, including the NEW Birth Practice Discernment Guide to walk through this framework yourself

💕 Work with Me 1:1 - Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards - You can now purchase them here

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one decision at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we're continuing the Biblical Discernment of Birth Practices series with two of the most mainstream practices in the birth world: yoga and hypnobirthing. You've probably heard that they're "just stretching" and "just relaxation," but is that actually true? Today we're holding both practices up to Scripture and asking the three questions from Episode 1: What is the source? What is the framework? What is the fruit?

These two practices share a similar defense, and that's the claim of spiritual neutrality. But Colossians 2:8 warns us that deceptive philosophies rarely announce themselves. So we're going to look honestly at where yoga and hypnobirthing actually come from, what belief systems they're built on, and what they may be cultivating in your heart and mind, all with grace and zero condemnation.

Whether you've been going to prenatal yoga for months, you've already downloaded a hypnobirthing track, or you're simply wanting to prepare for birth in a way that honors the Lord, this episode will equip you to discern with confidence and point you toward God's better way.

In this episode, I share:

🧘‍♀️ What yoga was originally created to be and why the word itself tells us so much

🗣️ The language to listen for in any class, even ones that seem purely physical

🌬️ The fascinating history of hypnobirthing, from a sound medical observation to a mind power system

📖 Why Scripture's call to be sober-minded matters so deeply in labor

🙏 My own story of laboring with Isaac, and how Scripture-based affirmations and worship filled my mind instead of emptying it

💪 Faith-filled alternatives for movement, breathing, and peace as you prepare your body for birth

Scripture Shared:

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." – Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, including the NEW Birth Practice Discernment Guide to walk through this framework yourself

💕 Work with Me 1:1 - Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards - You can now purchase them here

📗 Glorious Freedom by Percy Burns - A helpful resource for understanding spiritual warfare, deliverance, and finding lasting freedom in Jesus

📚 Like Lambs to the Slaughter by Johanna Michaelsen - A former New Age practitioner's classic on how occult spiritual practices get rebranded for the mainstream

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one birth story at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

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In this episode I'm kicking off a brand new series called Biblical Discernment of Birth Practices, a conversation the Lord has been stirring in my heart for a long time. Over the next several months, we'll be walking through some of the most common practices in the birth world (things like yoga, hypnobirth, acupuncture, homeopathy, placenta encapsulation, the Enneagram, and more) and holding each one up to the light of Scripture.

Whether you're pregnant and wondering which practices honor the Lord, feeling regret over things you've engaged with in the past, or simply wanting to grow in biblical discernment as a mama, this episode will equip you with a simple, Scripture-rooted framework you can bring to any practice, in birth and beyond.

In this episode, I share:

🙏 Why I'm doing this series now and the honest story behind it

✝️ The difference between conviction and condemnation (and why there's no shame here)

🕊️ Why the birth world is so saturated with spiritual counterfeits, and what Scripture says about deception

📖 The 3 questions to test any birth practice: What is the source? What is the framework? What is the fruit?

💡 Why "but it works!" isn't the same as "it's from God"

👀 A sneak peek at everything we'll be covering in the episodes ahead

Scripture Shared:

"Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." – Acts 17:11 (NIV)

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, including the NEW Birth Practice Discernment Guide to walk through this framework yourself

💕 Work with Me 1:1 - Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards - You can now purchase them here

📗 Glorious Freedom by Percy Burns - A helpful resource for understanding spiritual warfare, deliverance, and finding lasting freedom in Jesus

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one birth story at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Dannette McGrew — certified doula, childbirth educator, and passionate apologist — for a conversation that is so needed in the Christian birth world right now. Dannette has been doing the deep work of examining the worldviews that have quietly crept into birth spaces, even among people calling themselves Christian birth professionals. And what she’s found might surprise you.

This is not a conversation about outright occultism. It’s about the more subtle, more dangerous teachings — the ones that use biblical language but twist it just enough to lead mamas away from the true gospel. From false affirmations and prosperity gospel thinking to Christian hypnobirthing and declarative prayers, we’re pulling back the curtain and giving you the discernment tools to recognize it.

Whether you’ve sensed something was “off” about a birth course or affirmation you’ve come across, or you simply want to be a more biblically grounded mama in this season — this episode will sharpen your thinking and anchor your heart in truth.

