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Down to Birth — Kids & Family
Down to Birth

Join Cynthia Overgard and Trisha Ludwig once per week for evidence-based straight talk on pregnancy, birth and postpartum — beyond the clichés and beyond the system. With 40 years’ combined experience in midwifery, childbirth education and advocacy, publishing, research and postpartum care, we’ve guided thousands of families toward safer, more empowered choices. Down to Birth is all about safe childbirth, while recognizing a safe outcome isn’t all that matters. We challenge the status quo, explore women’s rights in childbirth, and feature women from all over the world, shining shine light on the policies, culture, and systemic forces that shape our most intimate and transformative of life experiences. You’ll hear the birth stories of our clients, listeners and numerous celebrities. You’ll benefit from our expert-interviews, and at any time you can submit your questions for our monthly Q&A episodes by calling us at 802-GET-DOWN. With millions of downloads and listeners in 90 countries, our worldwide community of parents and birth professionals coms together to learn, question and create change, personally and societally. We’re on Instagram at @downtobirthshow and at Patreon.com/downtobirthshow, where we offer live ongoing events multiple times per month. Become informed, feel empowered, and join the movement toward better maternity care in the United States and worldwide. As always, hear everyone, listen to yourself.

Copyright: © 2024 Down to Birth

Latest Episodes:

#277 | Hyperemesis Gravidarum with HER Foundation: A Matter of Life and Death Aug 07, 2024

Show notes

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is not morning sickness, but rather a potentially life-threatening complication of pregnancy that may cause weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration, disability due to severe nausea and/or vomiting and can cause long-term health issues for mother and baby, including death.
Today, we are joined by Kimber W. MacGibbon, executive director of the HER foundation, and Ashton Paige Clark, a wife and mother who experienced HG in five pregnancies. Together, they share Ashton's story of struggling through HG and the desperate decision she was forced to make to ensure her survival. Ashton and Kimber help us understand the true severity of HG, the lack of provider understanding, and the potentially life-saving treatments that are available but often withheld from mothers experiencing HG in their pregnancies. If you are anyone you know is struggling with HG, this episode could be life-saving. If your care provider is not aware of the dangers of HG or is neglecting to consider it as a diagnosis, please share this episode.
The HER Foundation
If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like:
#211 | Declining RhoGAM: A Conversation with Two Rh-Negative Women

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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Vitality: An athleisure brand made for women, by women, designed with style and comfort for pregnancy and beyond.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply. Be sure to use the unique link to buy yours today.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Access our workshops: Have a Physiologic Birth in the Hospital and Ultrasound: The Research vs Rhetoric

Needed <-- for 20% off
DrinkLMNT <-- for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure Skincare: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits Superfood<--for 20% off
Join Patreon here
IG @downtobirthshow

Call 802-GET-DOWN.
Watch us on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice.

#276 | July Q&A: Twins & Induction, Faith-Based Midwives, Weight Gain, Low Progesterone, TDAP, Botox, Hemorrhoids, Weight Gain Jul 31, 2024

Show notes

Welcome back to the July Q&A with Cynthia & Trisha. Today we kick off the episode with one mother's story of her transition from OB to midwife to an unintentional free birth her 9 pound, 4 oz baby born at home in her bathroom and then the premium medical bill she received from her OB for "extra counseling time." Next, we jump into our questions starting with:

Do twin moms need extra medical help to get their labor going because the mother's uterus is more stretched out?
What is your opinion on faith-based midwives and how their beliefs may influence how they care for you?
Do you have any tips for managing the postpartum period with a toddler?
What do you recommend regarding the TDAP vaccine in pregnancy?
Does having a hemorrhoid that bleeds pose any risk to giving birth at home?

And in the extended version of today's episode available on Patreon and Apple subscriptions, you'll hear the following:

Should I be worried about gaining 55 pounds "already" in my pregnancy?
What is your opinion on low progesterone and what do you recommend for supplementing? (You'll hear which product is no longer FDA-approved, after years of use.)
Is it normal to leak colostrum in pregnancy and does it indicate anything about my milk supply?

