264 episodes

Join Cynthia Overgard and Trisha Ludwig once per week for evidence-based straight talk on having a safe and informed birth, which starts with determining if you've hired the right provider. If we had to boil it down to a single premise, it's this: A healthy mom and baby isn't all that matters. We have more than 30 years' experience between us in midwifery, informed rights advocacy, publishing, childbirth education, postpartum support and breastfeeding, and we've personally served thousands of women and couples. Listen to the birth stories of our clients, listeners and celebrities, catch our expert-interviews, and submit your questions for our monthly Q&A episodes by calling us at 802-GET-DOWN. We're on Instagram at @downtobirthshow and also at Patreon.com/downtobirthshow, where we offer live ongoing events multiple times per month, so be sure to join our worldwide community. We are a Top .5% podcast globally with listeners in more than 80 countries every week. Become informed, empowered, and have a great time in the process. Join us and reach out any time - we love to hear from you. And as always, hear everyone, listen to yourself.

Down to Birth Down to Birth +

    • Kids & Family
    • 4.8 • 418 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

Join Cynthia Overgard and Trisha Ludwig once per week for evidence-based straight talk on having a safe and informed birth, which starts with determining if you've hired the right provider. If we had to boil it down to a single premise, it's this: A healthy mom and baby isn't all that matters. We have more than 30 years' experience between us in midwifery, informed rights advocacy, publishing, childbirth education, postpartum support and breastfeeding, and we've personally served thousands of women and couples. Listen to the birth stories of our clients, listeners and celebrities, catch our expert-interviews, and submit your questions for our monthly Q&A episodes by calling us at 802-GET-DOWN. We're on Instagram at @downtobirthshow and also at Patreon.com/downtobirthshow, where we offer live ongoing events multiple times per month, so be sure to join our worldwide community. We are a Top .5% podcast globally with listeners in more than 80 countries every week. Become informed, empowered, and have a great time in the process. Join us and reach out any time - we love to hear from you. And as always, hear everyone, listen to yourself.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    #256 | Transforming Your Hospital Birth Experience with Taylor Dilk @taychayy

    #256 | Transforming Your Hospital Birth Experience with Taylor Dilk @taychayy

    Like many mothers, Taylor Chamberlain Dilk had no idea where to begin in preparing for childbirth. Lucky for her she has a large social media presence and requested recommendations from her audience, and lucky for us, Down to Birth Show came highly recommended. Once she started digging in, she felt her inner maternal voice rising to the surface.  She knew she wanted an unmedicated birth, but had no idea what she was up against giving birth with an OB in the hospital. When she was offered a membrane sweep in her 41st week, she accepted, triggering uncomfortable contractions but not labor.  As an unsure first-time mom, she went to the hospital thinking her water had broken yet still awaited labor. It wasn't until she transformed her hospital room into a safe space that she could truly let go and allow her labor to flow. Join us as Taylor shares her invaluable insights, emphasizing the importance of informed decision-making, cultivating a supportive environment, and harnessing the power of one's own thoughts to guide the miraculous journey of childbirth.
    Taylor on Instagram
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    Down to Birth is sponsored by:
    DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this link today and receive a free sample kit.
    Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
    Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
    Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy
    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.

    • 49 min
    #255 | What's Up with Intrauterine Growth Restriction: An Off-the-Record-Style Conversation with Dr. Stu Fischbein

    #255 | What's Up with Intrauterine Growth Restriction: An Off-the-Record-Style Conversation with Dr. Stu Fischbein

    In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Stu Fischbein for his third appearance on  Down to Birth Show. We start the conversation by catching up on some of the latest problems occurring on the birth scene including VBACs, aspirin in pregnancy, the monetization of birth, late pregnancy ultrasounds, big babies, and due dates, before we get into the meat of the episode on Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR). Dr. Stu shares a letter from one of his followers regarding her IUGR diagnosis resulting in an induction at 37 weeks for a 4-pound 14-ounce baby,  which launches into a conversation around what IUGR is anyway and the actual risk of IUGR.  Would that baby have been better off staying in utero for a few more weeks? How can you know postpartum if the baby was in fact IUGR? There are so many nuggets of great information dropped throughout this episode. You don't miss this one! And for more with Dr. Stu, catch episodes #111 & #128.

    Dr. Stu Fischbein & Birthing Instincts
    Dr. Stu on Instagram

    #128 | Vaginal Breech Birth with Dr. Stu of Birthing Instincts: Why It's Safer Than you Think
    #111 | The Obstetric Model of Care vs. the Midwifery Model of Care: Interview with Dr. Stuart Fischbein, MD

    **********
    Down to Birth is sponsored by:
    DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this link today and receive a free sample kit.
    Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
    Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
    Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy
    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.