In this episode, we cover:

🌿 The subtle red flags hiding in popular Christian birth content

✝️ Why “God designed your body perfectly” can actually be an anti-gospel statement

🚩 What prosperity gospel thinking looks like inside the birth world

🔍 The problem with Christian hypnobirthing and declarative birth prayers

📖 Practical steps to grow in biblical discernment as a pregnant mama

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more

💕 Work with Me 1:1 – Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards - You can now purchase them here

📖 Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Tim Keller - Mentioned as a beautiful resource for mamas walking through hard seasons in pregnancy and birth.

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let’s keep choosing faith over fear, one decision at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

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Send us Fan Mail

In this episode I'm continuing Isaac's birth story — and this time, my husband Brian is joining me to share what those 25 days in the NICU were really like from both of our perspectives. From the moment Isaac was taken away minutes after birth, to the feeding battles, the emotional exhaustion of leaving him each day, and finally bringing him home — this is the full story of what God did in and through one of the hardest seasons of our lives.

Having a premature baby at 33 weeks was never part of our plan. But what unfolded in that NICU — the lessons in surrender, the provision we witnessed daily, and the unexpected ways God met us both in our fear — became one of the most profound faith experiences of our family's story. This episode is raw, honest, and deeply personal, including the moment I found the Abraham and Isaac parallel that changed everything about how I understood what it meant to lay my son at the altar and trust God to provide.

Whether you're currently in a NICU season, recovering from a premature birth, navigating the early postpartum fog, or simply needing a reminder that God does not waste a single hard moment — this episode is full of hope and truth for wherever you are.

In this episode, we share:

👶 What the first moments in the NICU were really like — and how Brian processed the fear and grief of not being able to hold his son

🙏 The "I will provide" moment that became our anchor Scripture through the entire NICU stay

🍼 The feeding journey — from feeding tubes and around-the-clock pumping to the breakthrough of exclusive breastfeeding

🏠 How we balanced daily NICU visits with two kids at home and what that did to us as a couple

✝️ The sweetness God brought in the hardest moments — and what we'd tell any NICU family walking this road

Scripture Shared: "So Abraham called the name of that place, 'The Lord will provide'; as it is said to this day, 'On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.'" — Genesis 22:14 (ESV)

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more

💕 Work with Me 1:1 – Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards: You can now purchase them here

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one birth story at a time. Go here for the full blog post, birth photos, and all resources mentioned!

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode I'm sharing the full story of my third birth — Isaac's unexpected preterm birth at 33 weeks — and how a weekend away with my mom and sisters turned into one of the most sacred, surprising, and faith-stretching days of my life.

This birth was nothing like my first two. After two straightforward, uncomplicated labors, I found myself being admitted to the hospital in preterm labor with no risk factors, no warning, and a birth plan that went completely out the window. What followed was an unmedicated labor on magnesium, a birth team rallying around me in the middle of the night, and a discovery after delivery that revealed just how closely the Lord had been guarding us the entire time.

Whether you're navigating a high-risk pregnancy, grieving a birth plan that didn't go as hoped, or simply needing a reminder that God's provision is perfect even when ours falls apart — this episode is full of encouragement for your heart, mind, and spirit.

In this episode, I share:

🌸 How a "Mama & Chickies" girls' weekend became the unexpected start of Isaac's birth story

⚡ What it felt like to be admitted for preterm labor with no warning signs and no risk factors

🙏 How the Lord's tangible presence carried me through an unmedicated labor I never planned for

✝️ The hidden abruption discovery that revealed just how protected we truly were

👶 The bittersweet, beautiful moments surrounding Isaac's arrival at four pounds, seven ounces

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more

💕 Work with Me 1:1 – Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards: You can now purchase them here

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one birth story at a time. Go here for the full blog post, birth photos, and all resources mentioned!

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I'm diving deep into one of the most misunderstood passages in all of Scripture — Genesis 3 — and tackling a question that so many Christian mamas have carried in secret: is childbirth pain actually God's punishment for Eve's sin?

This is a topic I've been wanting to bring to this podcast for a long time, because the way we answer it shapes everything — how we feel about our bodies, how we prepare for birth, and how we understand God's heart toward us as mothers. If you've ever felt like your pain in labor was somehow your fault, or wondered whether trusting God means just accepting suffering, this episode is going to bring you so much freedom.

Whether you're in your first trimester just starting to think about birth, deep in preparation and wrestling with fear, or somewhere in postpartum still processing your experience — this episode is full of truth, hope, and encouragement for wherever you are.

