The Mindful Womb Podcast

Navigating hospital policies during birth can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast , I sit down with Colette Wagholikar (she/her)—a labor and delivery nurse turned childbirth educator and founder of My Friend’s A Nurse . Colette brings her unique insider knowledge to demystify hospital policies, empowering you to navigate them with confidence an...

We all know how tempting it is to load up our registries with cute outfits, high-tech gadgets, and the latest must-have baby items. But here's the thing: the true essentials are often overlooked—those items that will not only support your baby but also support you as new parents.  In this episode, we dive into the following: Real essentials for your baby registry Normalizing asking for suppor...

Pregnancy is often celebrated as a magical time, but for some, being labeled “high-risk” can bring uncertainty and fear. In this episode, I’m joined by Amber Matteson (she/they), a highly experienced doula specializing in supporting high-risk birthing people. Whether you’ve just received a high-risk diagnosis or want to better understand your options, Amber shares practical strategies to reclaim y...

Tired of experiencing nausea during prengnacy? We are reviewing 10 effective remedies that can reduce or eliminate morning sickness or nausea during pregnancy.  About 80% of pregnant people experience some form of nausea during pregnancy. But here’s the good news: in this episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast , we discuss 10 effective, natural remedies that can help ease your morning sickness and ke...

Newborn and sleep specialist Marisa Rodriquez shares strategies to promote healthy sleep habits.  In this episode, we dive into the following: Gentle ways to build healthy sleep patterns with your baby Mindfulness techniques that promote newborn development and sleep Common mistakes that can negatively affect baby’s sleep patterns Tips for how to balance your sleep with newborn sleep Trigger warni...

Does the evidence show perineal massage is effective at preventing tearing? We are going to review the research and share if it’s worth it to spend time to do perineal massage to reduce tearing. In this episode, we dive into the following: What mindsets can impact our labor The 5 things that can cause labor to slow down What to do when things have slowed down Don’t forget to check out the blog pos...

What so you need on your registry that will leave you feeling prepared for your newborn? Today we are joined be Kaitlin McGreyes, founder of BeHerVillage who is changing the narrative about how we prepare for parenthood and how being intentional about how we create our baby registry can make all the difference. We will cover: Biggest mistakes most people make when making their baby registries  How...

Does the evidence show perineal massage is effective at preventing tearing? We are going to review the research and share if it’s worth it to spend time to do perineal massage to reduce tearing. In this episode, we dive into the following: An overview of the tear types and recovery What is perineal massage Whether perineal massage reduces the chances of tearing Trigger warning: perineal tears, epi...

Energy blockages can impact your ability to conceive. Carolina Sotomayor shares how reiki healing can complement fertiliy treatments to heal the womb and conceive more easily. In this episode, we dive into the following: Establishing emotional safety in order to heal How to identify when you’re making fear based decisions What reiki is and how it works How connecting with your emotions can help de...

Feeling Overwhelmed with Birth Prep? You’re Not Alone! Preparing for birth can feel like an avalanche of information—books, videos, classes, social media, and unsolicited advice seem to come from all directions. Many pregnant people feel torn between wanting to know everything and feeling paralyzed by the sheer amount of information available. In this week’s podcast episode, I shared actionable st...

From IVF, to connecting with an egg donor, to dealing with challenges in pregnancy, Danielle shares the ups and downs of her journey of concieving her daughter at age 45. She offers amazing insights to mindset shifts that lead to empowerment among the most challenging moments.  In this episode, we dive into the following: Mindset shifts that helped through a 5 year fertility journey Finding provid...

Choosing where you give birth is one of the most crucial decisions you'll make in your birth journey. It's easy to make choices based on convenience or recommendations, but what if those decisions are founded on outdated or incomplete information? In this episode, we will uncover the real factors you should consider when selecting a hospital or birth location to ensure a positive and emp...

