Down to Birth

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#227 | Tips For Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage with @thealliewoods Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality around the world. When considering home birth, preventing and/or effectively treating PPH is an essential part of safe care.
Allie Woods of Almost Holistic Allie is here today to share her three home birth stories, the first two of which resulted in significant postpartum hemorrhaging, including a hospital transfer. In the first case, she and her midwife presumed it was a fluke when she had an unknown retained placental lobe with a fully intact placenta (a very rare occurrence). Knowing that scenario was highly unlikely to recur, she planned her second home birth, and had a second PPH, this time staying home to manage it. Allie realized she may have a genetic predisposition to hemorrhaging, supported by the fact that her own sister also hemorrhaged during her births as well. When Allie decided to have a third baby, she remained fully committed to giving birth at home despite her past bleeding experiences and spent her pregnancy researching everything she could to prevent PPH. In this episode, Allie provides all the specifics on exactly how she successfully prevented postpartum hemorrhage the third time around.
Almost Holistic Allie
The Power of Placenta for Hemorrhage Control
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#226 | The Case for Co-Sleeping with OnTrack Baby Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

Every mammal in nature sleeps with their offspring, but these days, many mothers are cautioned against co-sleeping by pediatricians and well-meaning friends and family. This guilt or fear keeps parents distant from their sleeping babies even when it goes against their own inclination. Then, the cycle continues with a baby whose nervous system wakes them often in search of physical comfort, while parents frantically seek the latest and greatest sleep product on the market (Snoo, anyone?).
What is the right approach for mothers who feels conflicted? Today we've brought back Jenny and Carrie, the occupational therapist sisters of OnTrack Baby to discuss sleep and how it relates to newborn development.
Our discussion starts by debunking the myth that sleep is a problem for babies. The real issue, according to OnTrack Baby, is parents' general lack of understanding of a baby's needs. They stress there is nothing wrong with a baby who struggles with sleep because their nervous systems have them wired to awaken easily, and that many of today's sleep products are unnecessary, if not counterproductive toward long-term development. Their professional opinion is what many parents believe instinctually: that babies who sleep with or in close proximity to their parents are actually calmer, safer and better able to sleep.

Jenny and Carrie don't prescribe any particular sleep method even to their own clients, nor do they insist co-sleeping is the only way for every family. They are, however, proponents of sleeping in close proximity however best serves the family, as a means of creating a nurturing and supportive environment that promotes healthy sleep patterns and overall well-being for both themselves and their children.
OnTrack Baby

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Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancy
Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
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#225 | Free-Birthing as a Woman of Color: How Nichollette Chose One Extreme Over Another Aug 09, 2023

Show notes

Maternal mortality for black women is three times higher in the United States, at almost 70 deaths per 100,000. As a woman of color, Nichollette Jones was motivated to protect herself and her daughter from the risks and protocols associated with hospitals, especially during Covid, which showed a sky-rocketing of maternal mortality statistics across the board in the U.S. Unable to cover the cost of a home birth midwife, she determined her next-safest option was to have her baby at home with her mother and partner. Nichollette spent her pregnancy learning the most common childbirth emergencies and how to handle them, but mostly, she nurtured a deep trust in her body and her ancestral wisdom to give birth with ease and without complication. And that she did! As you'll hear, Nichollette has a hard time not laughing through the joyful memories of her empowering home water birth story.
During the second part of our discussion, we get into the psychology/mindset Nichollette practiced, which likely contributed to her positive outcome beyond luck, which is always a factor in any birth. Nichollette demonstrates the degree of responsibility it takes to birth without professional labor support. We also explore the heaviness of the free-birth option: What "drives" some women to free birth when it wasn't their first choice upon becoming pregnant? What was Nichollette's 'Plan B' if a complication had occurred? Are most women reasonable candidates for free birth? And, did our ancestors really birth alone, free-birth style, or what did their support actually look like? The United States medical system is already lacking in its support for midwife-attended home-birth transfers; it's nonexistent with free birth.
Today's episode gives us a joyful scope into one woman's birth, while raising more serious considerations around the lack of safe birthing options for American mothers, and especially women of color.
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Sponsors:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancy
Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email Contact@DownToBirthShow.com
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 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

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

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

#224 | Introducing Solid Foods with Katie Ferraro of Baby Led Weaning Made Easy Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

