The Mindful Womb Podcast

Clara O'Rourke - Clear Light Birth
  • 4.7 (25)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 

  1. FEB 17

    109: An Unmedicated Birth Story of Pain, Power, Surrender, and the Call to Birthwork – with Ariella Silverstein-Tapp

    This episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast is one of those conversations that lingers. It’s intimate. It’s educational. It’s honest about the parts of birth and postpartum we don’t always name out loud. In this episode, I sit down with Ariella Silverstein-Tapp (she/her) — former school principal, lifelong educator, new mother, and now full-spectrum doula — to unpack her 50-hour unmedicated birth and the identity shift that followed. This is not just a birth story. It’s a story about: Reframing painLetting go of controlThe nervous system’s role in laborProdromal labor and enduranceAdvocacy inside hospital wallsPostpartum mental healthAnd the birth that led her into birthworkIf you’re interested in learning more about Ariella’s work as a birthworker, you can reach her on DoulaMatch or on Instagram @EarthsideBirthServices.   Check out this episode’s blog post for more resources! ***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.

    53 min

  2. FEB 3

    108: Managing Political Anxiety While Pregnant or Parenting: How to Stay Engaged Without the Anxiety Spiral

    If you’ve been feeling waves of anxiety while following the news — especially around immigration, civil rights, political instability, or the recent escalation of ICE enforcement across the U.S. — you are not alone. Many pregnant people and parents are feeling the emotional weight of this moment. With so much happening, it’s completely normal to feel a deep urge to take action and an equally strong need to protect your mental and emotional well-being. In today’s episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, we explore how to stay engaged, compassionate, and active during this intense political climate without spiraling into fear, overwhelm, or nervous-system burnout. We’ll walk through practical tools to balance: 🎧 Staying informed ✊ Stepping into meaningful advocacy 🧘 Keeping your stress levels in check 💗 Protecting your pregnancy and your family’s well-being This conversation honors both your agency and your boundaries — because you don’t have to choose between caring about the world and caring for yourself. Check out this episode’s blog post for more resources! ***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.

    31 min

  3. JAN 20

    107: Informed Choice in Newborn Care: Vitamin K, Eye Ointment, Hepatitis B, and More — with Dr. Joel Gator Warsh

    In this episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, Clara is joined by pediatrician and integrative medicine practitioner Dr. Joel Gator Warsh for a calm, evidence-based conversation about routine newborn interventions and how families can navigate them with clarity rather than fear. Together, they explore the why behind common recommendations — without oversimplification or pressure — so parents can feel informed, grounded, and confident in their choices. What You’ll Learn Why newborn medical decisions often feel overwhelmingWhat vitamin K does and how it reduces the risk of rare but serious bleedingWhat erythromycin eye ointment actually preventsWhy hepatitis B vaccination is offered at birth — and how guidance is evolvingHow to think about individual risk vs. population-level recommendationsThe nuance around Group B strep and antibiotics in laborWhat the evidence actually shows about Tylenol, vaccines, and autismHow to evaluate health information without falling into extremesLearn More from Dr. Gator Dr. Gator shares more in his book “Between a Shot and a Hard Place” and on his Substack, Instagram, and X accounts—platforms dedicated to bridging the space between polarized medical narratives.  Check out this episode’s blog post for more! ***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.

    58 min

  4. JAN 6

    106: Prepared for Whatever Comes: Letting Go of the “Perfect Birth” — with Bec Conant