In this episode, I share:

📖 What Genesis 3 actually says — and what it doesn't — about women, pain, and the fall

🌿 The Hebrew meaning behind "I will greatly multiply your pain" and why it changes everything

💛 Why your birth experience is not a measure of your faith or your relationship with God

✝️ The very first gospel promise spoken in Scripture — and why it was spoken before anything else

👶 How Genesis 3 is ultimately a story of redemption, not condemnation, for you as a mama

Scripture Shared:

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. To the woman he said, 'I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.'" — Genesis 3:15–16 (ESV)

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more

💕 Work with Me 1:1 – Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

📞 Free 15-Minute Discovery Call: Schedule your no-obligation consultation with me today! I would LOVE to connect with you.

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards: You can now purchase them here

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one decision at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I'm sitting down with returning guest Dr. Victoria Adeeb—a pelvic floor therapist who just delivered a 10-pound baby unmedicated with no tearing—to hear the full story of how she prepared physically, emotionally, and spiritually for what she calls her "dream birth."

But here's what makes Victoria's story so powerful: even with all her professional knowledge and preparation, her journey required deep surrender, spiritual wrestling with waiting on God's timing, and learning that His sovereignty is both tender and trustworthy—especially when birth doesn't unfold on your timeline.

Whether you're preparing for an unmedicated birth, feeling overwhelmed by all the "what ifs," struggling with the waiting season past your due date, or simply needing encouragement that God is present in every contraction—this episode will meet you right where you are with honesty, hope, and practical wisdom.

In this episode, Victoria shares:

🙏 Her spiritual journey from not wanting children to surrendering to God's calling to motherhood

💪 How she prepared her pelvic floor and deep core for nearly 2 years before pregnancy (and what she'd do differently)

✝️ The emotional and spiritual prep work her doula assigned—and why it was the hardest part

⏰ Going past 40 weeks and learning to trust God's timing when everyone expected baby early

🕯️ Laboring at home with worship, prayer, and her husband reading Scripture over her during pushing

👶 The sacred moment her 10 lb 2 oz son was born at 7:25 AM—a "wink from God" she didn't see coming

💔 Her honest postpartum reality: breastfeeding struggles, pelvic floor symptoms, and learning to rest (even as a professional)

🦋 Why grace abounds when the ideal isn't realized—and how that's transformed her work with clients

Scripture Shared:

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." – Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more

💕 Work with Me 1:1 – Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards: You can now purchase them here

❤️‍🩹 Better Women’s Health - Visit Dr.Victoria Adeeb’s Practice

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend expecting a baby.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one birth story at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I'm exploring one of the most misunderstood aspects of birth: why some women experience very little pain in labor while others experience a lot—and why neither experience says anything about your strength, your preparation, or your faith.

As a doula, I've witnessed labor pain exist on an incredibly wide spectrum. I've supported mamas who describe contractions as intense but manageable, women who feel completely overwhelmed by early labor, and others who are genuinely shocked by how little pain they experience. And here's what I've learned: two women can prepare equally well, labor in similar environments, and deeply desire the same birth—but still experience labor very differently. That doesn't mean one did it better. It means bodies are different, and the labor story God has for each of us is beautifully unique.

Whether you're preparing for birth, reflecting on a past experience, or struggling with comparison and shame—this episode is for you. My hope is that it brings relief, replaces comparison with understanding, and reminds you that your birth story stands on its own before the Lord.

In this episode, I share:

🌸 Why labor pain exists on such a wide spectrum (and the physical, hormonal, and emotional factors at play)

💭 How comparison sneaks in after birth—and the questions that can steal our peace

✝️ Why faith doesn't remove sensation, but it does change how we perceive it

💪 The truth about strength: why choosing pain relief is not weakness but wisdom in some circumstances

Scripture Shared:

"Let each one test his own work, for each will have to bear his own load." – Galatians 6:4-5 (ESV)

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more

💕 Work with Me 1:1 – Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

🎧 Episode 26: Learn more about virtual birth support with me

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards: You can now purchase them here

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Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one decision at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

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In this episode, Veronica shares the powerful story of her redemptive home birth after cesarean—and how prayer warriors, faithful preparation, and ultimate surrender to God's plan transformed her birth experience from trauma to triumph.

After a 33-hour labor ending in an emergency c-section with her first, Veronica found herself pregnant again while still healing—physically and emotionally. Despite dealing with severe allergies, exhaustion from caring for a toddler, and the weight of past birth trauma, she felt God calling her toward a different path. Late into her third trimester, she made the bold decision to switch from hospital care to planning a home birth VBAC.

Whether you're considering a VBAC, processing your own cesarean experience, wrestling with the decision between hospital and home birth, or simply needing encouragement that God can redeem your birth story—this episode will strengthen your faith and remind you that His plans are always greater than our own.