As always, we close with a round of quickies touching on Botox in pregnancy, breastfeeding acne, NSTs, breastfeeding and tooth decay, breast pumps, compressions stockings, toddler immune systems, fashion trends, and foods we won't touch.
Thank you for your wonderful questions as always, and please keep them coming at 802-438-3696 or 802-GET-DOWN.
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply. Be sure to use the unique link to buy yours today.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Access our workshops: Have a Physiologic Birth in the Hospital and Ultrasound: The Research vs Rhetoric

Needed <-- for 20% off
DrinkLMNT <-- for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure Skincare: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits Superfood<--for 20% off
Join Patreon here
IG @downtobirthshow

Call 802-GET-DOWN.
Watch us on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice.

#275 | How to Interview Your Pediatrician with Dr. Joel Gator Warsh Jul 24, 2024

Show notes

Dr. Joel Gator Warsh is a classically trained integrative pediatrician with a holistic health practice in California. His approach to care puts parents at the center of the decision-making process. In today's episode, we discuss the key questions parents should ask when interviewing a pediatrician (and yes, you should interview numerous pediatricians before choosing the best fit for your family), including:

How to talk about the vaccine schedule;
The benefits and risks of Vitamin K;
Does where you give birth affect how your pediatrician views you, and, if applicable, will they support your having a home birth;
What are the most common reasons a pediatrician would release a family from their care;
How important are growth curves; and
Are there alternatives to antibiotics for an ear infection?

Dr. Joel delves into these questions and helps us understand the most effective relationship dynamics between a family and their pediatrician for a child-centered, holistic healthcare experience. Keep an eye out for Joel's new book: Parenting at Your Child's Pace: The Integrative Pediatrician's Guide to the First Three Years.

Episode #169: Protecting Today's Children with Integrative Pediatrician Dr. Joel Gator Warsh
Dr. Joel Gator Warsh
Dr. Joel's Website
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Vitality: An athleisure brand made for women, by women, designed with style and comfort for pregnancy and beyond.
Davin & Adley-- The perfect nursing and pumping bra combined
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply. Be sure to use the unique link to buy yours today.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Access our workshops: Have a Physiologic Birth in the Hospital and Ultrasound: The Research vs Rhetoric

Needed <-- for 20% off
DrinkLMNT <-- for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure Skincare: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits Superfood<--for 20% off
Join Patreon here
IG @downtobirthshow

Call 802-GET-DOWN.
Watch us on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice.

#274 | Myofunctional Therapy: How To Assess and Help Your Baby Jul 17, 2024

Show notes

The importance of healthy oral function is essential not only for infant feeding but also for a person's entire life. Poorly shaped palates, low resting tongue posture, restricted tongues, and mouth breathing are all common signs of oral restrictions or tension that can begin in the womb and influence one's health from infancy through adulthood. In today's episode, Jeannie Nelson, a speech and language pathologist from Breathe Eat Sleep Talk joins us to explain what myofunctional therapy is, how it can help, and the key red flags to look for in infancy or childhood to identify oral restriction. In this episode you will learn:

Why mouth breathing can be harmful
What resting tongue posture is and why it matters
What to do if your baby sleeps with an open mouth
How tongue position influences your facial development
Simple tips to help your baby improve and strengthen his or her oral function

The purpose of today's episode is to inform parents on how oral health and the musculature of the tongue affects whole body health, and to address potential matters related to airway health early on in order to prevent issues later in life.

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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Vitality: An athleisure brand made for women, by women, designed with style and comfort for pregnancy and beyond.
Davin & Adley-- The perfect nursing and pumping bra combined.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Access our workshops: Have a Physiologic Birth in the Hospital and Ultrasound: The Research vs Rhetoric

Needed <-- for 20% off
DrinkLMNT <-- for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure Skincare: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits Superfood<--for 20% off
Join Patreon here
IG @downtobirthshow

Call 802-GET-DOWN.
Watch us on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice.

#273 | Special Q&A Featuring Nancy Wainer on VBAC and More Jul 10, 2024

Show notes

In last week's episode (#272) you met legendary midwife-author Nancy Wainer. Well she's back today for Part II, where she joins us in a Q&A-style episode to answer our listeners' questions. Nancy experienced the first planned VBAC in the United States and she coined the acronym itself in her first book, Silent Knife, published in 1983. She has over 40 years of birth experience and has supported women through some incredible births that almost certainly would have resulted in surgery in any other environment. Today, she takes questions from our community including:
1. What are the common characteristics of women who have had successful VBACS
2. Is it still safer and healthier to have a VBAC if it has been less than 18 months since your cesarean?
3. Is a classical cesarean incision truly a contraindication to VBAC
4. How much impact does the shape of a woman's pelvis have on her labor?
5. Is there ever an indication to break a woman's bag of water in labor?
We are honored to have her wisdom and advice to share with our community and this won't be the last time you hear from her!
**********
Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Vitality: An athleisure brand made for women, by women, designed with style and comfort for pregnancy and beyond.
Davin & Adley-- The perfect nursing and pumping bra combined
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Access our workshops: Have a Physiologic Birth in the Hospital and Ultrasound: The Research vs Rhetoric

