Rise: A Christian Birth Podcast

Mannah
  • 5.0 (7)
  • CHRISTIANITY

Rise: A Christian Birth Podcast is for pregnant Christian women who want to prepare for birth with confidence, wisdom, and trust in the Lord - especially if you desire a natural or unmedicated birth but feel unsure how to get there. Hosted by Christian doula Mannah Liu of Rise Birth Services, this podcast offers encouragement, education, and biblical truth for birth without fear. You’ll learn how fear impacts labor, what’s happening in your body during birth, and practical tools to cope with pain, alongside Scripture-grounded perspective, prayer, and honest conversations about real-life birth. Whether you’re a first-time mom, feeling torn between faith and fear, or hoping to approach labor with more peace and clarity, Rise will help you prepare your heart, mind, and body for birth so you can walk into labor informed, supported, and anchored in God’s presence.

  1. 17. Can Pregnant Christian Moms Manifest a Positive Birth Experience?

    1D AGO

    17. Can Pregnant Christian Moms Manifest a Positive Birth Experience?

    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

    17 min
  2. 16. What's the Difference Between Obstetricians, Midwives, and Doulas?

    MAR 30

    16. What's the Difference Between Obstetricians, Midwives, and Doulas?

    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

    17 min
  3. 15. Is Natural Birth Possible in a Hospital?

    MAR 23

    15. Is Natural Birth Possible in a Hospital?

    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

    18 min
  4. 14. How One Home Birth Led to a Georgia Birth Freedom Movement | Lainey Stancil, Founder of Peach State Birth Coalition

    MAR 16

    14. How One Home Birth Led to a Georgia Birth Freedom Movement | Lainey Stancil, Founder of Peach State Birth Coalition

    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

    46 min
  5. 13. Top 6 Myths About Natural Birth (And the Truth for Christian Moms)

    MAR 9

    13. Top 6 Myths About Natural Birth (And the Truth for Christian Moms)

    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 morally superior to another. Instead, the goal is to help pregnant Christian moms make informed decisions from a place of wisdom, peace, and understanding. In this episode, we discuss: • Why we believe that only certain women are “strong enough” for unmedicated birth  • Why natural birth is not a modern trend  • The truth about pain in labor and why some women choose to avoid medication  • Why natural birth is not automatically “better” in every situation  • Non-medicated pain relief methods during labor  • Why trusting God and preparing for birth go hand-in-hand Birth is not about proving toughness or earning a badge of honor. It’s about understanding how God designed the body to work, recognizing the cultural influences shaping our views of birth, and making thoughtful decisions rooted in wisdom rather than fear. Whether you are planning a medicated or unmedicated birth, this episode will help you think more clearly about the choices available to you. Scripture referenced: Isaiah 40:11 “He will tend his flock like a shepherd;  he will gather the lambs in his arms;  he will carry them in his bosom,  and gently lead those that are with young.” Psalm 139:13–14 “For you formed my inward parts;  you knitted me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works;  my soul knows it very well.” Proverbs 18:13 "If one gives an answer before he hears,     it is his folly and shame." Proverbs 18:15 "An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,     and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge." Ecclesiastes 3:1 "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:" Micah 6:8 "He has told you, O man, what is good;     and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness,     and to walk humbly with your God?" Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength,     a very present help in trouble." Proverbs 22:3 "The prudent sees danger and hides himself,     but the simple go on and suffer for it." James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." 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

    13 min
  6. 12. What Are Necessary and Unnecessary Birth Interventions?

    MAR 2

    12. What Are Necessary and Unnecessary Birth Interventions?

    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 decisions using benefits, risks, and alternativesBirth is not a medical emergency by default. It is a normal physiological process and wise stewardship means discerning when intervention is truly needed and when it’s simply routine. 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

    13 min
  7. 11. Women’s Hormones, Thyroid Health & Functional Medicine with Dr. Gabrielle Wesemeyer

    FEB 23

    11. Women’s Hormones, Thyroid Health & Functional Medicine with Dr. Gabrielle Wesemeyer

    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 sign” of overall healthBasal body temperature and cervical mucus as hormone indicatorsThe 3 S’s of hormone healthCycle syncing workouts for better hormone balanceHormone support during pregnancy and postpartumThyroid dysfunction, stress, and gut health connectionsCortisol mythsBirth control misconceptions and reconnecting with your cycleWhy women are not meant to function like men hormonallyThis conversation simplifies complex hormone topics and brings it back to the foundations: sleep, nourishment, stress regulation, and working with your body instead of against it. If you’ve felt overwhelmed by hormone advice online, this episode will help you refocus on what actually matters. Connect with Dr. Gabrielle Wesemeyer: Alliance Spine and Physical Medicine (Woodstock, GA)Follow Dr. Gabrielle on: InstagramTikTokJust 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

    43 min
  8. 10. Why Understanding Hospital Protocols Matters in Any Natural Birth

    FEB 16

    10. Why Understanding Hospital Protocols Matters in Any Natural Birth

    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 question to ask your provider that reveals their birth philosophyHow to use your birth plan as a communication tool Why your husband or support person must understand your preferences tooHow preparation reduces fear and why that matters physiologicallyThe role of prayer, discernment, and flexibility in birth decisionsHospitals have a default flow. If you don’t intentionally speak into that flow, it will carry you along with it. This episode is not about being combative; it’s about being informed, calm, and confident. Preparation allows you to advocate respectfully, reduce fear, protect your oxytocin flow, and approach your birth with clarity and peace. If you’ve ever felt nervous about asking questions or worried about being “too picky,” this episode is for 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

    15 min
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Rise: A Christian Birth Podcast is for pregnant Christian women who want to prepare for birth with confidence, wisdom, and trust in the Lord - especially if you desire a natural or unmedicated birth but feel unsure how to get there. Hosted by Christian doula Mannah Liu of Rise Birth Services, this podcast offers encouragement, education, and biblical truth for birth without fear. You’ll learn how fear impacts labor, what’s happening in your body during birth, and practical tools to cope with pain, alongside Scripture-grounded perspective, prayer, and honest conversations about real-life birth. Whether you’re a first-time mom, feeling torn between faith and fear, or hoping to approach labor with more peace and clarity, Rise will help you prepare your heart, mind, and body for birth so you can walk into labor informed, supported, and anchored in God’s presence.

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