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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
• How I started my business, and the early messaging that was all about taking control of your birth experience
• Going 42 weeks pregnant with my third baby, the pressure, the fear, the impossible decision, and what finally brought me peace
• My third birth story; how it unfolded, and why it felt completely different from the first two
• The shift in my birth philosophy that came out of all three experiences
• What I believe God was teaching me through each birth and why that arc matters for you too

This is the episode that closes the loop on why Rise exists and what it's really about.

Thank you for coming on this whole journey with me. 💛

Just getting started?
Use my free pregnancy and birth research checklist to jumpstart your learning.

Free roadmap to planning a natural birth:
10 Steps to Natural Birth

Want to feel more confident making decisions in labor?
Join the Autonomous Birth Workshop to learn how to advocate for yourself and navigate birth with clarity.

Free Scripture-Based Affirmation Cards
For encouragement and truth as you prepare for birth, download my Free Scripture-Based Affirmation Cards

Connect with me on Instagram:
@rise.birth

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 felt like
• What prenatal care looked like with a CPM vs. the OB appointments I'd had before
• The full story of my labor and birth, the long pushing stage, the birth stool, the moment everything clicked
• The detail I didn't find out until after I gave birth
• A childhood bicycle race story and what it taught me about feeling unseen by God
• How my faith was transformed through all of this

This is the one I've been excited to get to :)

Thank you for going on this whole journey with me. 💛

Just getting started?
Use my free pregnancy and birth research checklist to jumpstart your learning.

Free roadmap to planning a natural birth:
10 Steps to Natural Birth

Want to feel more confident making decisions in labor?
Join the Autonomous Birth Workshop to learn how to advocate for yourself and navigate birth with clarity.

Free Scripture-Based Affirmation Cards
For encouragement and truth as you prepare for birth, download my Free Scripture-Based Affirmation Cards

Connect with me on Instagram:
@rise.birth

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 pelvic floor issues I lived with in silence for six months before anyone told me it wasn't normal.

In this episode:

• What recovering from a second degree tear actually felt like (and why my recovery with my 2nd and 3rd babies was completely different)
• The shock of early newborn life, breastfeeding, sleep support needs, and the feeling of losing myself
• The thread connecting birth trauma to postpartum identity loss
• What it looked like when my NP told me I had "severe postpartum depression"
• The flashbacks I was from giving birth
• What PPD actually looked like for me day-to-day
• Starting a new job at 7 weeks postpartum
• Six months of pelvic pain and what finally got me help
• The pelvic floor PT experience that was the first turning point

If you've ever told yourself your birth "wasn't that bad", this episode is for you. Trauma is not a competition. And you don't have to go through a medical emergency to be deeply affected by what happened to your body.

Resources mentioned:
• Postpartum Support International (PSI): postpartum.net
• Pelvic floor PT- local to Cherokee County? DM me on Instagram @rise.birth, I have all the local recs for you.

If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet (Episode 18), start there first so you have the full context.

Part 3 is coming soon.

Just getting started?
Use my free pregnancy and birth research checklist to jumpstart your learning.

Free roadmap to planning a natural birth:
10 Steps to Natural Birth

Want to feel more confident making decisions in labor?
Join the Autonomous Birth Workshop to learn how to advocate for yourself and navigate birth with clarity.

Free Scripture-Based Affirmation Cards
For encouragement and truth as you prepare for birth, download my Free Scripture-Based Affirmation Cards

Connect with me on Instagram:
@rise.birth

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 story matters, and I believe God has used it in ways I'm still uncovering.

In this episode, I share:

• The chaotic backdrop of 2020: living in Vietnam during COVID, coming home with no plan, and finding out I was pregnant
• All the things that shocked me about labor and delivery
• The moment my autonomy was first dismissed and how I didn't even have the language for that yet
• What labor actually felt like
• The interventions I consented to without fully knowing what I was agreeing to
• Why I got an epidural and the aftermath of that decision
• What happened during pushing that basically changed my life

It took me a long time to be able to call my birth traumatic. But it was, for me. Still, there is so much hope on the other side... and we'll get to that in the rest of this series ;)

Part 2 is coming soon. Thanks for being here for this one.

Just getting started?
Use my free pregnancy and birth research checklist to jumpstart your learning.

Free roadmap to planning a natural birth:
10 Steps to Natural Birth

Want to feel more confident making decisions in labor?
Join the Autonomous Birth Workshop to learn how to advocate for yourself and navigate birth with clarity.

Free Scripture-Based Affirmation Cards
For encouragement and truth as you prepare for birth, download my Free Scripture-Based Affirmation Cards

Connect with me on Instagram:
@rise.birth

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 episode, we thoughtfully break down:

• What manifestation actually means (and where it comes from)
• How it subtly shows up in Christian birth spaces
• Why “name it and claim it” theology can be harmful (especially in pregnancy)
• What the Bible really says about control, faith, and outcomes
• The important role mindset plays in labor (without crossing into manifestation)
• How to use affirmations, visualization, and preparation in a way that honors God

If you’ve ever felt tension between wanting a peaceful, positive birth and trusting God with the unknowns, this episode will help you find a grounded, faith-filled perspective.