In this episode, Veronica shares:

🙏 How prayer support from family in Washington, Florida, Ukraine, and even Africa covered her birth

🏡 The moment when she decided to pursue home birth despite her husband's initial hesitation

💪 Moving from type-A control (spreadsheets and rigid plans) to peaceful surrender

🌊 Laboring in water and experiencing the redemptive birth she prayed for

✨ How every specific prayer she made for this birth was answered by God's grace

🩺 Navigating a challenging postpartum infection with gratitude and faith

Scripture Shared:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." – Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

📞 Free 15-Minute Discovery Call: Schedule your no-obligation consultation with me today! I would LOVE to connect with you.

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards: You can now purchase them here

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one birth story at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

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Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I'm walking you through the emotional stages of labor—not just what happens physically, but the powerful emotional signposts that help you and your birth team know exactly where you are in the process and how to respond with confidence instead of fear.

This framework, inspired by Penny Simkin's incredible work, has transformed how I support families as a doula and childbirth educator. Understanding these emotional patterns can bring so much peace and clarity to what might otherwise feel scary or confusing—whether you're the one giving birth or supporting someone you love through labor.

Whether you're pregnant and preparing for birth, planning to support your spouse/sister/friend through labor, or simply want to understand the beautiful design of the birth process, this episode will equip you with practical wisdom and spiritual encouragement for the journey ahead.

In this episode, I share:

🌸 How to recognize the emotional signposts of early labor (and why ignoring it might be your best strategy!)

💭 What happens emotionally during active labor and why silence doesn't mean something's wrong

🙏 Understanding transition—when "I can't do this" actually means you're almost there

✨ How the pushing stage brings renewed purpose (even through exhaustion)

💛 Practical tips for birth partners at each stage—from encouraging rest to avoiding too many questions

📖 Why wisdom for labor comes from both preparation AND prayer

Scripture Shared:

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." – James 1:5 (ESV)

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more

💕 Work with Me 1:1 – Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

🎧 Episode 26: Learn more about virtual birth support with me

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards: You can now purchase them here

📚 The Birth Partnerby Penny Simkin

🥤 LMNT electrolyte drinks for hydration

🎧 Episode 5: Learn how to fill out the Birth Preferences Checklist

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a pregnant friend or someone preparing to support a laboring mama.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one birth story at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

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Send us Fan Mail

In this episode I'm joined by Dr. Marrow, a board-certified OBGYN and VBAC mom from Full Circle Women's Care, to discuss a topic that can feel overwhelming for many moms: what to do when your baby is breech, transverse, or in another challenging position for birth.

Together we explore the timeline of when baby's position truly matters (hint: not at your 20-week scan!), natural techniques to encourage optimal positioning, and what actually happens during an ECV—the medical procedure to turn a breech baby. Dr. Marrow shares from both her professional expertise and her personal journey from a fear-filled cesarean to a redemptive VBAC, offering wisdom that blends evidence-based care with faith-centered encouragement.

Whether you're currently navigating a breech presentation, curious about your options if baby isn't head-down, or simply want to be prepared with knowledge before you reach the third trimester—this conversation offers practical tools, medical insight, and the reminder that birth is beautiful regardless of the route.

In this episode, we discuss:

🤰 When to actually start paying attention to baby's position (32-36 weeks)

💫 Natural techniques like Spinning Babies, the Miles Circuit, and chiropractic care

🏥 What an ECV really involves and the 50-60% success rate

✨ The rise of gentle cesareans and creating a beautiful birth experience

🙏 How to steward what you can control while surrendering outcomes to God

Mentioned in this episode:

📋 Miles Circuit handout for optimal positioning

👶 Spinning Babies Technique - A program designed to help create room for a breech baby to find a more optimal position

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more

💕 Work with Me 1:1 – Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

📞 Free 15-Minute Discovery Call: Schedule your no-obligation consultation with me today! I would LOVE to connect with you.

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards: You can now purchase them here

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one decision at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned

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Send us Fan Mail

In this episode I'm addressing something I see over and over again with expecting parents—the difference between consuming birth content and actually being prepared for birth. While we have more birth information available than ever before through podcasts, social media, and online resources, so many parents still approach birth feeling anxious and unprepared.

This conversation has been on my heart because I see thoughtful, intentional parents doing their best to prepare by listening to podcasts and following birth accounts on social media, yet still missing something foundational. They know a little about a lot of things, but not enough to feel truly confident when it matters most. True childbirth education builds understanding from the ground up in a way that fragmented content simply can't.

