Rise: A Christian Birth Podcast

Jaksot

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  23. "They Wouldn't Let Me": The Birth Language That's Working Against You 18.05.2026 17min

  Send us Fan Mail "They wouldn't let me go past 40 weeks." "They made me get an injection." "I had to have a C-section." This is the language of permission and it's so normal in birth culture that most of us don't even notice it. In this episode, we're talking about how the words we use around birth quietly shape what we believe about our role in it. And our role in our birth is not a small thing. Here's what we get into: • Why language is never neutral including in birth • What "let," "ma...
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  22. 3 Truths Every Christian Mom Needs to Remember When She's Still Afraid of Birth 11.05.2026 10min

  Send us Fan Mail You've read the books. You've taken the class. You've prayed about it more times than you can count. And you're still afraid. If that's you, this episode is for you. This isn't an episode about the physiology of fear or coping techniques for labor. It's a heart-level conversation for the mom who feels like she should have more faith by now and doesn't understand why the fear is still there. In this episode, I walk through three timeless biblical truths that I come back to...
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  21. How I Became a Christ-Centered Birth Doula, Part 4: 42 Weeks Pregnant, the Pressure to Induce, and Finding Peace in Surrender 04.05.2026 40min

  Send us Fan Mail We've made it to Part 4: the final chapter of my personal birth story series. This episode picks up after my second birth and covers my third pregnancy, my third birth, and the pivotal experience that led me to officially become a doula. This one is about learning that preparation and control are not the same thing. In this episode, I share: • My friend's VBAC story aka the birth I attended that changed everything and sent me home knowing I was going to become a doula • H...
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  20. How I Became a Christ-Centered Birth Doula, Part 3: My Home Birth Story After a Traumatic Hospital Birth 27.04.2026 44min

  Send us Fan Mail We made it to Part 3, and this is the one where things started to change. In this episode, I'm sharing my second birth: a home birth after a traumatic hospital experience, and the story of how God used all of it to lead me exactly where I'm supposed to be. In this episode, I share: • Why I trained for a half marathon nine months postpartum (and what it was really about) • How we made the decision to pursue home birth and what my first phone call with a home birth midwife f...
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  19. How I Became a Christ-Centered Birth Doula, Part 2: Postpartum Depression, PTSD, & Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy After Birth 20.04.2026 41min

  Send us Fan Mail This episode picks up right where Part 1 left off: walking out of the hospital with my firstborn and a plan to just... never think about the birth again. That plan did not work. In Part 2 of this series, I'm sharing what the first year after my traumatic birth experience actually looked like: the physical recovery I wasn't prepared for, the PPD I got diagnosed with in a thirty-second clipboard interaction, the PTSD symptoms I didn't fully identify until later, and the pelvi...
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  18. How I Became a Christ-Centered Birth Doula, Part 1: My Traumatic Hospital Birth Story 13.04.2026 48min

  Send us Fan Mail This episode is personal, a little less polished, and by popular request. In Part 1 of this series, I'm sharing my own birth story...my first baby, born in a hospital during the height of COVID, and the experience that ultimately changed the entire direction of my life and (eventually) led me to becoming a birth doula. I'm holding nothing back. I want you to understand not just what happened, but how it felt, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Because I believe this ...
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  17. Can Pregnant Christian Moms Manifest a Positive Birth Experience? 06.04.2026 16min

  Send us Fan Mail Can Christian moms “manifest” a positive birth experience… or is that idea at odds with biblical truth? In this episode, we’re unpacking a topic that’s becoming more common in pregnancy and birth spaces, even among Christians: manifestation. You’ve maybe heard phrases like: “Speak your birth into existence” “Visualize your dream birth” “Your thoughts create your reality” But how should we think about these ideas as Christian women? In this epi...
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  16. What's the Difference Between Obstetricians, Midwives, and Doulas? 30.03.2026 17min

  Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered what exactly an OB, a midwife, and a doula each do, and how they're different from one another? You're not alone! This is one of the most common questions I get from first-time mamas who are just starting to research their birth options. In this episode, I'm breaking it all down so you can walk into your prenatal care feeling informed, confident, and clear on who does what. Here's what we cover: • What an obstetrician (OB-GYN) actually does and the s...
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  15. Is Natural Birth Possible in a Hospital? 23.03.2026 17min

  Send us Fan Mail Is it actually realistic to have a natural (unmedicated) birth in a hospital? If you’ve been researching birth options, you’ve probably seen completely opposite opinions: some saying it happens all the time, and others saying it’s nearly impossible. So which is true? In this episode, we’re breaking it down honestly and practically. We talk about what people really mean when they say “natural birth,” why it can be more challenging in a hospital setting, and most importantly ho...
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  14. How One Home Birth Led to a Georgia Birth Freedom Movement | Lainey Stancil, Founder of Peach State Birth Coalition 16.03.2026 46min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined by Lainey Stancil, founder of the Peach State Birth Coalition, a Georgia-based nonprofit focused on maternal health education, community support, and birth freedom. Lainey shares the story of how her own birth experience completely changed the direction of her life. After feeling dismissed by a provider during pregnancy, she switched to midwifery care and planned a home birth...an experience that ultimately led her to start a nonprofit advocating f...
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  13. Top 6 Myths About Natural Birth (And the Truth for Christian Moms) 09.03.2026 12min

