Faith Over Fear: The Christian Pregnancy & Birth Podcast
🎙️ Ranked in the Top 10% of podcasts globally (via Listen Notes) Hi there, I’m Natalie Portman! I’m a Christian birth doula, virtual birth coach, childbirth educator, wife, and mama—and I created this podcast just for you. If you’re preparing for birth, navigating pregnancy, or adjusting to those early days of motherhood, you’re in the right place. On the podcast I share a mix of powerful Christian birth stories, Scripture-based encouragement, and practical tips to help you walk through this season with peace and purpose. Around here, I do things a little differently. While the world encourages you to control every detail and rely on your own strength, I’ll gently point you back to the freedom of surrender and the beauty of God’s design for birth. Because I believe birth isn’t about showcasing your strength—it’s about revealing the Lord's. And when we fix our eyes on Jesus, we can choose faith over fear. I’d love for you to subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if you’re looking for more support, grab my free Christian Mama Birth Prep Library at faithoverfearbirth.com. It’s packed with birth prep guides, faith-filled tools, and other resources to help you invite God into your birth space. You don’t have to walk this path alone. Let’s journey together—with faith, not fear.
Episodes
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 foun...
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 on...
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 ris...
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,...
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 re...
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 wh...
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 dealin...
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. Understan...
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 position...
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 se...
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 contro...
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 conversat...
In this episode, I'm chatting with Kayla, a mama of two under two, who shares how God used her two unplanned cesareans to deepen her trust in Him as a good Father—transforming what could have been crushing disappointment into a powerful testimony of His faithfulness.
Kayla's story is proof that when we trust ourselves less and trust the Lord more, He can work through any circumstance for His glory. After planni...
In this episode I'm sharing my go-to natural remedies for healing from colds and flu during pregnancy and breastfeeding—practical solutions that have helped me and countless clients navigate sickness without relying on medication.
This cold and flu season has been particularly challenging for so many mamas in my community. When you're already pouring everything into growing or nursing a baby, getting sick can f...
In this BONUS episode, I'm sharing a heartfelt year-end reflection as we close out 2025—a year that tested my faith through trials I never saw coming, yet revealed God's faithfulness in ways I couldn't have imagined.
This has been a year of unexpected challenges and profound growth. Just days after launching this podcast in April, I faced a serious mental health crisis with someone close to me, then a few month...
In this episode, I'm exploring the Christmas story through the lens of Mary's birth experience—and what it teaches us about finding God's glory when our own births don't go according to plan.
This message came to me unexpectedly during a church service, when I suddenly saw Mary's story not just as a familiar Christmas narrative, but as a birth story. A messy, uncomfortable, nothing-like-she-planned birth story ...
In this episode I'm sitting down with Jessica Ramdhany Thomas, a functional pediatric practitioner and mom of two, to uncover the surprising connection between your gut health during pregnancy and your baby's future health. We're diving deep into how the microbiome you cultivate now can impact whether your little one develops eczema, colic, food allergies—and even affect generations to come.
Jessica shares her ...
In this episode I'm walking you through your third trimester checklist—10 faith-filled steps to help you prepare practically and spiritually for your upcoming birth. Whether you're feeling the weight of that watermelon belly, googling at 2 AM, or wondering if you'll ever feel truly ready, this episode is designed to bring you peace and clarity.
The third trimester can feel overwhelming with its mix of excitemen...
In this episode, I'm joined by Caroline, a nurse who brings a unique perspective from caring for critically ill postpartum patients to experiencing her own two drastically different births. She openly shares how back labor, a 9-pound baby, and nearly 5 hours of pushing challenged everything she thought she knew about birth—and how God remained faithful through it all.
Caroline's journey took unexpected turns: f...
In this episode I'm exploring what happens when our prayers for birth come from a place of control rather than surrender—and how God has been transforming my heart from anxiety to trust as I prepare for my third baby's arrival.
After carrying the weight of perfectionism through my first two births, treating them like report cards of my strength and worth, I'm experiencing something radically different this preg...
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