42. Why Do Some Women Feel Little Pain in Labor—and Others Feel a Lot?

48. 3 Questions to Test Any Birth Practice: Biblical Discernment of Birth Practices, Ep. 1

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471131/fan_mail/new] 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 [https://faithoverfearbirth.kit.com/cheatsheet] - Free birth prep tools, including the NEW Birth Practice Discernment Guide to walk through this framework yourself 💕 Work with Me 1:1 [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/] - Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call ✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/online-childbirth-education] - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course 🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/purchase-products-and-services/p/affirmations] - You can now purchase them here [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/purchase-products-and-services/p/affirmations] 📗 Glorious Freedom [https://amzn.to/4eUd3OX] 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 [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/blog/48] for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471131/support]

47. When “Christian” Birth Advice Isn’t Biblical: Spotting False Teaching in Pregnancy and Birth with Dannette McGrew

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471131/fan_mail/new] 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 [https://faithoverfearbirth.kit.com/cheatsheet] - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more 💕 Work with Me 1:1 [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/] – Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call ✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/online-childbirth-education] - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course 🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/purchase-products-and-services/p/affirmations] - You can now purchase them here [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/purchase-products-and-services/p/affirmations] 📖 Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Tim Keller [https://amzn.to/4uePV3x] - 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 [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/blog/47] for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471131/support]

46. (Part Two) What 25 Days in the NICU Taught Us About Faith, Control & God's Provision

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471131/fan_mail/new] 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 [https://faithoverfearbirth.kit.com/cheatsheet] - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more 💕 Work with Me 1:1 [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/] – Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call ✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/online-childbirth-education] - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course 🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/purchase-products-and-services/p/affirmations]: You can now purchase them here [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/purchase-products-and-services/p/affirmations] 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 [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/blog/46] for the full blog post, birth photos, and all resources mentioned! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471131/support]

45. (Part One) My Preterm Birth Story, a Hidden Abruption, and The Lord's Perfect Provision

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471131/fan_mail/new] 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 [https://faithoverfearbirth.kit.com/cheatsheet] - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more 💕 Work with Me 1:1 [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/] – Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call ✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/online-childbirth-education] - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course 🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/purchase-products-and-services/p/affirmations]: You can now purchase them here [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/purchase-products-and-services/p/affirmations] 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 [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/blog/45] for the full blog post, birth photos, and all resources mentioned! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471131/support]

44. Is Childbirth Pain a Punishment from God? A Biblical Deep Dive into Genesis

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471131/fan_mail/new] 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 [https://faithoverfearbirth.kit.com/cheatsheet] - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more 💕 Work with Me 1:1 [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/] – Virtual Doula Support & Schedule a Private Coaching Call ✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/online-childbirth-education] - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course 📞 Free 15-Minute Discovery Call [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/discovery-call-form]: Schedule your no-obligation consultation with me today! I would LOVE to connect with you. 🎴 NEW Christian Birth Affirmation Cards [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/purchase-products-and-services/p/affirmations]: You can now purchase them here [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/purchase-products-and-services/p/affirmations] 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 [https://faithoverfearbirth.com/blog/44] for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471131/support]