The Birth Link

Most nurses and birth advocates turn a blind eye to the systemic issues in maternity care, but not Trish Ware. She's here to expose the truth and spark change. In this episode, Trish shares her powerful journey from bedside labor nurse to outspoken advocate and mentor, revealing how her own experiences and those of the women she served pushed her to challenge the status quo. She discusses the cove...

In this episode of the BirthLink Podcast, Colette speaks with Trapti Agarwal from TheraGurus about the importance of pelvic health in all stages in life, especially for women. They discuss the journey into women's health, the connection between ergonomics and pelvic floor health, and the significance of early pelvic floor therapy. TheraGurus emphasizes a holistic approach to pelvic health, includi...

Since starting as a nurse in labor and delivery I have heard that this is not a service industry, not a hotel or restaurant as we are made to feel like servers sometimes. We know best about their care and birth plans, we will take care of them and they should just let us do our jobs. As more and more women speak up about trauma during hospital births, about the lack of support in labor and postpar...

In this episode, Colette Wagholikar and Nicole Lange discuss the intricate relationship between trauma, mental health, and fertility. They explore how acupuncture can aid in fertility treatments, the importance of open communication with partners, and the emotional challenges faced during the journey to parenthood. The conversation emphasizes the need for a supportive community and the significanc...

We are so proud to have the doctors behind The OB Hospitalist. Initially conceived to unite OB Hospitalists and help others in their field, cope with the challenges of being in healthcare, family, and juggling modern day challenges. Their audience has expanded to include nurses, midwives, sonographers, and anyone else passionate about delivering quality and meaningful women’s healthcare. Our conve...

What is a nurse to do?! Listen in with Cassandra Koblitz RN, the founder of Hakuna Matata Mamas, a labor and delivery nurse plus hospital birth coach with 13 years of experience supporting women through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She has worked in high-risk labor units across the country and has supported thousands of hospital births. Here's what she knows: hospital birth can be beautiful—b...

Kiera Walsh is a doula, birth educator, and host of the Birth Advocacy Podcast. She’s supported hundreds of first-time moms through birth and is known for her bold, no-BS approach to education and advocacy. Kiera’s not afraid to call out outdated hospital routines or speak up when something doesn’t sit right—and she teaches moms and doulas how to do the same. With a mix of real talk, practical too...

In this episode of  The Birth Link Podcast , I sit down with labor nurse Marya Eddaifi, who shares her powerful journey from a military birth experience to creating her own practice centered on  structural integration and fascia based bodywork . We talk about how soft tissue mobilization of ligaments, muscles, and joints can improve comfort, autonomy, and recovery in labor, even for thos...

We're so honored to have the wonderful Dawn Hancock founder of Pivotal Birth on this episode where we discuss the best way to plan for birth, with the idea that there will be times we will need to know how to pivot. Pivot is an acronym: Permission Inclusion Values Options Time With Dawn herself with deep dive into each of these points, how to plan for birth and as two labor and delivery nurses oft...

Shelly Yehuda is an HR expert certified in California State Leave Laws with extensive experience in maternity leave benefits. She helps new and expectant mothers understand their rights and options while ensuring they follow the proper procedures for leave. Shelly is well-versed in key programs like FMLA, CFRA, PDL, CA SDI, Paid Family Leave, Bonding, PPLO, ADA and employer-specific policies. She...

Sharon is a research scientist turned birth Doula and pediatric sleep consultant. She shares her world with her wonderful husband and two amazing kiddos! Sharon has a deep rooted passion to help expected families navigate the transition into parenthood as seamlessly as possible, and loves educating and supporting Parents in her community.  Topic: Evidence-based doula work, Maternal-fetal disp...

Charlotte, also known as The Smart Doula, is a Virtual Doula based in the UK, providing evidence-based pregnancy support to families who want an empowering birth. With 10 years + of clinical research experience, a biomedical science degree, and two hospital births of her own under her belt, she uses her knowledge to provide pregnancy support to help parents make informed decisions about your pregn...