Because the goal isn’t controlling your birth outcome...it’s preparing wisely, trusting deeply, and walking into birth with peace.

Scripture referenced in this episode:

Psalm 115:3 "Our God is in the heavens. He does all that he pleases."

Proverbs 16:9 "The heart of plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

James 4:13-15 "Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”"

Psalm 42:11 "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."

 Hebrews 11

 Matthew 26:39  "And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.""

 Colossians 1:17 "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

 Psalm 31:15a "My times are in your hand."

Other resources mentioned:

Allie Stuckey's episode about pain-free birth / word of faith theology: https://podcasts.apple.com/zm/podcast/ep-1047-pain-free-birth-false-promises-bad-theology/id1359249098?i=1000664629123

Just getting started?
Use my free pregnancy and birth research checklist to jumpstart your learning.

Free roadmap to planning a natural birth:
10 Steps to Natural Birth

Want to feel more confident making decisions in labor?
Join the Autonomous Birth Workshop to learn how to advocate for yourself and navigate birth with clarity.

Free Scripture-Based Affirmation Cards
For encouragement and truth as you prepare for birth, download my Free Scripture-Based Affirmation Cards

Connect with me on Instagram:
@rise.birth

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 surprising truth about how much time they spend with you during labor
• The difference between a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) and a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) and why it matters
• What a traditional midwife is, and what questions to ask any midwife you're considering
• What a doula IS and is NOT
• How all three roles can work together beautifully as a team
• How to choose who's right for your birth based on your values and goals

Whether you're planning a hospital birth, a birth center experience, or a home birth, this episode will help you ask better questions and build a care team that truly supports you.

Questions? Come find me on Instagram @rise.birth, I love hearing from you!

Just getting started?
Use my free pregnancy and birth research checklist to jumpstart your learning.

Free roadmap to planning a natural birth:
10 Steps to Natural Birth

Want to feel more confident making decisions in labor?
Join the Autonomous Birth Workshop to learn how to advocate for yourself and navigate birth with clarity.

Free Scripture-Based Affirmation Cards
For encouragement and truth as you prepare for birth, download my Free Scripture-Based Affirmation Cards

Connect with me on Instagram:
@rise.birth

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 how you can prepare if that’s the type of birth you’re hoping for.

Spoiler: yes, it is possible… but it usually doesn’t happen by accident.

In this episode, we cover:

• What “natural birth” actually means (and why definitions matter)
• The difference between unmedicated birth and physiological birth
• Why hospital environments can sometimes disrupt labor hormones
• Common hospital routines that can lead to a cascade of interventions
• How your provider’s philosophy can impact your birth experience
• Practical ways to prepare for an unmedicated hospital birth

Practical preparation tips include:

• How to choose a supportive provider
• Why hiring a doula can make a difference
• Preparing your mind and body for labor
• Staying home during early labor
• Creating a calm, supportive hospital environment
• Using a birth plan as a communication tool

At the end of the day, this isn’t about having a “perfect” birth.

It’s about preparing wisely, understanding your options, and walking into birth with confidence, peace, and trust in God’s design.

Referenced:

Evidence on doula support
My projector light

Scripture:
 Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way but the Lord establishes his steps.

Just getting started?
Use my free pregnancy and birth research checklist to jumpstart your learning.

Free roadmap to planning a natural birth:
10 Steps to Natural Birth

Want to feel more confident making decisions in labor?
Join the Autonomous Birth Workshop to learn how to advocate for yourself and navigate birth with clarity.

Free Scripture-Based Affirmation Cards
For encouragement and truth as you prepare for birth, download my Free Scripture-Based Affirmation Cards

Connect with me on Instagram:
@rise.birth

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 for maternal health education and midwife access across Georgia.

We talk about:

• The moment Lainey realized her provider wasn’t listening
• How midwifery care changed her experience of pregnancy and birth
• The difference between hospital-based midwives and direct-entry midwives
• Why midwife licensure matters for access to care in Georgia
• The connection between surrender, trust, and physiological birth
• How one mom’s birth grew into a statewide birth nonprofit organization

Lainey also shares the story of her water birth and the mindset that helped her navigate labor with confidence and peace.

Whether you are exploring home birth, curious about midwifery care, or passionate about improving maternal health in your community, this conversation offers an encouraging look at how one experience can grow into something much bigger.

Lainey is also hosting the Peach State Birth Expo, a family-friendly event connecting expecting families with birth professionals and maternal health resources. Tickets and vendor information can be found through the Peach State Birth Coalition website.

If you are interested in Lainey's birth doula services, check out her website here.

...

Just getting started?
Use my free pregnancy and birth research checklist to jumpstart your learning.

Free roadmap to planning a natural birth:
10 Steps to Natural Birth

Want to feel more confident making decisions in labor?
Join the Autonomous Birth Workshop to learn how to advocate for yourself and navigate birth with clarity.

Free Scripture-Based Affirmation Cards
For encouragement and truth as you prepare for birth, download my Free Scripture-Based Affirmation Cards

Connect with me on Instagram:
@rise.birth