Needed <-- for 20% off
DrinkLMNT <-- for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure Skincare: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits Superfood<--for 20% off
Join Patreon here
IG @downtobirthshow

Call 802-GET-DOWN.
Watch us on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice.

#272 | Nancy Wainer, CPM and Pioneer of the VBAC, Shares Her Journey from Mother to Midwife Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

This episode has been a long time coming and is finally here! Meet Nancy Wainer, the legendary woman who began the Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) movement. Not only did Nancy coin the term VBAC, but she is the first on record in the United States to experience a planned VBAC. Nancy has been a midwife, fierce birth advocate, author, mentor, and teacher to thousands and thousands of women, mothers, and birth professionals over the last forty-plus years.
Today, we are honored to have her join us to share the story of her traumatic first birth and what led her to become the incredible midwife, author and birth educator she is today. This midwife has turned no woman away: mothers in her care are given the prenatal care and birth support they deserve when no one else will work with them. Nancy discusses who, if anyone, should be induced, what makes a good home birth candidate, why you shouldn't drink milk in pregnancy, and the importance of switching sides in your bed. If you are considering a VBAC or just want to hear what it means to truly trust women and their bodies, you will relish every word from Nancy Wainer and her story. Also: Stay tuned for Part II: a special Q&A episode with Nancy next week!
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Vitality: An athleisure brand made for women, by women, designed with style and comfort for pregnancy and beyond.
Davin & Adley-- The perfect nursing and pumping bra combined
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Access our workshops: Have a Physiologic Birth in the Hospital and Ultrasound: The Research vs Rhetoric

Needed <-- for 20% off
DrinkLMNT <-- for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure Skincare: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits Superfood<--for 20% off
Join Patreon here
IG @downtobirthshow

Call 802-GET-DOWN.
Watch us on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice.

#271 | June Q&A: Boundaries When Pregnant, Pre-eclampsia & AROM, Mobile Monitoring, Posterior Babies & Pelvic Shape, Placenta Consumption for PPH Jun 26, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the June Q&A with Cynthia and Trisha! Today, we start the episode with all the romantic, hilarious, and random ways our community met their spouses, and we finish the episode with one woman's question to us: "If you were a dog, what kind would you be?" -- you'll hear us reach out to a friend on the spot to answer that question for us. In the regular version of this episode, we answer the following questions:

Help! I am losing trust in my body after having experienced miscarriage. What do I do?
My midwife told me I that my pelvic shape causes me to have back labor and a posterior baby. Is this true?
How can I manage negative comments at work about pregnancy in general?
Is artificial rupture of membranes a necessary part of induction for pre-eclampsia?

In the extended version of today's episode, available on Patreon and Apple subscriptions, we answer the following:

Should you limit time spent breastfeeding to ensure a baby doesn't burn too many calories feeding at the breast?
Do I have to be monitored continuously in labor for high blood pressure?
Does consuming the placenta or cord tissue after after birth prevent postpartum hemorrhage? My midwife told me this is a biohazard. Is this true?

As always, we close with a round of rapid fire quickies! Thank you for your excellent questions and please continue to call them in to our hotline at 802-438-3696 or 802-GET-DOWN!
**********
Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply. Be sure to use the unique link to buy yours today.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Access our workshops: Have a Physiologic Birth in the Hospital and Ultrasound: The Research vs Rhetoric

Needed <-- for 20% off
DrinkLMNT <-- for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure Skincare: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits Superfood<--for 20% off
Join Patreon here
IG @downtobirthshow

Call 802-GET-DOWN.
Watch us on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice.

