Natalie Portman | Christian Doula, Virtual Birth Coach, & Childbirth Educator

Faith Over Fear: The Christian Pregnancy & Birth Podcast

Education EN ↓ 51 episodes

🎙️ 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 encoura...

Author

Natalie Portman | Christian Doula, Virtual Birth Coach, & Childbirth Educator

Category

Education

Podcast website

faithoverfearbirth.com

Latest episode

Jul 7, 2026

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Episodes

47. When “Christian” Birth Advice Isn’t Biblical: Spotting False Teaching in Pregnancy and Birth with Dannette McGrew 07.07.2026

Send us Fan Mail 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 wha...

46. (Part Two) What 25 Days in the NICU Taught Us About Faith, Control & God's Provision 23.06.2026

Send us Fan Mail 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...

45. (Part One) My Preterm Birth Story, a Hidden Abruption, and The Lord's Perfect Provision 09.06.2026

Send us Fan Mail 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 ho...

44. Is Childbirth Pain a Punishment from God? A Biblical Deep Dive into Genesis 26.05.2026

Send us Fan Mail 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 eve...

43. 10 Pounds, No Tearing & Unmedicated: A Pelvic Floor Therapist's Surprising Birth Story 12.05.2026

Send us Fan Mail 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 prof...

42. Why Do Some Women Feel Little Pain in Labor—and Others Feel a Lot? 28.04.2026

Send us Fan Mail 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 co...

41. Breaking Through Fear After Cesarean: How Preparation & Surrender Led to Veronica's Healing Home Birth 14.04.2026

Send us Fan Mail 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 a...

40. The 4 Emotional Stages of Labor & Why Your Support Team Needs to Know Them 31.03.2026

Send us Fan Mail 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...

39. Your Baby's Position Matters: When to Check, Ways to Help Baby Turn, & Surrendering the Outcome to God 17.03.2026

Send us Fan Mail 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 sca...

38. Stop Consuming Endless Content, Start Building Confidence: The Truth About Birth Preparation 03.03.2026

Send us Fan Mail 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 conversa...

37. God is in Control: A First-Time Mom's Journey from Anxious Planning to Peaceful Surrender 17.02.2026

Send us Fan Mail 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 illus...

36. The Work of Rest: Preparing for Biblical Sabbath in Pregnancy & Postpartum 03.02.2026

Send us Fan Mail 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 postp...

35. Why Her "Failed" VBACs Were Actually God's Perfect Plan: A Story of Unexpected Grace 20.01.2026

Send us Fan Mail 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...

34. Safe Natural Cold Remedies for Pregnant & Nursing Mamas (That Actually Work!) 06.01.2026

Send us Fan Mail 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 grow...

BONUS: Count It All Joy - Finding God's Goodness Through Trials & Joy In 2025 30.12.2025

Send us Fan Mail 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 cri...

33. God's Glory in the Unexpected: What Mary's Messy Birth Teaches Us 23.12.2025

Send us Fan Mail 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 mes...

32. Eczema, Colic & Food Allergies: How Your Pregnancy Gut Health Shapes Baby's Future 16.12.2025

Send us Fan Mail 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 a...

31. Third Trimester Checklist: 10 Faith-Filled Steps for a Peaceful Birth 09.12.2025

Send us Fan Mail 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 c...

30. Back Labor, Big Baby, and Believing A Good God: Caroline's Birth Stories 02.12.2025

Send us Fan Mail 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. Carolin...

29. 5 Signs You're Praying for the Wrong Things for Your Birth 25.11.2025

Send us Fan Mail 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 experi...

28. Why Your Birth Preparation Matters More Than You Think: Maria's Life-Changing Story 18.11.2025

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I'm joined by Maria Lilly, a Christian mom whose first birth experience completely transformed her life—leading her from a corporate accounting job to becoming a doula and Lamaze certified childbirth educator. Maria shares her powerful story of navigating a terrifying prenatal diagnosis, NICU stay, and ultimately discovering God's faithfulness in the most...

27. Preparing for Induction: What to Expect, Pack & Pray as a Christian Mama 11.11.2025

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I'm walking you through everything you need to know about preparing for an induction—from practical tips to spiritual encouragement—so you can approach your birth with peace and confidence, even if this wasn't your original plan. Maybe your provider has mentioned induction as a possibility, or perhaps you already have a date scheduled. Whatever emotions...

26. You Weren't Made to Do This Alone: God's Design for Support in Labor 04.11.2025

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I'm diving deep into a topic that's been on my heart—how you can experience professional doula support while keeping your birth intimate and private through virtual birth support . This option could be the perfect solution for mamas who are torn between wanting expert guidance and maintaining the sacred space of birth with just their husband present. Afte...

25. Excruciating Pelvic Pain in Pregnancy? Why It's NOT Normal & How to Find Real Help 28.10.2025

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Kate Smith, pelvic floor physical therapist and owner of Nurture You Pelvic Health, to discuss a topic that affects countless women but is often dismissed: severe pelvic pain during pregnancy. If you've ever been told your excruciating pain is "just part of being pregnant," this conversation will validate your experience and o...

24. The Essential Second Trimester Checklist: 7 Faith-Filled Steps for a Strong, Peaceful Pregnancy 21.10.2025

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I'm walking you through a practical, faith-filled checklist to help you prepare well during your second trimester—the sweet spot of pregnancy when energy returns and you can finally focus on nourishing your body, mind, and heart for the journey ahead. Whether you're just starting to feel like yourself again or you want to make sure you're on the rig...

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