Catholic Birth Podcast

About Catholic Birth Podcast

Let's discuss all things Catholic birth. This show is for anyone interested in Catholic birth for themselves, for others, or if they are wondering why we birth this way! The opinions here are strictly our own and do not replace opinions or policies of any health care provider, employer, educational or medical institution, professional association or charitable organization. Nothing here is medical or legal advice, pastoral advice, nor is it a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis and treatment. NEVER disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of our show.

Publisher

Catholic Birth Podcast

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Jan 2024

Latest episode

26 May 2026

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 May 2026

   Birth, Social Justice, & Artificial Intelligence (AI)

   Most birth workers overlook how their advocacy reflects deep social justice principles rooted in faith—and the impact of emerging AI tech on this sacred work is profound! Delve into the history of Catholic social teaching, and discover how these principles—dignity, preferential option, solidarity, and subsidiarity—are directly relevant to supporting vulnerable mothers and families today. You'll explore how birth work becomes more than a service—it transforms into a ministry of presence, embodying radical love, care, and reverence that protect human dignity amidst modern challenges. We break down five key insights: How viewing birth as a sacred, human experience aligns with Catholic social justice Why supporting vulnerable pregnant and postpartum women is deeply pro-life work The role of solidarity and community in ongoing maternal care The delicate balance of technology and human connection in the age of AI The critical importance of presence, empathy, and relational trust over automation Artificial intelligence promises efficiency—faster diagnoses, improved access, and streamlined documentation—but risks reducing care to impersonal data points. You'll discover the stakes: how depersonalization and over-reliance on algorithms threaten the core of meaningful birth support. Jenny explains how AI can enhance, but never replace, the intuition, empathy, and relationship-centered care that define truly compassionate birth work. Why does this matter? Because as healthcare systems become more automated, doulas, midwives, and birth advocates have an urgent role in ensuring technology serves humanity, not replaces it. This episode is essential listening for anyone committed to honoring human dignity, safeguarding vulnerable mothers, and navigating the future of healthcare with faith and compassion. Whether you're a birth professional, a pro-life advocate, or simply someone who cares about the sacredness of life and community, this episode offers inspiring insights and practical perspectives on how social justice, faith, and technology intersect at the most vital moments of human life.

2. 

   2 Aug 2025

   Ep. 12: Update & Where to get the "Catholic Birth Preferences" Guide!

   Just an update on what Jenny has been doing the last few months....she is starting a new doula agency, Parish Doulas! Please pray for her and the doulas she has hired, and that they continue to keep Christ at the center of their work. In the meantime, Jenny has officially published the "Catholic Birth Preferences" Guide! You can get it at the link in her bio on her Instagram page: @Jenny_The_Doula or HERE (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SmaNvdSGsAw_COmJ-DZe-2XDS2JhavZS/view?usp=sharing). Please feel free to share with anyone who may be birthing at a Catholic hospital (remember they do not have to be Catholic to use it) or if they are Catholic and birthing at a secular hospital, it may help them with their birth plan there. God bless!

3. 

   14 Feb 2025

   Ep. 11 What would a "Catholic Birth Plan" look like?

   Choosing your birth preferences and reminding the hospital of their mission statement can make your birth a reverent and sacred event, no matter how your birth unfolds: whether is natural or medicated, surgical or vaginal, birth should be and can be sacred for all of us. In this episode, Jenny goes through what a "Catholic Birth Plan" would look like, but she prefers to use the words "Birth Preferences". Using the ERDs, ACOG Committee Opinions, and hospital policy guidelines, Jenny has prepared a document that you can use to create your own vision for a sacred birth. To get the document, you can either DM her or go to her Instagram page @Jenny_the_Doula and her link in bio to get a free copy!

4. 

   11 Jan 2025

   Ep. 10: What is Scientific Motherhood?

   Jenny Johnson, a Catholic birth advocate, explores the dangers of Scientific Motherhood, revealing how separating science and faith in birthing leads to worse outcomes and trauma for mothers and babies.

5. 

   6 Dec 2024

   How Out of Hospital Birth is like the Mass

   Jenny from the Catholic Birth Podcast reveals how out-of-hospital birth can reclaim the sacredness of birth, empowering mothers to demand better care that honors the father's role and treats the baby with intelligence.

6. 

   24 Oct 2024

   VBACs should be a priority for families and society

   Vaginal Birth After Cesareans (VBAC) are still not a common occurrence in the United States. Why? Cesareans are life saving, but overused and have many negative impacts on mothers, babies, families and society. In this podcast Jenny discusses the history of c sections, the challenges in discussing such a sensitive topic and having non-judgemental conversations. She speaks on why we should be concerned about the primary c section rate increasing and why VBACs should be a priority in our country rather than care providers and family members deterring them. The Evidence on VBAC (https://evidencebasedbirth.com/ebb-113-the-evidence-on-vbac/) Why the Cesarean Rate Matter to the Church by Mary Haseltine (https://www.madeforthisbirth.net/post/cesarean-rate)

7. 

   3 Oct 2024

   Birth does not need to be "decolonized"

   This may ruffle some feathers. Tired of the secularization and "witch-ification" of birth, Jenny goes into the real history of how we ended up with our modern birth practices. Hint: It has nothing to do with "decolonization" and everything to do with early scientific thought - which she explains in this podcast. Outline: Birth Work and Spirituality The Debate in Decolonizing Birth Historical Context of Birth Practices The Shift from Midwifery to Medicalization The Impact of Darwin and Eugenics Reframing the Conversation on Birth and Science Later episodes will discuss where Jenny leaves us off in the 1920s and 1940s. Its gonna be a good time!

