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In this episode of Faith Over Fear: The Christian Pregnancy & Birth Podcast, I'm walking you through everything you actually need to pack for your hospital stay—not too much, not too little, but just right for your comfort and your baby's first precious days.

If you're staring at your hospital bag wondering if you're doing this whole thing right, you're in exactly the right place. This isn't just another generic packing list—it's about preparing your heart and your bag so you can approach birth with confidence instead of anxiety.

Whether this is your first baby or your fourth, whether you're feeling overwhelmed by all the "must-have" lists online, or you simply want to feel prepared and peaceful—this episode will help you pack with intention and walk into your birth experience feeling ready.

In this episode, I share:

🎒 The comfort items that will actually make a difference in your recovery (not just what everyone says to bring)

🤱 Essential breastfeeding supplies and what you can skip to avoid overpacking

🍼 What to pack for baby—and why less is more

💤 Sleep and rest essentials that help you get actual rest in the hospital

🧴 Personal care items you'll actually use (including the one thing that saves labor breathing!)

👨 Your partner's packing list so he's comfortable during your potentially multi-day stay

⏰ When to start packing (hint: 34-36 weeks is the sweet spot)

✝️ Why this is about preparation, not perfection—and trusting God's plan for your birth

A Prayer for You:

I close this episode by praying over you as you prepare for your baby's arrival—that God would fill your heart with peace and excitement rather than anxiety and fear, and remind you that He's been preparing both you and your baby for this moment long before you ever started packing that bag.

Mentioned in this episode:
✨ FREE Hospital Bag Packing Checklist inside the Christian Mama Birth Prep Library

💕 Work with Me 1:1 – Virtual Doula Support & Christian Childbirth Education

🥤LMNT Electrolytes – Clean electrolyte drink mix

🍫 RX Bars – Healthy, non-perishable snacks

👶 Velcro Swaddles – The kind we loved with our kids

If this episode helped you feel more prepared and confident, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another mama who needs to hear this.
Let's keep choosing faith over fear, one well-packed hospital bag at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

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In this episode of Faith Over Fear: The Christian Pregnancy & Birth Podcast, I'm joined by Jamie Ortiz, a pediatric sleep coach, military spouse, and mama of two who shares her powerful journey through pregnancy loss, high-risk births, and finding God's faithfulness in the midst of heartbreak.

Jamie's motherhood story began with devastating loss—giving birth prematurely to her baby at 22 weeks while her husband was deployed overseas. But even in that unimaginable grief, God was preparing her heart with Scripture and dreams, showing her His character before the storm hit. Her subsequent pregnancies brought month-long hospitalizations and emergency deliveries—none of which looked like the plan she had envisioned.

Through it all, Jamie discovered that God's sovereignty doesn't diminish in our suffering—it sustains us through it. Her story is a beautiful testament to trusting the Lord's plan even when it looks nothing like what we expected, and how He can use our deepest pain to serve others in their greatest need.

Whether you're walking through pregnancy loss, navigating high-risk pregnancies, or feeling overwhelmed by sleepless nights with your little one—this episode offers hope, practical wisdom, and a fresh reminder that God sees you in every season.

In this episode, Jamie shares:

🕊️ How God prepared her heart for loss through Scripture and dreams during her first pregnancy

💔 The raw reality of losing a baby at 22 weeks and grieving while trusting God's goodness

🏥 Navigating subsequent high-risk pregnancies, hospitalizations, and deployments

👶 Her journey from sleep-deprived mama to certified pediatric sleep consultant

💤 Practical encouragement for nursing moms struggling with sleep associations

✝️ Why introducing bottles early creates healthier family dynamics and stronger marriages

🤱 The importance of considering your whole family—not just baby—in sleep decisions

Scripture Shared:

"He is the Lord. Let him do what is good in his eyes." – 1 Samuel 3:18

Mentioned in this episode:

📸 Jamie's Instagram: @littleonessleepsociety

🌙 Pediatric sleep coaching for families with children up to age 6, including neurodivergent support: learn more at littleonessleepsociety.com

💖 Work with Me 1:1 – Doula Support & Coaching: Explore birth support and childbirth education for your pregnancy and birth journey

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library; Free birth prep tools, worship playlist & more

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who needs to hear Jamie's story of faith over fear.

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

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In this episode of Faith Over Fear: The Christian Pregnancy & Birth Podcast, I’m walking you through one of the most common questions expectant mamas ask: “Am I in labor?” Whether you’re experiencing your first round of practice contractions or wondering if this is finally the real deal, this episode will help you discern the signs with confidence and peace.

As you approach your due date, it’s natural to analyze every sensation and wonder if labor is beginning. But those Braxton Hicks contractions can be so convincing! After experiencing this uncertainty myself—I want to equip you with the knowledge and faith-filled perspective you need to navigate this waiting season.

Whether you’re a first-time mama feeling overwhelmed by all the “what ifs” or an experienced mom who needs a refresher on labor signs, this episode offers practical wisdom rooted in trusting God’s perfect timing for your birth story.

