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.

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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.

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.

Welcoming a new life into the world is one of the most profound experiences a person can have. But how do you prepare for something as unpredictable as birth? In this episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, I sit down with Emily Wilder, a biologist and first-time parent, to hear how she prepared for birth with intention—and how she learned to trust her body and the process along the way.

Emily shares how her research-driven approach gave her confidence, how she used affirmations and mindset tools in labor, and how she advocated for postpartum leave—ultimately inspiring policy change in her provider's office. Her story is a powerful reminder that birth is about both preparation and surrender.

What You’ll Learn:

✔️How to balance research and intuition in pregnancy
✔️The difference between a birth plan and birth preferences
✔️Mindset tools that helped Emily stay grounded during labor
✔️Why advocacy in pregnancy and postpartum matters
✔️How joy and connection shaped her birthing experience

Resources Mentioned:

• Expecting Better by Emily Oster
• Evidence Based Birth Podcast
• Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
• A Path to a Powerful Birth childbirth education class: clearlightbirth.com/classes
  
  

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.

What if yoga could do more than improve flexibility? What if it could transform the way you move, breathe, and experience birth?

In this episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, I’m joined by Lara Heimann, a renowned leader in yoga and the creator of LYT (Lara’s Yoga Technique). We explore the deep connection between movement, breathwork, and body awareness—especially in the context of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery.

Tune in to hear:

✔️ How yoga bridges the gap between science and spirit in pregnancy
✔️ The key movement patterns that prepare your body for labor
✔️ Why breathwork is one of the most powerful tools for managing contractions
✔️ The biggest postpartum recovery mistakes (and how to avoid them!)
✔️ A holistic approach to wellness that honors your body at every stage

Resources & Links:

• Try LYT Yoga: Mindful Womb listeners can get a special deal; 5 weeks for $5 HERE. Just use code: MOVEBETTER
• Follow Lara on Instagram: @Lara.Heimann
• A Path to A Powerful Birth – Childbirth Education Class
• Check out the blog post for this episode HERE

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.

When we think of birth support, we often picture a partner holding a hand or offering ice chips. But true birth support is so much more than that. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the essential role of a birth partner—how they can regulate stress, create an environment of safety and trust, and actively advocate during labor. We’ll explore hands-on comfort measures, emotional grounding techniques, and what it really means to be a prepared and engaged birth partner.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why partner support is a game-changer for birth
• Simple, effective comfort techniques like counterpressure and hip squeezes
• How to stay calm and co-regulate emotions during labor
• Ways to set the birth environment for a smooth, supported experience
• The BRAIN method for advocacy and informed decision-making
• Why partner support doesn’t stop at birth—and how to show up in postpartum

If you or your partner want to feel truly prepared for labor, be sure to check out my childbirth education course, A Path to A Powerful Birth, where partner integration is a core focus!

Resources & Links:

• A Path to A Powerful Birth – Childbirth Education Class
• Connect with me on Instagram @clearlightbirth
• Check out the blog post for this episode HERE

If this episode was helpful, share it with an expecting parent who needs this info!

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.