8. 

   19 Sept 2024

   Can't my husband be my doula?

   Why would I need to hire a doula if the Holy Family didn't have one? Isn't birth supposed to be held as sacred, between mother and father? Well, not everyone needs or wants a doula, but there are some pretty compelling reasons as to why you should consider getting one! Your doula is not a stranger. In fact, its the staff at the hospital you will barely know at all, and they may not even share your beliefs or values! Hiring a Catholic doula or a doula that supports your beliefs can help maintain that prayerful and spiritual consistency and focus you may desire to have at your birth. Let's dive deeper into how a doula can help support your family in the birth space!

9. 

   8 Aug 2024

   Are midwives and out of hospital birth pro-life? Yes!

   Why would a pro-life or Catholic family choose an out of hospital birth with a midwife? Isn't that unsafe and goes against everything we say about wanting to promote a culture of life? Jenny approaches this question in this episode. The short answer is, "yes, midwives are safe and pro-life, if you and baby are low risk AND you decide that this is right for you and your family." Jenny's Website (https://www.lafayette-lamaze.com/) Midwifery: Evidence Based Practice (https://www.midwife.org/ACNM/files/ccLibraryFiles/Filename/000000002128/Midwifery%20Evidence-based%20Practice%20Issue%20Brief%20FINALMAY%202012.pdf) A Midwife's Tale (book about a Colonial Midwife) (https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/a-midwifes-tale-the-life-of-martha-ballard-based-on-her-diary-1785-1812-vintage-books_laurel-thatcher-ulrich/249075/item/2231992/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_everything_else_customer_acquisition&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=593719077582&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw2dG1BhB4EiwA998cqDneM58AOgPBuj_6LeNlwxczRY_S-XPSqMKqszcypu0-LzMo7W17dBoC1AoQAvD_BwE#idiq=2231992&edition=2270375) Lamaze 6 Healthy Birth Practices (https://www.lamaze.org/childbirth-practices) Address to Midwives - Pope Pius XII (https://www.papalencyclicals.net/pius12/p12midwives.htm) Lily Nichols, RDN (https://lilynicholsrdn.com/)

10. 

    17 Jun 2024

    It's OK to be "Pro-Birth"

    The term "Pro-Birth" has become a derogatory name to describe people who are pro-life but are only concerned with a live baby at birth, not what happens afterwards. Which couldn't be more further from the truth. In this podcast, we will explore what it truly means to be Pro-Birth: that Pro-Birth IS Pro-Life, and why birth truly does matter and cannot be forgotten in our mission to support life at all ages as Catholics. We will also discuss ways that you can get involved, and these are just a few! Mary's Hands Network (https://maryshandsnetwork.com) Kristen Hawkins (https://kristanhawkins.com) Radical Solidarity (https://www.respectlife.org/radical-solidarity-reflection) Made For This (http://www.maryhaseltine.com/p/made-for-this.html) - a guide to birth for Catholic moms. A great resource to you and to us! St. Gerard Society

11. 

    29 May 2024

    Do I have to choose a Catholic provider?

    Do I need to choose a Catholic provider (doctor or midwife) for your pregnancy and childbirth? How do I know who is the right person for my individualized care? What sorts of questions do I need to ask the doctor or midwife so I can make that choice? Using the Ethical and Religious Directives (ERDs) (https://www.usccb.org/resources/ethical-religious-directives-catholic-health-service-sixth-edition-2016-06_0.pdf) and Mary Haseltine's book Made For This, (https://www.maryhaseltine.com/p/made-for-this.html) we will discuss how to pick the care provider that serves you, your baby, and your family in pregnancy and birth.

12. 

    21 May 2024

    Does scientific evidence agree with Catholic Birth?

    In this episode we will discuss how the current scientific evidence on birth agrees in many ways with the USCCB's Ethical and Religious Directives. Using the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee Opinion #766 on limiting interventions in labor and birth, we will discuss how science and faith can create a system and a way to birth that not only honors mothers and families, but makes for better outcomes for mother and baby too. ACOG Committee Opinion 766 on Limiting Interventions (https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2019/02/approaches-to-limit-intervention-during-labor-and-birth) USCCB Ethical and Religious Directives (https://www.usccb.org/resources/ethical-religious-directives-catholic-health-service-sixth-edition-2016-06_0.pdf) The information given in this podcast is educational and not medical advice. Please see your care provider for decisions on your care. This information does replace any medical policy of any healthcare office or institution. If you need spiritual guidance, please see your Priest, Pastor or spirtual advisor. God bless you!

13. 

    17 May 2024

    What is Catholic Birth?

    Welcome to the Catholic Birth Podcast! In this episode we will discuss what in the world Catholic Birth actually is, and what the Catholic Church, more specifically the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) says about it in their Ethical and Religious Directives (ERDs). Over time we will refer back to these and to other scientific research to help guide us and our families in our decision making and care during pregnancy, birth, and beyond. The USCCB’s ERDs can be found here: https://www.usccb.org/about/doctrine/ethical-and-religious-directives/upload/ethical-religious-directives-catholic-health-service-sixth-edition-2016-06.pdf

14. 

    23 Jan 2024

    Welcome to the Catholic Birth Podcast

    Welcome to the inaugural Catholic Birth Podcast! Before we get started, this is a quick primer about the podcast itself. I hope you listen in for more! Please email me at CatholicBirthPodcast@gmail.com with ideas and questions you may have about Catholic Birth.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 8 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

6

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

27

Contact Catholic Birth Podcast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.