Katie Ferraro of @babyledweanteam is a mother of seven, registered dietician and baby led weaning proponent. Baby-led weaning is a method of introducing solid foods to babies where purees and spoon-feeding are skipped in favor of finger foods, allowing the baby to self-feed. When Katie found out she was pregnant with quadruplets, she knew she needed the easiest, most effective way to feed her babies, and has developed a digital community support program on baby-led weaning and founded her "100 First Foods" program. The idea is to introduce 100 foods to your baby before the age of one! Can you believe that? Do you even have 100 different foods in your house right now?
In this episode, Katie explains what baby-led weaning really means (yes, the name is confusing) and answers everything you need to know about introducing solid foods such as:

When is the right time to do begin baby-led weaning?
How can you reduce parental anxiety around introducing foods?
What can be done about picky eaters and how to prevent them?
Are pureed foods ever necessary?
What constitutes a food allergy and is there a way to avoid them from the start? What foods should be avoided, if any?
Are there any foods babies can’t eat?
Do babies need teeth to start solid foods?
What is the difference between gagging and choking and how can it be prevented?

Don't miss this insightful and helpful episode that will set you and your baby up for happy tummies and happy hearts.
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Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy
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DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit. Stay salty.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply with nourishing protein powder, hydration boosters and lactation bites.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort after vaginal birth.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email Contact@DownToBirthShow.com
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 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.

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#223 | July Q&A: Prolapsed Cord, Tearing & Sutures, PROM, Nursing & Tooth Decay, Irish Twins, Breastmilk Calorie Concerns, Breech Birth, Pet Peeves Jul 26, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to the July Q&A episode with Cynthia & Trisha. Today, we kick off the conversation with a story of an OB commenting on the "tightness" of a woman's perineum. Next, we jump into our questions on when sutures are or are not needed after a tear; placenta previa and a prolapsed cord; the risk of infection after rupture of membranes when GBS negative; how to get oxytocin flowing when your spouse is not present at birth; are there risks in pregnancy and postpartum if you have Irish twins; could I have birthed my frank breech baby vaginally even though the hospital said I could not, followed by Trisha's story of her one and only breech birth experience as a midwife.
In the extended Q&A, we discuss the difficult decision one mother faces when the only available midwives don't align with her birth choices; a woman whose toddler developed significant tooth decay and questions teething oil over breast milk as the culprit; another mother who is told her baby is not gaining weight well because her breastmilk has an insufficient amount of calories, and a woman who is struggling with appetite due to her stress and anxiety and worries how it will impact her pregnancy.
Finally, we close with a round of quickies including Cynthia's and Trisha's biggest pet peeves in life.
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
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Access our workshops: Have a Physiologic Birth in the Hospital and Ultrasound: The Research vs Rhetoric

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#222 | Overcoming & Understanding Sleep Deprivation with Dr. Lynelle Schneeberg Jul 19, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Lynelle Schneeberg, PsyD, is a sleep psychologist, an assistant professor at the Yale School of Medicine, and Director of the Behavioral Sleep Program at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. She’s also a Fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. She works with adults who have insomnia and has a particular passion for helping parents whose children have sleep difficulties. She is the author of "Become Your Child’s Sleep Coach: The Bedtime Doctor’s 5-Step Guide, Ages 3-10. "
Today, Lynelle give us her expert advice and education on and around sleep difficulties experienced by new parents and parents of young children. Recognizing that sleep deprivation is a bona fide torture tactic, our discussion delves into the negative effects of interrupted sleep for new parents, which can affect them for months and even years.
Lynelle clarifies the four stages of sleep, and how much of each stage we tend to require. She also explains how the body prioritizes deep sleep and can brilliantly adjust sleep cycles to compensate for those late-bedtime streaks or the evenings we're awake with insomnia or broken sleep. Lynelle debunks sleep myths (such as, "Can we only obtain deep sleep between the hours of 10pm and 2am?") and helps us to understand: healthy sleep architecture; the various kinds of insomnia; and, the benefits of micro-naps. She provides strategies for getting children to go to bed more easily, and tells us what to do - and what not to do - when it comes to getting good sleep back into your life.
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit. Stay salty.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply with nourishing protein powder, hydration boosters and lactation bites.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort after vaginal birth.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email Contact@DownToBirthShow.com
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 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

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

#221 | Understanding Fetal-Maternal Microchimerism with Rachel Marynowski of @Kale.Blossom Jul 12, 2023

Show notes

Rachel Marynowsk of @Kale.blossom is a licensed naturopathic physician focusing on preconception, fertility and postpartum. In today's episode, Rachel introduces us to the fascinating phenomenon of fetal-maternal microchimerism and how it may influence women's health, particularly postpartum.

