Uncertainty is one of life’s only constants. Whether you’re awaiting labor, navigating a breakup, or supporting a loved one through illness, not knowing what comes next can feel like freefall.

In this intimate solo episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, I open up about the seasons of my own life that shook me to the core:

• the unraveling of my marriage,
• a complete career pivot, and
• my mother’s breast-cancer diagnosis.

These experiences became unexpected teachers—mirroring the mystery of pregnancy and birth.

You’ll hear about:

• Uncertainty as a portal – how the loss of old identities can spark profound transformation.
• The identity shift of birth – why giving birth is also a rebirth of the parent.
• Common pregnancy fears – and a practice to uncover the deeper truths beneath them.
• Building self-trust – simple ways to practice surrender and confidence before labor.
• Life transitions as rehearsal for birth – how divorce, illness, or career change can prepare you for parenthood.

If you’re preparing for birth—or moving through any life change—this episode will help you see uncertainty not as failure, but as an invitation to growth.

Resources Mentioned:

• Journaling prompts for uncovering core fears (see blog post)
• Daily reflection practices to strengthen self-trust
• Guided meditation ideas for transitions

Connect with Clara:

💌 [email protected]

📱 Instagram: @mindfulwombpodcast
✨ if you’re looking for a mindfulness based childbirth class that will support you in confronting the challenges of uncertainty around birth, check out A Path to A Powerful Birth at www.clearligthtbirth.com/classes 

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🎁 Use discount code: CLEARLIGHTBIRTH

***If these topics light you up, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.

After you review the show - snap a pic and upload it here - and I’ll send you 70 printable affirmation cards as a thank you.

Your feedback helps this podcast grow, and I am so grateful for your support!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.

In this tender, deeply affirming episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, I sit down with Sam Byington—former private chef turned postpartum doula and certified lactation counselor—for a conversation every parent deserves to hear.

We go beyond diaper tips and freezer meals to talk about the real postpartum: the identity shifts, the relationship changes, the raw beauty, and the quiet grief no one warns you about. Sam shares her personal story of miscarriage, birth, and the messy, magical transformation into parenthood—and how it ultimately led her to become the support she once needed.

Whether you're expecting, newly postpartum, or holding space for someone who is, this episode is a balm.

We explore:

• How miscarriage shaped her postpartum calling
• The emotional and physical truths no one told her about postpartum recovery
• Breastfeeding struggles and the myths that set new parents up to feel like they're failing
• How babywearing and bed-sharing became tools of survival and connection
• What sleep deprivation really feels like
• Intimacy, identity shifts, and learning to speak your needs
• The power of slow, grounded postpartum care—and how Sam now provides it to others

Quotes to Remember:
💬 “The birth of my baby was also the death of a version of myself.”
💬 “Postpartum is not a problem to be solved. It’s a season to be supported.”
💬 “I’m not here to fix. I’m here to witness, nourish, and be with.”

Connect with Sam:
🌐 postpartumnurture.com
📸 @postpartumnurturecoach

Mentioned Resources:

• La Leche League & The Safe Sleep Seven
• Postpartum Support International
• Babywearing and biological norms
• IBCLC lactation guidance

✨ Know this: the postpartum experience is not a checklist—it's a rite of passage. This episode is here to honor it fully.

Get 20% off your first monthly subscription with NEEDED Vitamins 

🎁 Use discount code: CLEARLIGHTBIRTH

***If these topics light you up, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.

After you review the show - snap a pic and upload it here - and I’ll send you 70 printable affirmation cards as a thank you.

Your feedback helps this podcast grow, and I am so grateful for your support!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.

Okay — let’s talk about sex. Yes, sex during pregnancy.
This is one of those topics that so many people wonder about, but few feel safe or comfortable asking out loud. In this episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, we’re breaking the silence and diving into the truth about intimacy, safety, and desire during pregnancy.