#270 | Trusting Birth: The Journey From Maiden to Mother with Lea @trusting_birth Jun 19, 2024

Show notes

Can you imagine giving birth without ever "checking on" your baby? Without a test, an ultrasound, a need for reassurance from others that your baby is okay? And, what does it mean to cross the threshold from Maiden to Mother? How does a woman step into her wiser feminine self, relinquishing her controlled, organized, masculine energy and need for control in birth? What is required of a woman to feel so safe in her body that she can release hypervigilance and surrender fully to the power of her body? These are some of the untraditional questions we consider in this deeply provocative conversation with Lea, the woman behind Trusting Birth and the Wise Woman Diaries Podcast. This open and deeply personal episode invites us to look more closely at our lifelong struggle to trust ourselves, to embrace stillness, and to distinguish fear from intuition. Ultimately, this conversation dares us to take radical responsibility for the power of our feminine energy and all it can do for us.
Trusting Birth on Instagram
#14: Roundtable: Mothers of Stillbirth and What They Can Teach Us
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Vitality: An athleisure brand made for women, by women, designed with style and comfort for pregnancy and beyond.
Davin & Adley-- The perfect nursing and pumping bra combined
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply. Be sure to use the unique link to buy yours today.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Access our workshops: Have a Physiologic Birth in the Hospital and Ultrasound: The Research vs Rhetoric

Needed <-- for 20% off
DrinkLMNT <-- for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure Skincare: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits Superfood<--for 20% off
Join Patreon here
IG @downtobirthshow

Call 802-GET-DOWN.
Watch us on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice.

#269 | Healing, Protecting, and Restoring Your Pelvic Floor with Dr. Lizzie Kieffer Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

Dr. Lizzie Kieffer is a doctorate of physical therapy with a specialty practice in women's pelvic floor health. She joins us today to let us in on the little-known secret to protecting, relaxing, strengthening, and restoring your pelvic floor. She teaches us three simple techniques you can initiate immediately after birth to optimize pelvic floor recovery, how, when and why to do kegel exercises, what it means to have diastasis recti, and explains the differences in pelvic floor changes in a vaginal versus cesarean birth. Not only should every woman having a baby hear this episode, but also, every woman should make pelvic floor therapy a regular part of their life, even as they age into menopause and beyond.
Dr. Lizzie on Instagram
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply. Be sure to use the unique link to buy yours today.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Access our workshops: Have a Physiologic Birth in the Hospital and Ultrasound: The Research vs Rhetoric

Needed <-- for 20% off
DrinkLMNT <-- for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure Skincare: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits Superfood<--for 20% off
Join Patreon here
IG @downtobirthshow

Call 802-GET-DOWN.
Watch us on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice.

#268 | Navigating Infant Food Reactivity in the Breastfed Baby with Dr. Trill @Free.To.Feed Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

Dr. Trillitye Paullin is a molecular biologist and founder of Free to Feed, a consultation service for navigating infant food reactivity in breastfeeding dyads. Today, Dr. Trill joins us with one of her clients, Chelsea, a first-time mom who found Trill and our podcast and reached out to help spread the research around newborn food reactivity. Trill shares her ground-breaking research into why and how a mother's diet causes allergic responses in babies in the form of bloody stools, skin rashes, vomiting, reflux and colic-like symptoms. With around 25% of parents reporting food allergy symptoms in their babies, these issues have been grossly underserved and misunderstood for decades. We cover:

The top 12 foods causing allergy symptoms;
The timing of protein transfer, reactivity, and gut healing;
How our gastrointestinal health impacts infant food allergies;
How stress and cortisol impact the transfer of proteins into milk.

Stanford University and Free to Feed have embarked on a transformative partnership to develop tools aimed at accurately identifying and managing pediatric food allergies. This collaboration, part of the "Improving Outcomes for Food-Allergic Children" project led by Dr. Trillitye Paullin and supported by Stanford’s Data Science for Social Good Program, seeks to enhance care quality while preventing unnecessary dietary restrictions for children. By integrating these tools into clinical practice and fostering enhanced awareness among providers, the initiative promises to improve health outcomes for children and provide significant insights into the complexities of food allergies, shaping future policies in pediatric healthcare.

**********
Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- For before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and get a free 8-day supply.

Connect on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email Contact@DownToBirthShow.com
Instagram @downtobirthshow
802-GET-DOWN

Work with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.com

Work with Trisha:
734-649-6294

Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Access our workshops: Have a Physiologic Birth in the Hospital and Ultrasound: The Research vs Rhetoric

Needed <-- for 20% off
DrinkLMNT <-- for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure Skincare: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits Superfood<--for 20% off
Join Patreon here
IG @downtobirthshow

Call 802-GET-DOWN.
Watch us on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice.

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