In this episode, I share:

🤔The difference between possible, preliminary, and positive signs of labor

🫖What to do (and what NOT to do) when you start experiencing these signs

🛁 Comfort measures and relaxation techniques to practice during early labor

📞 How to discern when it’s time to call your provider or head to your birthplace

✝️ Faith-filled encouragement for trusting your body and God’s timing

Scripture Shared:

“But I trust in you, Lord. I say, you are my God. My times are in your hands.” – Psalm 31:14-15

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ “Am I in Labor? Discerning the Signs” Free Handout – Grab this companion resource in the Christian Mama Birth Prep Library

🤰 LMNT Electrolytes – My favorite clean electrolyte supplement for pregnancy

📚 Childbirth Education Course – Learn comfort measures and labor techniques

💛 Work with Me 1:1 – Doula Support & Coaching: Explore birth support and childbirth education for your pregnancy and birth journey

If this episode helped clarify the signs of labor for you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another mama who might be wondering the same thing.

Let’s keep choosing faith over fear as we trust God’s timing for our babies’ arrivals. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned

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In this episode of Faith Over Fear: The Christian Pregnancy & Birth Podcast, I'm sitting down with Emily Whalen (@nurtured_little_nest)—a sweet mama, content creator, and someone I had the honor of serving as her doula. Emily's story is one of transformation: from mental health struggles and medication concerns to discovering the power of mindset in birth, and ultimately experiencing an unmedicated delivery that deepened her understanding of God's love.

This isn't just a birth story—it's a testimony of how God uses motherhood to sanctify us, stretch our faith, and reveal His heart in ways we never expected. Emily shares openly about navigating bipolar disorder and OCD during early marriage, the surprise of getting pregnant while on medication, and how reading one powerful book completely shifted her perspective on birth.

Whether you're considering an unmedicated birth, struggling with pregnancy fears, or simply needing encouragement that God can use even the most challenging circumstances for good—this episode is full of hope for your heart and practical wisdom for your journey.

In this episode, Emily shares:

📖 How one book (Ina May's Guide to Childbirth) transformed her entire birth plan

🧠 The power of mindset and why "what you say out loud matters" became her motto

🎶 How worship music carried her through labor's most intense moments

👶 The dramatic moment her sunny-side-up baby needed help "with directions"

✝️ How becoming a mother gave her a deeper understanding of God's sacrificial love

🏠 Why she's planning a birth center or home birth for baby #2

Emily beautifully connects the immediate, overwhelming love she felt for her newborn to understanding God's heart toward us—giving us a glimpse of divine love through motherhood.

A Prayer for You: If you're walking through mental health challenges during pregnancy, questioning your birth choices, or feeling overwhelmed by the unknowns ahead—may you be reminded that God's design for birth and motherhood is good, and He will equip you for every step of this sacred journey.

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

✨ Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols

💛 Follow Emily: @nurtured_little_nest on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube

💛 Work with Me 1:1 – Doula Support & Coaching: Explore birth support and childbirth education for your pregnancy and birth journey

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who needs to hear Emily's powerful story.

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 how the profound experience of birth and motherhood reveals beautiful gospel truths that will transform how you see God's love for you.

From the moment you discover you're pregnant to the intense moments of labor and the sweet surrender of holding your newborn, every stage of this journey offers glimpses into God's heart and His sacrificial love.

If you've ever wondered how your experience as a mother connects to your faith, or if you're looking for deeper meaning in the beautiful chaos of pregnancy and parenting—this episode will encourage your heart in ways you weren't expecting.

In this episode, I share:

🤱 How the unconditional love you feel for your unborn baby reflects God's unmerited love for you

⛪ Why Jesus chose birth language to describe salvation and what that means for mothers

💔 How the pain and sacrifice of labor mirrors Christ's sacrifice on the cross

👶 What your newborn's transformed heart teaches us about being born again spiritually

✝️ How raising children reveals both our sin nature and God's unchanging love for us

💕 Why your imperfect motherly love points to His perfect, eternal love

Scripture Shared:

• John 3 - You must be born again
• 1 John 4:19 - We love because He first loved us
• Luke 22:42 - Garden of Gethsemane prayer
• Hebrews 12:2 - Joy set before Him
• John 16:21 - Woman in labor analogy
• Ephesians 2:8-9 - Saved by grace through faith
• Ezekiel 36:26 - New heart
• Romans 5:8 - Christ died for us while we were sinners

I close this episode by praying over you—that you would see yourself as God's beloved daughter and find fresh encouragement in how deeply, perfectly, and unconditionally He loves you through every season of motherhood.

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library; Free birth prep tools, worship playlist & more

💛 Work with Me 1:1 – Doula Support & Coaching: Explore birth support and childbirth education for your pregnancy and birth journey

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who needs to hear this gospel truth.

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 my friend Crystal Doiron, a licensed clinical social worker and mama, as she courageously shares her story of postpartum depression and anxiety—and the hope she found on the other side.

