The Mindful Womb Podcast
The Mindful Womb podcast will help you apply the principles of mindfulness, science, and the sacred womb so you can feel less stressed and easily welcome your changing reality (and body) through life’s transitions like conception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenthood.
Host Clara O’Rourke (she/her), certified doula and childbirth educator, brings you actionable strategies, mindfulness tips, pregnancy and birth facts, authentic truths, and inspirational stories that can help you harness your inner power, embrace personal growth, and become the best version of yourself as you grow your family.
Episodes
56 episodes since 2023
55. How to Boost Fertility With Mind-Body Techniques- with Spenser Brassard
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 S...
September 10, 2024
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Episode 55
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59:01
54: Is It Safe to Eat and Drink During Labor? Unpacking the Evidence and Controversy
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:<...
September 03, 2024
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28:04
53: Preparing Your Body for a Smoother Birth - with Lynn Schulte
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 sha...
August 27, 2024
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Episode 53
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58:22
52: How to Harness Altered States of Consciousness To Reduce Labor Pain
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 easeIn this episode, ...
August 20, 2024
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Episode 52
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42:48
51: Overcoming Loss & Finding Joy in Pregnancy Together: Steph and Iman's Birth Story
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...
August 13, 2024
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Episode 51
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1:15:22
50: What's a Doula and Is It Worth Hiring One?
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 birthThe research on the effectiveness of doulas<...
August 06, 2024
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Episode 50
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51:29
49: Navigating Trust In Your Body After Infertility Treatment - with Jessica Katz
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...
July 30, 2024
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Episode 49
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55:04
48:Is Your Due Date Wrong? How An Incorrect Due Date Can Impact Your Birth
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
July 23, 2024
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22:26
47: Enjoying Pain-Free Sex Postpartum - The Healing Essentials with Pelvic Health Specialist Lynn Schulte
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. ...
July 15, 2024
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Episode 47
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35:37
46: The Induction Decision: Handling Pressure and Making the Right Choice for YOU
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 follo...
July 02, 2024
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Episode 46
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34:42
45: Navigating Inclusive Birth Support & Deeping Your Mind-Body Connection - with Sabrina Ortolano
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...
June 25, 2024
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Episode 45
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1:00:45
44: The Secret to Making An Effective Birth Plan
On this episode of the Mindful Womb Podcast, we explore the importance of creating a birth plan and how to make an effective one!In this episode, we dive into the following:What is a birth planWhy creating a b...
June 18, 2024
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Episode 44
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21:08
43: Mindful Advocacy Techniques That Will Uplevel Your Birth Experience - with Nurse Dawn Hancock
This episode dives into advocacy strategies for pregnancy and birth and infuses mindfulness practices throughout. We are joined by Dawn Hancock aka Nurse Dawn, a seasoned Labor and Delivery Nurse certified in Obstetric Nursing, Lamaze Certified...
June 11, 2024
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Episode 43
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1:19:02
42: The Secret to Having an Orgasmic Birth- with Debra Pascali-Bonaro
On this episode of the Mindful Womb Podcast, we are joined by Debra Pascali-Bonaro, a world-renowned inspirational speaker, host of the Orgasmic Birth podcast, filmmaker, doula trainer, childbirth educator, and author. Debra shares the se...
June 04, 2024
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Episode 42
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1:06:02
41: Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring Unraveled: Breaking Down the Evidence - with Dr. Kirsten Small
On this episode of the Mindful Womb Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Kirsten Small, an obstetrically trained researcher and educator. Kristen shares the research and evidence on the use of central fetal heart rate monitoring in labor.
May 28, 2024
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Episode 41
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1:05:14
40: How Many Cervical Exams Do I Need During Labor? A Mindful Approach to Cervical Exams
Today, I want to share with you a mindful approach to cervical exams during labor. This is a topic that can bring up a lot of questions and concerns for expecting parents, so I hope this will help you navigate this aspect of labor with confiden...
May 21, 2024
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Episode 40
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26:57
39: The Secrets to Successful Lactation In The Modern World: Navigating Challenges and Planning for Chest/ Breastfeeding - with Teresa Coyle Airey IBCLC
On this episode of the Mindful Womb Podcast, we are joined by Teresa Coyle Airey, a seasoned doula and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Teresa shares a wealth of knowledge about how to prepare for successful lactation. <...
May 14, 2024
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Episode 39
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1:15:50
38: Avoiding Unnecessary Interventions in Labor: Optimizing the Physiologic Birth Process (PART 2)
The best way to avoid unnecessary interventions in labor is to optimize the conditions for physiologic birth to progress. How do we do that? In this episode, we are covering the 5 key practices that have been proven by research to s...
May 07, 2024
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Episode 38
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22:57
37: Avoiding Unnecessary Interventions in Labor: Being Mindful of Your Choices (PART 1)
Today we are talking about how to avoid unnecessary interventions in labor. We'll learn some common interventions, shedding light on their impact, risks, and alternatives. Why should we question routine interventions? Because eviden...
April 30, 2024
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36:54
36. Is Cloth Diapering Right for Me? Your Guide to Mindful Diapering Practices - with Krystal Keller
On this episode of the Mindful Womb Podcast, we are joined by Krystal Keller (she/her), founder of Kinder Cloth Diaper Co. Krystal shares a lot of information about her journey as a mother of two and how she has integrated cloth diapers into he...
April 23, 2024
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Episode 36
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42:10
35: The Birth Binary: Avoid This Mindset Trap That Can Sabotage Your Birth Experience
Today we are talking about a mindset that can lead to a traumatic birth experience and the keys to avoiding this mindset trap. And we talk about the key mindset shift that will change your perspective on birth. Don’t forget to c...
April 16, 2024
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Episode 35
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21:34
34: The Ultimate Midwifery Q&A: All Your Questions ANSWERED- with Kiara Fair, CNM
On this episode of the Mindful Womb Podcast, we are joined by Kiara Fair, an Certified Nurse Midwife who specializes in homebirth. Kiara brings an amazing perspective with her expereince as a labor and delivery nurse turned doula turned midwife...
April 09, 2024
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1:01:24
33: My Body My Choice: How to Navigate Informed Consent for a Better Birth Experience
A key component to having an empowering birth experience is advocacy. Your voice should be at the center of your care ALWAYS. And advocating for what you want really matters. Unfortunately, the medical culture in the USA is not great about ensu...
April 02, 2024
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Episode 33
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26:33
32: Understanding Your Rights and Preventing Birth Challenges with Birth Law Expert Gina Mundy
On this episode of the Mindful Womb Podcast, we are joined by Gina Mundy, an attorney who specializes in childbirth cases. For over two decades, she has analyzed the mistakes that are made during labor and delivery. Drawing on this knowledge, s...
March 26, 2024
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Episode 32
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55:08
31: How do I Know I Am In Labor? Signs Your Body is Getting Ready for Labor in Late Pregnancy
Wondering what changes your body will experience in late pregnancy? Or what signs to look out for that mean your body is actually in labor? In this episode, we dive into the following:Signs your body is gettin...
March 19, 2024
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20:13