    Birth is inherently uncertain — and that uncertainty is not something to fear. It’s where flexibility, trust, and empowerment live. In this episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, Clara is joined by Bec Conant (she/her) — a doula, prenatal and postnatal yoga teacher, and hypnobirthing educator with over 25 years of experience — for a reassuring conversation about releasing the myth of the “perfect birth” and learning how to work with whatever unfolds. Together, they explore how true preparation isn’t about controlling outcomes, but about building the confidence and presence to meet each moment as it arrives. What You’ll Learn Why there is no single “right way” to give birthHow letting go of outcome-attachment can reduce disappointmentWhat it means to build a birth “tool basket” without guaranteesThe difference between sensation and pain in laborHow fear and tension can intensify discomfortSimple ways to calm the nervous system during laborWhy no one fails at birth, even when plans changeAs Bec beautifully reminds us: “Nobody fails at birth. You can work with anything that comes up — as long as you keep working with it.” Learn More from Bec Explore Bec’s work — including prenatal yoga, hypnobirthing, and The Om Birth Approach — at:  🌐 www.ombirthsboston.com ***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.

    1h 7m

  5. 12/23/2025

    105: Reclaiming the Sacred in Birth: Physiological Birth, Fear, and the Power of Presence - with Anna Lundqvist

    Birth is one of the most profound rites of passage a birthing person can experience — yet in modern culture, it is often shaped by fear, urgency, and medicalization rather than trust, presence, and reverence. In this deeply grounding episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, Clara is joined by midwife and mentor Anna Lundqvist of Sacred Birth International for a rich conversation about reclaiming birth as a physiological, sacred, and transformational experience. Together, they explore what happens when birth is left undisturbed, how fear biologically alters labor, and why presence may be one of the most powerful tools in the birth space. This episode is an invitation — to slow down, to trust the body’s wisdom, and to remember birth not as something to be managed, but something to be honored. What You’ll Learn What physiological birth truly means — and why it’s more than just “unmedicated birth”How fear activates the nervous system and can slow or stall laborWhy oxytocin and endorphins thrive in safety, privacy, and emotional trustHow modern birth environments often trigger biological danger responsesBirth as a rite of passage — shedding one identity and stepping into anotherThe sacred art of space holding for doulas, midwives, and birth supportersWhy nervous system regulation is essential in the birth spaceDaily practices that support presence, intuition, and longevity in birth workHow home birth fits into the global birth safety conversationWhy every birth — including those involving intervention — can still be sacredResources To learn more about Anna’s work and her Sacred Birth Worker Mentorship, visit sacredbirthinternational.com or follow @sacredbirthinternational on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. ***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.

    54 min

  6. 12/09/2025

    104: The Mindful First Trimester Checklist: Your Guide to Early Pregnancy

    The first trimester is often treated like a waiting room — something to “get through” before the real pregnancy begins. But what if these early weeks are actually the foundation for everything that follows? In this grounding, heart-opening episode, Clara reframes the first trimester as a sacred beginning — a season of nervous system imprinting, emotional awakening, identity shift, and deep internal transformation. Whether you’re pregnant now, hope to be, or support birthing people, this episode will help you understand why the first trimester matters more than anyone tells you. Clara also unveils her brand-new free resource: ✨ The Mindful First Trimester Checklist — a gentle, grounding guide-within-a-guide for navigating the earliest weeks of pregnancy with presence, trust, and intention. (You’ll also get access to a private Spotify playlist available ONLY through the checklist.) What You’ll Learn The untold truth about the first trimester and why it’s not a pause — it’s a profound beginningThree common first trimester mistakes (and what to do instead)How nervous system patterns established now influence birthWhy birth preparation doesn’t start at 30 weeks — it starts with micro-habits of presenceHow mindfulness becomes a companion, not another taskA grounding practice you can return to any timeFree Resource Download your free Mindful First Trimester Checklist (includes the private playlist):  👉 www.clearlightbirth.com/checklist ***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.