Crystal's journey began with detailed plans, a "birth binder" (not just a birth plan!), and the determination to do everything "right." But when preeclampsia led to an emergency induction, C-section, and a cascade of unexpected challenges, Crystal found herself struggling with the gap between expectation and reality.

This conversation is raw, honest, and deeply encouraging. Crystal opens up about the darkest moments of her postpartum experience—including the day she realized she was having thoughts of ending her life—and how that became her wake-up call to seek help and find healing.

Whether you're currently struggling with perinatal mood challenges, supporting someone who is, or want to prepare your heart for what might come—this episode offers both practical wisdom and spiritual hope.

In this episode, Crystal shares:

🧠 How her perfectionist, control-focused personality made her more vulnerable to postpartum depression

💔 The moment her carefully planned birth completely fell apart and how that affected her emotionally

🚨 Five medical red flags that can contribute to or worsen perinatal anxiety and depression

💪 Practical steps she took toward healing: therapy, reclaiming body autonomy, and prioritizing self-care

✝️ How reconnecting with God felt like "winter fading into spring—things slowly coming back to life"

📝 The "sticky note strategy" for getting postpartum help without the awkwardness

👥 Why community and vulnerability are essential for maternal mental health

Scripture Shared:

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness." – Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

I close this episode with a heartfelt prayer for any mama walking through the darkness of perinatal mood challenges—that you would know you're seen, loved, and held by a faithful God who never leaves you.

Mentioned in this episode:

✨ Seven Oaks Therapy: Connect with Crystal at crystal@sevenoakstherapy.com

📚 Postpartum Support International: Virtual support groups and resources

💛 Christian Mama Birth Prep Library: Free Birth Preferences Checklist, worship playlists & more

Remember: struggling doesn't make you a bad mom—it makes you human, and help is available.

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a mama who needs to hear Crystal's story of hope. 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 of Faith Over Fear: The Christian Pregnancy & Birth Podcast, I'm sharing a practical but powerful tool for your birth journey—creating effective birth preferences that serve as a communication tool for your entire birth team. Rather than focusing on controlling every aspect of birth, this approach creates clarity and unity while honoring God's ultimate plan. Whether you're preparing for your first birth, hoping to have more input in your birth experience, or simply wanting to feel more prepared, this step-by-step guide will help you approach birth with both wisdom and surrender.

In this episode, I share:

📋 Why I prefer "birth preferences" over "birth plans" and the biblical wisdom behind this mindset

✔️ Essential categories to consider from before labor begins through postpartum care

🎶 Practical comfort measures including my favorite essential oils and music recommendations

🗣️ How to communicate your preferences clearly while still holding them with open hands

👶 Personal stories and lessons from my own births with Ellie and Daniel

Scripture Shared: "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." – Proverbs 19:21

A Prayer for You: I close this episode by praying over you as you prepare for your baby's birth. May you find wisdom in preparation, peace in surrender, and confidence knowing that God goes before you, beside you, and covers you with His unfailing love throughout your birth journey.

Mentioned in this episode:

📚 Christian Mama Birth Prep Library: Free Birth Preferences Checklist, worship playlists & more

☑️ Birth Ball Sizing Guide: Check out my Instagram post about proper birth ball sizing

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

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 of Faith Over Fear: The Christian Pregnancy & Birth Podcast, I’m joined by my very first guest—Sarah Salain, a registered nurse, Christian holistic health coach, and new mama—who shares her powerful story of waiting, surrender, and God’s faithfulness.

After years of hormonal challenges and praying for a baby, Sarah found herself walking through a long and painful season of infertility. As a health coach supporting other women through fertility struggles, her own waiting felt especially heavy—until God moved in a way only He could.

In this deeply honest and hope-filled conversation, Sarah shares:

🌱 What it was like to walk through infertility while helping others heal
✝️ How the Lord clearly led her to wait—despite pressure to pursue fertility treatments
🤰 The joy and gratitude she experienced throughout pregnancy
🕯️ Her powerful, faith-centered hospital birth and the moment her life verse came to life
💛 The raw realities of postpartum, surrendering expectations, and finding purpose in motherhood

Scripture Shared:
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” – Romans 8:18 (NIV)
(Spoiler: Her baby was born at 8:18 PM 🕯️)

A Prayer for You:
At the end of the episode, I offer a prayer especially for the mama in the waiting—whether you're longing for a baby, facing an unexpected diagnosis, or just needing reassurance that God sees you. May Sarah’s story remind you that God’s timing is never late and His promises are always true.

Mentioned in this episode:
✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library – Free tools & worship playlists to help you prepare with peace
💛 Explore Doula Support & Childbirth Education – Virtual and in-person care for faith-led births
🌿 Connect with Sarah – Learn more about her work through Simply Sarah Healing

If this episode encouraged you, please take a moment to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Let’s keep choosing faith over fear—one birth story at a time.

👉 Visit the full blog post for show notes, transcript, and links to everything mentioned!