  Send us Fan Mail There are many misconceptions about natural birth in modern culture. Some of these myths come from media portrayals of labor, some come from medicalized birth culture, and some even appear wrapped in spiritual language. In this episode, we walk through six of the most common myths about natural birth and gently replace them with truth grounded in physiology, history, and biblical wisdom. This conversation is not about creating pressure or suggesting that one type of birth is ...
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  12. What Are Necessary and Unnecessary Birth Interventions? 02.03.2026 13min

  Send us Fan Mail You may have heard the phrase necessary vs. unnecessary interventions in birth. But what does “necessary” really mean? In this episode, we break down: What the word intervention actually meansThe difference between a true medical emergency and a normal physiological processWhy speeding up labor isn’t always medically indicatedHow common interventions (like Pitocin or artificial rupture of membranes) can affect hormones and labor progressionHow to make informed, autonomous dec...
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  11. Women’s Hormones, Thyroid Health & Functional Medicine with Dr. Gabrielle Wesemeyer 23.02.2026 42min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Gabrielle Wesemeyer, Doctor of Chiropractic and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, to talk about women’s hormones, thyroid health, stress, cortisol, and simple lifestyle shifts that can make a major impact. Gabrielle shares her personal health journey, including medically induced menopause during chemotherapy, and how that experience led her to dive deep into women’s hormonal health. We discuss: Why your menstrual cycle is a “vital ...
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  10. Why Understanding Hospital Protocols Matters in Any Natural Birth 16.02.2026 15min

  Send us Fan Mail If you're planning a natural birth in the hospital, understanding hospital policies and protocols is one of the most important things you can do to prepare. In this episode, we talk about: Why “going with the flow” without preparation can increase stress and interventionsHow hospital default policies influence birth (IVs, monitoring, movement, food, cervical checks, newborn procedures, and more)Why understanding routine vs. medical necessity changes everythingThe powerful que...
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  9. Perinatal Mental Health, Birth Trauma & Support with Paige Head of Crescent Counseling & Consulting LLC 09.02.2026 47min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined by Paige Head, licensed therapist and owner of Crescent Counseling & Consulting, to talk honestly about postpartum mental health, birth trauma, expectations, and the kind of support moms actually need. Paige shares her own story of traumatic birth, postpartum depression and anxiety, and how God used those experiences to shape her calling to serve women in every phase of motherhood...from trying to conceive to postpartum and beyond. We discuss: ...
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  8. Which Hospital in Atlanta is Best for Natural Birth? 02.02.2026 11min

  Send us Fan Mail Expectant parents often ask, “What’s the best hospital in Atlanta for a natural birth?” hoping for a clear, reassuring answer. But in this episode, we unpack why that question may be oversimplifying something far more complex. I share why I don’t rank or recommend specific hospitals, even though some have better reputations than others, and what actually matters more than the hospital name on your chart. Drawing from real client experiences and my observations as a Christian ...
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  7. What Happens Right After Birth: 6 Things No One Tells You 26.01.2026 16min

  Send us Fan Mail Most birth preparation focuses on labor and pushing but very few parents are truly prepared for what happens immediately after the baby is born. In this episode, we walk through the first minutes and hours after birth and talk about what is normal, what is routine, and where you may have options. For many moms, this phase feels confusing or overwhelming...not because anything went wrong, but because no one explained what to expect. This is a practical, educational episode cov...
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  6. How to Break the Fear-Tension-Pain Cycle with Faith and Practical Tools 19.01.2026 11min

  Send us Fan Mail Fear of labor pain can create a cycle that makes contractions feel more intense: the fear-tension-pain cycle. In this episode, we break down exactly what that cycle is, why it matters, and how to stop it before it controls your labor. You’ll learn: How fear physically affects your body during laborPractical tools to release tension and breathe through contractionsFaith-based strategies that actually impact your nervous systemHow to prepare now so fear doesn’t dominate your bi...
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  5. 5 Daily Habits Every Pregnant Christian Can Use to Nourish Body and Soul 12.01.2026 15min

  Send us Fan Mail Pregnancy is physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental...all at the same time. If you’re preparing for birth, it’s not enough to only focus on nutrition and physical preparation. Your heart and soul need care too. In this episode, I share five simple daily habits every pregnant Christian can use to nourish both body and soul while preparing for labor. These practices are meant to be realistic, gentle, and sustainable even in busy seasons of life. We cover: Why Scripture and ...
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  4. A Christian Doula’s Tips for Navigating Natural Birth in a System You Don't Fully Trust 05.01.2026 12min

  Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered how to pursue a natural birth when you’re not sure you can trust the system you're giving birth in? In this episode, we will cover: Why acknowledging your unease about hospital birth is actually a key part of Christian birth prep... How faith-centered pregnancy planning helps you prepare for natural childbirth without falling into fear or false optimism... My best tips for navigating hospital birth with confidence, boundaries, and spiritual peace as...