    23 min

  7. 11/25/2025

    103: Aligned for Birth: How Chiropractic Care Supports Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond - with Dr. Emily Loughery

    Pregnancy is one of the body’s most profound transformations—beautiful, powerful, and sometimes uncomfortable. In this episode, Clara sits down with Dr. Emily Loughery (she/her), a perinatal and pediatric chiropractor, to explore how gentle chiropractic care can support the body (and nervous system) through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery. You’ll learn how alignment affects not only comfort but also pelvic balance, fetal positioning, and emotional well-being—and how restoring communication between the brain, spine, and body can help you move through pregnancy with more ease and trust. 💫 You’ll Learn What chiropractic care actually is—and why it’s about the nervous system, not just bonesHow pelvic and spinal alignment influence baby’s position and labor progressWhat the Webster Technique is and how it supports balanced biomechanicsThe difference between “turning a baby” and creating space for baby to moveHow chiropractic care can ease common discomforts (low-back pain, sciatica, rib tension, pelvic instability)Why gentle adjustments are safe throughout pregnancyWhen to start care—and how it supports postpartum healingThe emotional and energetic benefits of trauma-informed, mindful chiropractic care📚 Resources Mentioned Dr. Emily Loughery – Community Chiropractic of Acton (Massachusetts)International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) Provider Directory: icpa4kids.com/find-a-pediatric-chiropractorResearch on the Webster Technique – Journal of Manipulative and Physiological TherapeuticsClara’s Free Mindful Evidence Checklist – clearlightbirth.com/resourcesDownload Clara’s Free Birth Plan Template, used at over 5,000 births.Ready for an evidence based birth class? Check out A Path to A Powerful BirthThe Birth Advocacy Toolkit is a great option for expectant parents who have already taken a class but want to make sure their preferences are heard and want evidence based information to help make their decisions. 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.

    45 min

  8. 11/11/2025

    102: The Research That Reshaped Birth—and the Lessons We’re Still Learning from the ARRIVE and Term Breech Trials

    The ARRIVE Trial and the Term Breech Trial reshaped modern birth practices in ways researchers never intended. From skyrocketing inductions to the loss of vaginal breech training, these studies reveal how even “gold-standard” science can miss the human side of birth. Clara invites you to take a mindful pause: to look beyond the data, question how evidence gets translated into policy, get curious about how the research was designed, and remember that true evidence-based care must center the individual—not just the research. You’ll Learn: What the ARRIVE Trial and the Term Breech Trial actually found (and what they didn’t)How these studies shifted policy, practice, and training worldwideWhy over-reliance on “evidence” can erase skills, intuition, and personal choiceHow to bring mindfulness into your decision-making about induction, breech birth, or any medical recommendationWhy traditional and holistic birth practices still matter—even if they’ve never been studiedMindful Reflection “Mindfulness isn’t about ignoring evidence—it’s about pausing long enough to ask, ‘Does this research apply to me, in my body, in this context?’  True evidence-based care is a dialogue between research, clinician experience, and your own wisdom.” Resources Mentioned Download Clara’s Free Birth Plan Template, used at over 5,000 births.Ready for an evidence based birth class? Check out A Path to A Powerful BirthThe Birth Advocacy Toolkit is a great option for expectant parents who have already taken a class but want to make sure their preferences are heard and want evidence based information to help make their decisions. Evidence Based Birth: Evidence on the ARRIVE Trial and Elective Induction at 39 WeeksEvidence Based Birth: Evidence on Breech BirthGrobman WA, et al. Labor Induction versus Expectant Management in Low-Risk Nulliparous Women. NEJM, 2018.Evidence Based Birth: “Evidence on the ARRIVE Trial and Elective Induction at 39 Weeks.”Nethery E, et al. Obstet Gynecol, 2023. Post-ARRIVE induction impact study.Hannah ME, et al. Planned Cesarean vs Planned Vaginal Birth for Breech. Lancet, 2000.Kotaska A. BMJ, 2004. “Inappropriateness of RCTs for complex intrapartum phenomena.”Goffinet F, et al. PREMODA Study. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2006.RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 20b (2017).ACOG Committee Opinion No. 745 (2018).SOGC No. 384 (2019).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.

    32 min
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4.7
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Clara O'Rourke - Clear Light Birth
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    110
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Mindful Womb Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Mindful Womb Podcast