Understanding energetics of birth and it’s healing capacity with author Tami Kent. In this episode, we dive into the following: How to become more aware of your own energy field Using your breath as a healing modality Techniques to access the energy in your womb Birth as an energetic portal Trigger warning: gendered language You can learn more about Tami’s work and her books at www.wildfeminine.co...

What if I told you that some things your doctor says during labor might not be for your safety, but rather to maintain a sense of control? Today, we’re unpacking the complex topic of informed consent and coercive practices in childbirth. Understanding these nuances can drastically change your birth experience.  In this episode, we dive into the following: How to identify coercive strategies 4 ways...

Learn mind-body approaches to getting pregnant without it taking over your life with Spenser Brassard, Certified Life Coach, Top-Rated Podcast Host and Author.  In this episode, we dive into the following: How Spenser navigated a 8 year infertility journey Practical steps to integrate mindfulness into your fertility journey How to combat perfectionism and address shaming tendencies Finding our ide...

Why do hospitals tell people they “can’t” eat or have to stick to clear fluids duirng labor? Is this evidence-based? Let’s unpack the research so you can make a choice that is best for you. In this episode, we dive into the following: Why do hospitals tell people they “can’t eat or drink during labor What are the risks and benefits of eating during labor How to navigate hospital policies that say...

There are things you can do in pregnancy that will help yoe prepare for a smoother birth. We are joined by Lynn Schulte, a Birth Healing Specialist,  Pelvic Health Physical Therapist, and founder of the Institute for Birth Healing. She shares so much wisdom about how to prepare for a smoother birth. In this episode, we dive into the following: How baby’s position can mead to a smoother birth Myths...

Ready to learn how you can harness the power of your mind to ride the waves of labor and reduce pain? Altered states of consciousness have been widely studied in labor and they can help us naviate birth with more ease In this episode, we dive into the following: What are altered state of consciousness and how do they relate to labor How to access altered state of consciousness in labor What can di...

Steph and Iman share their conception and birth story, highlighting the lessons learned and the ways in which their experience with an infertility diagnosis and prengnacy after loss can inspire others. In this episode, we dive into the following: Navigating an infertility journey in partnership Overcoming loss Finding joy in the journey to parenthood Managing gestational diabetes and preeclampsia...

Wondering what a doula is an whether you should consider hiring one?  In this episode, we dive into the following: What a doula is and how they support birth The research on the effectiveness of doulas How doulas can improve the birth experience for families of color  Doula support for LGBTQIA+ families Reasons hiring a doula might not be the right fit for you Financial support for doula services...

Trusting our bodies after infertility treatment can be a challenge… but there are strategies that can help us regain this trust and confidence. Today we are joined by Jessica Katz a licensed clinical social worker and certified perinatal mental health therapist. She is the owner of Empress Counseling, a therapy practice specializing in mental health services for infertility, pregnancy, and postpar...

What if I told you there is a good chance your due date was calculated incorrectly… or even… there really is no such thing as a due date. In this episode, we dive into the following: Why most due dates are actually incorrect How to get the most accurate due date estimate When you can realistically expect your baby to be born And how an inaccurate due date can impact your birth experience Don’t for...

Experiencing painful sex postpartum? Let’s talk about what’s causing it and what to do about it. We are joined by Lynn Schulte, a Birth Healing Specialist,  Pelvic Health Physical Therapist, and founder of the Institute for Birth Healing. She shares so much wisdom about why this happens and how you get back on track to enjoying your sex life again In this episode, we dive into the following: The s...

The rates of induction have drastically increased over the years… and many providers are recommending everyone get induced at 39 weeks. Why? And how do you make a choice that feels right for you. In this episode, we dive into the following: What’s an induction Why are so many people getting recommended to induce at 39 weeks How to decide if an induction is the right choice for you How to mindfully...

Let’s talk about inclusive care for expecting individuals. In this enlightening episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sabrina Ortolano (she/her), a Birth Doula of nearly thirty years and owner of IPSB, Los Angeles’ longest-running massage and bodywork school. As a queer birthworker and body worker, Sabrina shares her wisdom about how to take a holistic approach to finding affirming care whil...