You’ll learn:

• What kinds of sex are generally safe during pregnancy
• When to check in with your provider before getting intimate
• How libido can shift trimester by trimester
• Non-traditional ways to experience intimacy (and why they count!)
• What positions actually feel good as your body changes
• Red flags to watch for — and when to get support
• How to navigate emotional changes, gender dysphoria, or disconnection

Whether you’re feeling more sensual than ever, or not into it at all, this conversation is here to affirm that your experience is valid, worthy, and absolutely normal.

Mentioned Episodes:
🎧 Ep 85 – Rebuilding Connection with Dr. Michelle Waldron
🎧 Ep 47 – Pain-Free Sex Postpartum with Lynn Schulte

Get 20% off your first monthly subscription with NEEDED Vitamins 

🎁 Use discount code: CLEARLIGHTBIRTH

***If these topics light you up, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.

After you review the show - snap a pic and upload it here - and I’ll send you 70 printable affirmation cards as a thank you.

Your feedback helps this podcast grow, and I am so grateful for your support!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.

In this powerful episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, I sit down with Farida Graham—educator, leader, and proud parent to 14-month-old Tammy—for an unfiltered, heartfelt conversation about navigating a high-risk pregnancy, confronting systemic bias, and fiercely advocating for herself as a Black birthing person.

We cover:

• The unexpected shift to “high-risk” at 20 weeks and what that really felt like
• How Farida made the courageous decision to switch care providers
• Replacing exercise with nervous system regulation tools like massage and breathwork
• How race and data informed her care decisions
• Preparing for postpartum before the baby arrived
• Facing and treating postpartum anxiety with courage and support
• Leading by example in the workplace around parental leave
• And the mantra that grounded her through it all: “Trust your baby. Trust your body.”

This episode is full of practical wisdom, deep insight, and the kind of honesty our birth culture desperately needs more of.

Mentioned Resources:

• Postpartum Support International: www.postpartum.net 
• Episodes 47 & 85 for deeper dives into intimacy and postpartum care
  
  

Connect with Clara:
 📩 [email protected]
📱 IG: @mindfulwombpodcast

Get 20% off your first monthly subscription with NEEDED Vitamins 

🎁 Use discount code: CLEARLIGHTBIRTH

***If these topics light you up, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.

After you review the show - snap a pic and upload it here - and I’ll send you 70 printable affirmation cards as a thank you.

Your feedback helps this podcast grow, and I am so grateful for your support!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.

Have “get the epidural” circled on your birth plan? Or maybe you’re curious but not sure if it’s for you? In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on what epidurals really are, how they work, what they don’t do—and why preparation still matters deeply, even if you’re planning on pain meds.

We’ll explore:

• What epidurals actually do (and don’t do)
• How they’re administered, and what it feels like
• Common misconceptions that leave people unprepared
• Side effects and interventions that often come with them
• What to do if an epidural fails or doesn’t fully work
• Why birth prep is still crucial with or without meds
• The essential tools every birthing person needs—no matter the plan

If you're planning an epidural, undecided, or just open to options, this episode will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and ready to advocate for the birth you deserve.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Path to a Powerful Birth – Clara’s childbirth course blending research, mindfulness, advocacy, and surrender.

Research Citations:

• Anim-Somuah, M., Smyth, R. M. D., & Cyna, A. M. (2018). Epidural versus non-epidural or no analgesia in labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (5), CD000331. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000331.pub4
  
  
• Sharma, S. K., & McGrady, E. (2014). Early versus late initiation of epidural analgesia for labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (10), CD007238. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007238.pub3
  
  
• Pan, P. H., Bogard, T. D., & Owen, M. D. (2004). Incidence and characteristics of failed conversion of labor epidural analgesia to cesarean delivery anesthesia: A retrospective analysis of 19,259 deliveries. Anesthesiology, 100(4), 908–914. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000542-200404000-00014
  
  
• Torvaldsen, S., Roberts, C. L., Simpson, J. M., Thompson, J. F., & Ellwood, D. A. (2006). Intrapartum epidural analgesia and breastfeeding: A prospective cohort study. International Breastfeeding Journal, 1, 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4358-1-24
  