Whether you're trying to decide if you need childbirth education, feeling overwhelmed by all the birth content out there, or wondering why you still feel unprepared despite consuming lots of information—this episode will bring clarity, wisdom, and practical next steps for your birth preparation journey.

In this episode, I share:

📚 Why podcasts and social media alone can't replace comprehensive childbirth education

👁️ The importance of visual learning for understanding birth mechanics and positioning

🏠 How proper education creates a strong foundation vs. fragmented information

✨ Why childbirth education matters for ALL types of births (medicated, unmedicated, cesarean, VBAC)

💪 The difference between being informed and being truly prepared for birth

Scripture Shared:

"A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge, its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables." – Proverbs 24:3-4

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more

💕 Work with Me 1:1 – Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

📞 Free 15-Minute Discovery Call: Schedule your no-obligation consultation with me today! I would LOVE to connect with you.

🎧 Episode 26: Learn more about virtual birth support with me

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards: You can now purchase them here

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one decision at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I welcome Lindsay Carter who shares her powerful first birth story—one that took unexpected turns and ultimately deepened her faith in ways she never imagined. From meticulous planning for an unmedicated birth to facing an infection, needing an epidural, and those heart-stopping moments when baby Kate wasn't breathing, Lindsay's journey beautifully illustrates what it means to surrender control to God.

Lindsay came to this pregnancy armed with research, determination, and a deep desire to honor God through an unmedicated birth. But after 41.5 weeks, a slow water leak, chorioamnionitis, and contractions that came in powerful waves, she found herself surrendering her carefully laid plans. What followed was a birth experience that, while different from her vision, became a profound lesson in God's sovereignty and faithfulness.

Whether you're a first-time mom wrestling with birth anxiety, someone whose birth didn't go according to plan, or you simply need encouragement that God is present even in the scariest moments—Lindsay's testimony will strengthen your faith and remind you that His plans are always good.

In this episode, Lindsay shares:

🙏 How tracking temperatures and preparing extensively couldn't prepare her heart for surrender

💧 Navigating a slow water leak, infection, and the decision to get an epidural

👶 The terrifying moments when Kate wasn't responsive and how prayer carried them through

✝️ How this experience transformed her postpartum journey and deepened her gratitude

🤱 Real talk about breastfeeding struggles and the importance of support

Scripture Shared:

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart" – Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)

Mentioned in this episode:

📖 Ina May's Guide to Childbirth - A powerful book to help prepare mentally

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

📞 Free 15-Minute Discovery Call: Schedule your no-obligation consultation with me today! I would LOVE to connect with you.

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards: You can now purchase them here

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one birth story at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I'm sharing something that might sound contradictory at first—but it's become one of the most freeing truths I've learned: it takes work to rest. Using John Mark Comer's simple Sabbath framework from The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, I'm walking you through how to prepare for biblical rest in the midst of pregnancy, motherhood, and postpartum—even when it feels impossible.

This conversation has been stirring in my heart for months as I've navigated my own pregnancy with two littles at home. Sabbath used to feel out of reach—like something only people without constantly needy littles could experience. But what I've discovered is that God designed Sabbath not as perfection, but as preparation. Just like Adam and Eve rested before they ever worked, we're invited to receive from Him first so we can pour out from a full cup, not an empty one.

Whether you're in the thick of pregnancy exhaustion, preparing for postpartum, or just trying to figure out what rest even looks like with little ones underfoot—this episode is full of encouragement, practical wisdom, and a gentle invitation to stop striving and start receiving.

In this episode, I share:

🕊️ The two simple questions that help you determine what belongs in your Sabbath (and what doesn't)

📝 How to create a personalized Sabbath list that actually fits your season of life

👶 Why Sabbath with little kids looks completely different—and why that's okay

🛁 My own Sabbath rhythms right now (including Epsom salt baths, worship music, and family picnics in the backyard)

🤰 How to prepare for postpartum rest—and the mistakes I made with Daniel that I'm determined not to repeat

✝️ What Scripture teaches about the postpartum period as a God-designed seasonal Sabbath

💛 Why postpartum rest isn't pampering—it's stewardship

Scripture Shared:

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." – Matthew 11:28 (ESV)

Mentioned in this episode:

📕 The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more

✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course

📞 Free 15-Minute Discovery Call: Schedule your no-obligation consultation with me today! I would LOVE to connect with you.

🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards: You can now purchase them here

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Let's keep choosing faith over fear—and rest over striving—one intentional Sabbath at a time.

Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

Support the show