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!

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:

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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:

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We're going to dive into a few points we need to be aware of during the second stage of labor. The stage between getting to 10 cm and having your baby. How long can we expect it to take, or how long should I allow myself to push with the recommendations from my provider and expert suggestions? What if we wait to push until we feel like the baby is coming? Do we still recommend “laboring down?” What is it and why or why not?

I also touch on the fetal ejection reflex, the fascinating physiological process that highlights the incredible natural design of birth. We touch a little on pushing and position techniques and communication strategies with your birth team. This is an episode you don’t want to miss as you prepare to meet your baby! If you’re a birth worker, are you asking yourself where your interventions and skills are coming from and are you prioritizing the patient and her preferences during this special stage? Let’s dive in!

00:39 Personal Updates and Reflections

02:11 Diving into the Second Stage of Labor

05:55 Historical Perspectives on Labor

12:32 Pushing Techniques and Recommendations

27:45 My Birth Experience

30:52 Understanding Labor Experiences

31:21 The Concept of Laboring Down

32:59 New Evidence on Laboring Down

34:48 Epidurals and Pushing Techniques

41:21 The Fetal Ejection Reflex

47:49 Creating a Supportive Birth Environment

54:31 Final Thoughts and Next Steps

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:

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FaceBook

Produced and edited by Vaden Podcast Services

We love a great redemption story! Sara went to school with me and we were friends in high school, so it was great to reconnect and learn that we had such similar birth stories! Being young, naive and ill-prepared for birth in the hospital system, what did we take away to then achieve the birth we knew that we deserved as women? You won’t want to miss this episode as we casually discuss what is missing in the birth industry and how we can take control and responsibility to get the birth we’ve always wanted!

00:28 Reconnecting with Sarah

04:20 Sarah's First Birth Story

15:18 The Role of Medical Interventions

26:49 Improving Birth Experiences

37:38 Informed Consent in Childbirth

38:39 The Importance of Childbirth Education

42:47 The Role of Doulas and Birth Coaches

44:32 Navigating Hospital Births and Advocacy

46:28 Postpartum Support and Challenges

53:24 The Importance of Prenatal Care

01:03:03 Final Thoughts and Advice for Expectant Moms

01:05:06 Outro and Upcoming Topics

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:

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Produced and edited by Vaden Podcast Services

A birth plan, done correctly, can feel daunting. Just another task to add to your growing list of things to do as your baby arrives. It’s usually way more fun to look through Pinterest to decorate the nursery and set up your registry (though, that can be pretty overwhelming these days too).

Most parents put it to the wayside, or choose to check off some boxes on an easy made for you birth plan template. That is just not going to do the trick though. I’ve seen enough deliveries to know that when done right, having a birth plan can mean the difference of a traumatic birth, and a joyful one. Use the information in this episode to motivate you to grab a notebook and get started. Use the following links to help guide you!

Questions for your OB/Midwife

Schedule a call to learn more about The Birth Link nurse coaching!

December and January spots are filled, if you are interested in grabbing a spot in the next cohort, we start January 27th, spots are limited! Click to schedule a call or pre register at myfriendsanurse.com!

02:11 Birth Plan Workshop Overview

03:36 Creating an Effective Birth Plan

05:40 Informed Consent and Patient Rights

14:41 Building Your Support Team

16:11 Using a Birth Plan as a Communication Tool

17:17 Engaging with Your Healthcare Provider

25:39 Understanding Birth Preferences

26:27 Setting the Birth Environment

26:46 Communicating Your Birth Plan

27:35 The Role of the Birth Plan

30:07 Avoiding Unnecessary Interventions

31:27 Empowerment Through Knowledge

39:33 Steps to Create a Birth Plan

46:37 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

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:

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Produced and edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Lynsey McGillivray, owner of Born This Way Hypnobirthing, doula and registered midwife joins us this week from Scotland to discuss what hypnobirthing is. We dispel the myths and misconceptions that come with the name, and why it should be available to EVERY pregnant woman and her partner to utilize in birth.

To work with Lynsey visit her website bornthiswaybirthing.com and follow her on Instagram @bornthiswaybirthing! She is also the host of her own podcast “This Is Birth” and author of a book of uplifting, positive birth stories, “Birth Actually.”

00:38 Creating a Cozy Birth Environment

01:55 The Importance of Personalizing Your Birth Space

04:27 Introduction to Hypnobirthing

07:41 Lynsey McGillivray's Journey into Hypnobirthing

17:22 Understanding Hypnobirthing Techniques

29:35 Overcoming Medical Pushback

31:17 The Importance of Preparation

34:06 Mindset and Positive Birth Stories

35:32 Real-Life Hypnobirthing Experiences

38:41 The Role of Education and Support

44:40 Final Thoughts and Resources

49:03 Upcoming Topics and Conclusion

Connect with Lynsey:

Follow her on Instagram: @bornthiswayhypnobirthing

Visit her website: BornThisWayHypnoBirthing.com

Grab her book: ‘Birth Actually’ on amazon

Listen to her Podcast: ‘This is Birth’

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:

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FaceBook

Produced and edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Welcome to the world, now let us protect you! Learn more about one of the very first medications given to your baby, right after birth, to prevent neonatal conjunctivitis, or pink eye, specifically from gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae).

Using the acronym once again, PIEDAY, we review the prophylactic treatment by considering the Problem, Incidence, Evidence, Downsides, Alternatives and Your input and feelings.

Nothing in health and medical treatment is so black and white, and educating yourself and your team before you need to make a decision like giving your baby antibiotics right after birth will give you confidence and a sense of control, all which are so easily lost in the hospital birth system. Please share this episode with friends, family and your birth team and have the conversation with your provider for a full understanding and expectations.

Resources and cited links:

Evidencebasedbirth.com

AAFP: Prevent Newborns’ Eye Infection With Antibiotic Ointment, Jan 20, 2019, USPSTF Final Recommendation Statement

brighamandwomens.org; Pediatric Newborn Medicine Clinical Practice Guidelines, Erythromycin Eye Prophylaxis Administration in Newborn Infants

00:39 The Need for Better Pregnancy Support

07:40 Postpartum Support and Services

10:36 The Importance of Informed Decisions

11:02 Erythromycin Ointment Explained

28:10 History and Evolution of Silver Nitrate

28:55 Antibiotics and Modern Medicine

31:02 Causes of Infections

37:37 Effectiveness of Prophylactic Treatments

42:14 Risks and Downsides of Antibiotic Ointments

45:40 Alternatives to Antibiotic Ointments

50:10 Questions to Ask Your Doctor

55:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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

FaceBook