  
• Beilin, Y., Bodian, C. A., Weiser, J., Hossain, S., Arnold, I., Feierman, D. E., & Martin, G. (2005). Effect of labor analgesia with and without fentanyl on infant breastfeeding: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study. Anesthesiology, 103(6), 1211–1217. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000542-200512000-00018

Get 20% off your first monthly subscription with NEEDED Vitamins 

🎁 Use discount code: CLEARLIGHTBIRTH

***If these topics light you up, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.

After you review the show - snap a pic and upload it here - and I’ll send you 70 printable affirmation cards as a thank you.

Your feedback helps this podcast grow, and I am so grateful for your support!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.

In this powerful episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, I sit down with pelvic floor physical therapist Mitali Mohanan (she/her) to explore one of the most overlooked pieces of reproductive health: the pelvic floor. Often dismissed until postpartum, this essential group of muscles plays a foundational role in fertility, hormone regulation, emotional well-being, and more.

From her own journey after birth trauma to becoming a passionate advocate for this work, Mitali walks us through the misunderstood world of pelvic floor therapy. We dive deep into how tension (not weakness!) is often the hidden root of issues, and why breath—not Kegels—is often the first step in healing.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why pelvic floor therapy matters before you conceive
• How tight muscles can impact your hormones and fertility
• Breathwork as a tool to restore safety and connection
• Red flags you might benefit from therapy—even if you’re not postpartum
• How pelvic floor therapy supports emotional healing and trauma recovery
• Simple at-home practices to get started today

Who This Episode Is For:
If you're trying to conceive, healing after birth, navigating pelvic pain, or simply curious about your body’s deeper rhythms—this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned:

• Learn more about Mitali’s practice: Revitalize PT 
• Listen to Episode 82: Unlocking the Power of Your Menstrual Cycle with Julie Lipstadt
• Explore pelvic floor yoga, breathing techniques, and fertility charting resources
• The Path to a Powerful Birth – Clara’s childbirth course blending research, mindfulness, advocacy, and surrender.

Get 20% off your first monthly subscription with NEEDED Vitamins 

🎁 Use discount code: CLEARLIGHTBIRTH

***If these topics light you up, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.

After you review the show - snap a pic and upload it here - and I’ll send you 70 printable affirmation cards as a thank you.

Your feedback helps this podcast grow, and I am so grateful for your support!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.

You’ve probably heard the advice: “You need to advocate for yourself during labor.” But what does that actually mean—especially if you’re not someone who feels naturally assertive?

In this episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, we’re unpacking what self-advocacy really looks like in the birth space. From debunking myths to sharing grounded communication tools and real-life phrases you can use during labor, this episode is your guide to feeling informed, calm, and in control—even in the most intense moments.

We’ll cover:

• Why advocacy isn’t about confrontation (and what it is about)
• How to speak up without being aggressive
• The one sentence that helped my client Tasha reclaim her voice
• Practical scripts for common birth scenarios
• How to include your partner in the advocacy process
• Why advocacy begins long before labor

Resources Mentioned:
🌸 The Path to a Powerful Birth – Clara’s childbirth course blending research, mindfulness, advocacy, and surrender.

If you’re in a season of surrender—by choice or by force—know this: you are held. You are enough. And you’re not alone.

Get 20% off your first monthly subscription with NEEDED Vitamins 

🎁 Use discount code: CLEARLIGHTBIRTH

***If these topics light you up, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.

After you review the show - snap a pic and upload it here - and I’ll send you 70 printable affirmation cards as a thank you.

Your feedback helps this podcast grow, and I am so grateful for your support!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.