Fetal-maternal microchimerism refers to the presence of fetal cells in a mother's body and vice versa, exchanged during pregnancy and birth. These cells are believed to serve as a unique form of communication between the mother and the baby, both physically and emotionally, and may be key players in the development of postpartum health issues such as perinatal mood disorders and thyroid changes. Studies show that fetal cells, which also function as stem cells, are found in various organs of the mother's body, potentially offering protective and regenerative properties. It is believed these cells play a role in the mother's intuition and protective instincts toward her child and may be associated with certain health conditions. The topic raises important questions for further research and exploration, offering a new perspective on the intricate bond between mother and baby.
@Kale.Blossom on Instagram
Kale Blossom
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit. Stay salty.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply with nourishing protein powder, hydration boosters and lactation bites.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort after vaginal birth.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email Contact@DownToBirthShow.com
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 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

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

#220 | Catrina's HBAC: A Mother's Triumph Over Medical Intervention Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

Catrina's first pregnancy was labeled high risk when a routine ultrasound revealed a two-vessel cord, leading to repeat ultrasounds and a diagnosis of IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) and low fluid at 35 weeks. Her doctor immediately sent her in for an induction, and because her baby was still breech at that point, she ended up with a C-section. Catrina felt completely "checked-out" during the whole experience, as this was the exact opposite of the birth she had planned for. Her baby ended up in the NICU for five days and over 24 hours of time passed before she held her newborn. After this experience, she was sure she would never have another baby. Just over a year later, she was pregnant again, chose home birth and had the HBAC (home birth after cesarean) of her dreams.
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit. Stay salty.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply with nourishing protein powder, hydration boosters and lactation bites.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort after vaginal birth.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email Contact@DownToBirthShow.com
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 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

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

#219 | June Q&A: Assault in Labor, Home Birth Risk, a Swollen Cervix, Parental Conflicts, Laboring in Water, Nuchal Hands, Being Dropped as a Patient Jun 28, 2023

Show notes

We are back answering your questions in the June Q&A episode. We kick it off with a woman's story of multiple non-consented vaginal exams in labor, her complaint to the hospital, and the hospital leadership's response. Next, we jump into our questions including:

I really want a home birth, but I am afraid that hospital birth is safer and that home birth is dangerous. How do I determine this risk?
My mom had a c-section for a cervix that swelled shut. Is that possible?
I am struggling with boundaries and decision-making with my husband around staying home and home-schooling the children versus returning back to work.
Could getting in the water too early slow down my labor? Barbara Harper from Waterbirth International calls in her response.
I am ten weeks postpartum and have a positive pregnancy test. Could this be for real?

In the extended version, available on Apple subscriptions and Patreon, one woman asks if she should have listened to her nurse who ordered her not to push. Could a nuchal hand in labor be a justified cause for a c-section? Should the cord only be cut after the placenta has been delivered? Who should I notify about being dropped as a patient and black-listed in surrounding practices?
In our quickies segment, we discuss weight gain in pregnancy, periods returning too soon, precipitous labor and increased bleeding, birth pools, early pregnancy, red raspberry tea and dates, strengthening the amniotic sac, a fear of sex in pregnancy, and our best marriage advice for after baby. We were also asked to share something we can do that most people don't know about us.
Finally, don't miss the outtake!
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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

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

#218 | Birth Trauma Alchemy with Eyla Cuenca Jun 21, 2023

Show notes

Eyla Cuenca, a birth doula and birth trauma alchemist, delves into the emotional and psychological aspects of pregnancy and birth. She highlights the varying experiences pregnant women may encounter when it comes to their healthcare providers and how it can impact their journeys.

Eyla introduces the concept of birth trauma alchemy, which focuses on transforming birth traumas and wounds into opportunities for growth, self-knowledge and empowerment. We delve into the psycho-emotional work required during pregnancy and after, highlighting how a woman's birth experience profoundly shapes her memory and emotions surrounding the event. For example, giving birth can trigger past feelings of "unwanted touches" from childhood, even from seemingly mild memories of being told to hug and kiss relatives and friends of parents.
We explore the societal pressure to prioritize a healthy baby over a woman's emotional well-being and challenge the notion that a healthy baby is the only measure of a successful birth. Our conversation underscores the need for women to utilize their sense of self-worth and the ability to advocate for their birth preferences to ensure a positive and empowering birthing experience.
Eyla Cuenca Birth
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit. Stay salty.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply with nourishing protein powder, hydration boosters and lactation bites.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort after vaginal birth.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

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

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

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