The Birth Link

Written by: Colette Wagholikar RN
  • Summary

  • Welcome to The Birth Link, where we dive into the overwhelming and transformative experience of pregnancy, addressing your biggest fears, concerns, and need for connection among expecting mothers. I’m your host, Colette, a seasoned labor and delivery nurse and mother of two. This podcast is here to connect you with a community of fellow moms, expert advice, and reliable medical information. Each episode is designed to empower you with personal stories, practical tips, and the latest medical insights to help you make confident, informed decisions throughout your birthing journey. Tune into The Birth Link to embrace your inner strength, find your voice, gain support, build connections, and navigate the beautiful process of bringing new life into the world. Stay connected on Instagram @myfriendsanurse or at https://myfriendsanurse.com/
    Copyright 2025 Colette Wagholikar, RN
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Episodes
  • Navigating Sex and Intimacy During Pregnancy and Postpartum with Sex Coach Kaci
    Feb 10 2025

    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 infant massage educator, and a yoga instructor, blending evidence-based practices with practical tools to promote family well-being. She also brings personal experience as a mom of two young children and a fur baby, giving her unique insight into the joys and complexities of parenting.

    Kaci founded The Parent Pleasure Academy, an online course and community dedicated to improving sex and intimacy for postpartum parents. With a holistic approach, she aims to empower parents to reduce stress, build meaningful connections, and embrace joy in every stage of family life.

    Connect with Kaci on Socials @SexCoachKaci

    • Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sexcoachkaci/
    • Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KaciAMial
    • X – https://x.com/sexcoachkaci
    • LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaci-mial-m-ed-csc-ceim-b8a27173/
    • Threads https://www.threads.net/@sexcoachkaci

    Free Resources

    The Ultimate Postpartum Intimacy Prep Guide - Free downloadable PDF with checklists, prompts, journal entries, and questions to help postpartum parents begin thinking about intimacy. Discover quick tips to ease fears, reduce anxiety, and replace added exhaustion with practical solutions.

    The Parent Pleasure Academy Resource Guide - Free downloadable PDF resource list for parents and providers with books, websites, and tools that covers sex, intimacy, and relationships while trying to conceive, pregnant, and postpartum

    The Yes List- Printable PDF Checklist to use with partners to discuss sex and/or intimacy after having a baby

    Paid Resources

    The Parent Pleasure Academy Online Course & Community for pregnant & postpartum parents

    00:43 Challenges of Postpartum Intimacy

    01:55 Meet Sex Coach Kaci

    07:49 Kaci's Journey to Becoming a Sex Coach

    15:33 Navigating Intimacy During Pregnancy

    23:49 Building Emotional Connection

    24:34 Practical Tips for Couples

    27:34 Sex Coaching Insights

    36:26 Postpartum Challenges and Tips

    43:50 Final Thoughts and Resources

    More from My Friend's a Nurse:

    Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

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    48 mins
  • Fear Based Narratives in Birth and How to Get Past Them with Clara O’Rourke
    Jan 27 2025

    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 resources. Clara is the host of the Mindful Womb Podcast, a show packed with actionable strategies, heartfelt stories, and pregnancy and parenting hacks… all tied together to support people in harnessing their inner power during life’s most magnificent transitions. Her mission is to transform the mainstream, fear-based narrative about birth, help people connect with their intuition, and give birth with confidence.

    As a neurodivergent and queer birth worker, Clara is an advocate for creating inclusive spaces for people to access information and techniques for a calm and supported birth experience.

    01:29 Overcoming Anxiety and Travels to India

    03:00 Meet Clara O'Rourke

    07:24 Clara's Journey into Birth Work

    10:26 Empowering Birth Experiences

    18:20 Navigating Birth Plans and Preferences

    23:41 Effective Communication with Providers

    36:14 Understanding the Stress Response

    38:14 The Role of a Doula in Labor

    40:25 Fear-Based Care in Hospitals

    41:02 The Importance of Partner Involvement

    44:38 Navigating Hospital Birth Classes

    46:07 Accommodating Sensory and Emotional Needs

    55:22 Advocating for Queer and Neurodivergent Patients

    01:03:04 Conclusion and Resources

    More from Clara O'Rourke:

    Listen to her podcast The Mindful Womb

    Visit her website: www.clearlightbirth.com

    IG: @clearlightbirth

    Noted book reference: A Good Birth, A Safe Birth by Diana Korte


    More from My Friend's a Nurse:

    Join us for the Next Childbirth Crash Course This September 18th-20th!

    Join us for the next Birth Plan Workshop!

    Join the newsletter for behind the scenes and episode insights you don't want to miss!

    Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

    Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

    Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

    If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com


    Stay Connected:

    Instagram

    TikTok

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Building Your Perfect Birth TEAM: A Conversation with Jill Magoffin
    Dec 31 2024

    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 where to give birth? How do you find and choose your provider?How to interview a doula? What role should your partner, family and friends play? We cover IT ALL!

    Jill is one of the top doulas in the Los Angeles area, praised for her down to earth, no nonsense full spectrum birth support. She pours her heart into her work, which shows in all three of her children's books. Find her books here:

    You Are So Loved by Jill Magoffin

    Dear Little Baby by Jill Magoffin

    The Adventures of Doula Sonny: A Family's IVF Journey by Jill Magoffin

    Find Jill:

    jillmagoffin.com

    instagram.com/jillmagoffin

    More from My Friend's a Nurse:

    February coaching cohort starts Feb 2!

    Would you like to be coached personally for birth by Colette herself?!

    Become besties while learning EVERYTHING you need and want to know to feel confident and get excited for your baby's birthday!

    JOIN HERE

    Visit MyFriendsaNurse.com

    Grab this FREE Hospital Bag Checklist

    Email Colette directly for coaching availability and membership colette@myfriendsanurse.com

    If you are interested in partnering or being a guest on The Birth Link Podcast please email info@myfriendsanurse.com

    Stay Connected:

    Instagram

    TikTok

    FaceBook


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    1 hr and 5 mins

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