In this episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, we're busting the myth of the "perfect" birth plan. Birth prep is not about having every stage memorized or packing the right playlist—it's about knowing how to meet birth as it is. Clara shares the five essential pillars of true birth preparation that go beyond the checklist and into your inner strength.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why most birth plans fall short—and what to do instead
• How values-based birth planning can guide your decisions
• Tools to regulate your nervous system before and during labor
• How to prepare your partner or support team to advocate with you
• Why self-trust is the foundation of a powerful birth

Resources Mentioned:
🌸 The Path to a Powerful Birth – Clara’s childbirth course blending research, mindfulness, advocacy, and surrender.

If you’re in a season of surrender—by choice or by force—know this: you are held. You are enough. And you’re not alone.

Get 20% off your first monthly subscription with NEEDED Vitamins 

🎁 Use discount code: CLEARLIGHTBIRTH

***If these topics light you up, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.

After you review the show - snap a pic and upload it here - and I’ll send you 70 printable affirmation cards as a thank you.

Your feedback helps this podcast grow, and I am so grateful for your support!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.

Surrender Is Not Weakness—It’s Wisdom: A Personal Story from Bali, Silence, and Back Again

Episode Description:
What if surrender wasn’t about giving up—but about finding your deepest strength?

In this deeply personal episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, Clara shares an unexpected chapter from her life: losing her voice after returning from a transformative retreat in Bali. What began as frustration became a profound reminder of a truth she teaches every birthing person she works with: 🌿 Surrender is not weakness—it’s wisdom.

From Bali to the silence of vocal rest, Clara reflects on how birth, parenting, and life continually ask us to release the illusion of control—and how doing so can deepen our connection to ourselves, our bodies, and our power.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• The real gift Clara received when she lost her voice
• How control and safety are often confused during pregnancy
• What surrender really means in birth and postpartum
• The kind of support that builds true inner safety
• Why parenting is a masterclass in presence, not perfection

Reflection Questions to Journal or Meditate On:
✨ What might soften if I trusted myself more?
✨ What would open up if I didn’t need to control this part?
✨ What does surrender feel like in my body?
✨ What support do I need to feel safe when things get uncertain?

Resources Mentioned:
🌸 The Path to a Powerful Birth – Clara’s childbirth course blending research, mindfulness, advocacy, and surrender.

If you’re in a season of surrender—by choice or by force—know this: you are held. You are enough. And you’re not alone.

Get 20% off your first monthly subscription with NEEDED Vitamins 

🎁 Use discount code: CLEARLIGHTBIRTH

***If these topics light you up, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.

After you review the show - snap a pic and upload it here - and I’ll send you 70 printable affirmation cards as a thank you.

Your feedback helps this podcast grow, and I am so grateful for your support!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.

In this powerful episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, I sit down with certified nurse midwife, childbirth educator, and founder of Lila, Caitlyn Schollmeier. Together, we unpack how birthing people can reclaim their power and create a deeply meaningful, autonomous, and empowering birth experience.

We explore:

• How to shift away from fear-based narratives and embrace birth as a rite of passage
• What it means to create an intentional birth space—even in a hospital
• How clothing choices (like labor gowns) affect psychological safety and confidence
• Breathwork, vocalization, and birth affirmations as tools for releasing fear
• Finding balance between making empowered choices and surrendering to the process
• Why trusting your instincts doesn’t mean ignoring helpful tools

Caitlyn also shares her personal VBAC journey and the birth of Lila—a labor gown company focused on comfort, identity, and reclaiming autonomy in the birth space.

🎁 Grab your free birth plan template HERE
🌿 Explore Lila labor gowns: Instagram @lila.laborwear
📱 Learn about Elora, the mindful baby monitor
💬 Follow Caitlyn on TikTok: @themodernmidwife
✔️ A Path to a Powerful Birth childbirth education class: clearlightbirth.com/classes

You deserve a birth that centers your voice, your comfort, and your power.

Get 20% off your first monthly subscription with NEEDED Vitamins 

🎁 Use discount code: CLEARLIGHTBIRTH

***If these topics light you up, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.

After you review the show - snap a pic and upload it here - and I’ll send you 70 printable affirmation cards as a thank you.

Your feedback helps this podcast grow, and I am so grateful for your support!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.