Amber Ginn, IBCLC, is the founder of The Latch Link, one of the nation’s leading virtual lactation practices. With a decade of experience working with moms, she provides prenatal and postpartum breastfeeding support to families across the U.S.—and with insurance, that care is completely free. Amber is known for her no-fluff, straight-to-the-point approach, empowering moms with the knowledge and co...

This isn't an easy episode to share, but I think it's one that needs to be. I leave all names out for respect of the professionals in my area, and of course patient information is always confidential, but my side is free to be discussed, and I'm about to. Please, as nurses, let's do better. Stop the closed minded, no questions asked, okay to bully others, the doctor is king mentality. We are all a...

Casey is a writer and advocate driven by a deep commitment to maternal health and mental well-being. As a mother who has navigated the complexities of birth trauma and postpartum challenges, she understands firsthand the emotional and physical toll motherhood can take. Casey is dedicated to creating a space where mothers feel heard, supported, and empowered in their journeys.  She holds a Bac...

I numbered this episode - finally. I get into a straight shooting discussion on Pitocin, and how we as nurses and the hospital system manage this drug. How do we navigate this, probably overused drug, with respect and safety? Evidence based, shared decision making is what is sold in the hospital, but is that what you are getting? Too many times we are starting this medication without much of a con...

In this illuminating episode of The Birth Link Podcast, we welcome Dr. Emily Guarnotta, a licensed clinical psychologist and certified perinatal mental health provider who's changing the conversation around parental mental health. As the founder of Phoenix Health, Dr. Guarnotta specializes in supporting parents through the complex emotional landscape of bringing new life into the world. Our discus...

In this essential episode of The Birth Link Podcast, we dive deep into the waters of pregnancy—amniotic fluid! Learn what this miraculous fluid actually is, why it's vital for your baby's development, and how it changes throughout pregnancy. We guide you through what normal fluid levels look like, when to be concerned, and exactly what to do if your water breaks unexpectedly. From spontaneous rupt...

You know about the drink and the glucose test your provider is going to want you to take.  You have probably heard of gestational diabetes and maybe even how to prevent and manage this pregnancy complication.  Today I’m with Sara, a L&D RN of over 6 years, and a high-risk OB nurse specializing in gestational diabetes, to discuss the critical topic of gestational diabetes mellitus (GD...

In this episode, Colette discusses the intricacies of childbirth, focusing on pushing positions, techniques to reduce tearing, and the importance of understanding one's body during labor. She emphasizes the need for effective communication with healthcare providers and the significance of pelvic positioning for a smoother delivery. The conversation also covers the risks of tearing and how to manag...

This episode I’m so excited to invite Dr Emily Brownlee to discuss her own birth journey as she navigated from a traumatic but oh so common induction story that led to her first c-section and how she eventually got her VBAC only 17 months later!  She is now preparing for a home birth with her third baby as she builds her pelvic floor community with Pelvic Floor Fit!   Emily is a pel...

Kaci Mial (she/her) is an experienced sex educator and certified coach with 12+ years of expertise working with individuals, couples, and families. She specializes in supporting parents with communication and intimacy challenges throughout the journey of trying to conceive, pregnancy, and postpartum. Kaci is a trained educator with The Gottman Institute’s Bringing Baby Home program, a certified in...

Clara joins us today in a deep discussion on how fear has transformed the medicalized institution of birth.  She is a researcher-turned doula and childbirth educator who brings a mix of science and mindful practices to birth work.  Clara founded Clear Light Birth in 2021 and has supported thousands of families to prepare for beautiful birth experiences through her programs, services, and...

Please review and share our show, we'd love to grow! We welcome Jill Magoffin to The Birth Link Podcast! Full on turkey and stuffing, we close out the holiday season chatting about The Birth Story from TLC, birth expectations and what does a doula even do?! More importantly we get into how to build the best birth team around you while pregnant, in birth and through postpartum. How do you choose wh...

We're going to dive into a few points we need to be aware of during the second stage of labor.  The stage between getting to 10 cm and having your baby.  How long can we expect it to take, or how long should I allow myself to push with the recommendations from my provider and expert suggestions?  What if we wait to push until we feel like the baby is coming?  Do we still recomm...