    • 1 hr
    #254 | February Q&A: Vomiting in Labor, Cord Traction, Pacifiers, Probiotics and Plugged Ducts, Breast Milkshake, PPH, Bicornuate Uterus

    #254 | February Q&A: Vomiting in Labor, Cord Traction, Pacifiers, Probiotics and Plugged Ducts, Breast Milkshake, PPH, Bicornuate Uterus

    Welcome to the February Q&A with Cynthia & Trisha. To kick things off, we share some of your New Year's Resolutions--don't miss this as Trisha makes Cynthia momentarily speechless! Next, we dive into your questions beginning with: Is cord traction really necessary to birth the placenta? Another woman explains that she always throws up in labor right when her water breaks and asks if this is normal. Also, a new mother is curious if giving her baby a pacifier will be harmful or helpful...and more.  In our extended version of today's episode, we answer several more questions about the breast microbiome and the occurrence of plugged ducts, uterine prolapse and how it may impact a future pregnancy, how to care for the ntact) penis, non-stress tests, bicornuate uteri (you read that right) and what constitutes a postpartum hemorrhage.

    As always, we thank you for your questions an encourage you to call in at 802-GET-DOWN or 802-438-3696.  Our extended and ad-free episodes are available on Apple subscriptions and our Patreon page. Thank you for tuning-in.

    Down to Birth is sponsored by:
    DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this link today and receive a free sample kit.
    Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
    Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
    Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy



    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.

    • 44 min
    #253 | The ACOG Files: Exploring the Guidelines That Support Physiologic Birth

    #253 | The ACOG Files: Exploring the Guidelines That Support Physiologic Birth

    In today's episode, Cynthia and Trisha break down some of the current guidelines published by ACOG (the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists). You'll see many of these guidelines favor physiological birth and stand for minimal medical intervention in exactly the ways we recommend, which makes it  all the more perplexing why so many of today's obstetricians don't follow along. By understanding ACOG's position on common concerns in pregnancy and birth, you can feel more empowered to advocate for what you know is best for you and your baby.  Did you know that ACOG clearly and strongly states that the use of medical coercion is harmful and should never be practiced or that delivery of a baby is not warranted for suspected fetal macrosomia (big baby)? Or that ACOG knows that routine amniotomy (breaking the bag of water) is not necessary and suggests its use does not improve outcomes? Furthermore, ACOG states that ultrasound performed in late pregnancy is associated with an increase in cesarean section, with no evidence of neonatal benefit (yet how many OBs recommend third-trimester ultrasound)? Tune in to hear what this revered medical authority has to say, and stand tall in defense of your physiological birth plan. You'll see ACOG is on your side more than you might have believed, particularly in light of how today's American obstetricians tend to practice.

    ACOG Statement on Refusal of Medically Recommended Care in Pregnancy
    Approaches to Limit Intervention During Labor & 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 with this link today and receive a free sample kit.
    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.

    • 52 min
    #252 | A Father's Perspective on his Baby's Inaccurate IUGR Diagnosis

    #252 | A Father's Perspective on his Baby's Inaccurate IUGR Diagnosis

    IUGR or Intrauterine Growth Restriction is the latest trend on the obstetric scene--a diagnosis that has afflicted many mothers unnecessarily. Eric, a father of two daughters,  joins us on the show today to discuss his experience with his wife's IUGR experience.  When an early ultrasound told them their baby was measuring smaller than expected, they were sent to maternal-fetal medicine and their baby was labeled as growth-restricted. As their dreams of a birth center birth quickly vanished, they started having regular ultrasounds and non-stress tests to monitor their baby. While Eric's intuition told him everything was ok with their baby, he had to balance the forceful voice of the medical system and his wife's nerves and unease, given the pressure and fear-tactics she was relentlessly subjected to, while having to make constant trips to and from the doctor to continually check on the baby. At forty-two weeks they scheduled a hospital induction, birthing a perfectly non-growth-restricted baby who was estimated to be just forty weeks’ gestation, indicating the doctors incorrectly estimated the due date at the outset. This story illuminates the excessive fear and risk put upon parents and the common inaccuracies of IUGR diagnoses.

    **********
    Down to Birth is sponsored by:
    Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear
    DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this link today and receive a free sample kit.
    Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
    Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
    Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy
    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.

    • 37 min
    #251 | HPV and Your Abnormal Pap May Not Be What You Think: Cervical Cancer Prevention with Nathan Riley, MD

    #251 | HPV and Your Abnormal Pap May Not Be What You Think: Cervical Cancer Prevention with Nathan Riley, MD

    Have you ever wondered why we actually need to get a pap smear or why the testing guidelines frequently change? The presence of HPV or the Human Papilloma Virus is associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer and is the reason behind the pap smear.  A pap smear looks at the health of the cells in our cervix and the presence of HPV. When abnormal cells are found, it is usually recommended that we have those cells removed at the risk of the functionality of our cervix.

    In this eye-opening conversation with Nathan Riley, MD, we learn the statistics around actually developing cervical cancer even with an abnormal pap smear, the risks versus benefits of the Gardasil vaccine, and the long-term consequences of cervical procedures, particularly as it relates to a woman's birth experience. Nathan encourages us to think about the HPV virus as we would any virus that we come into contact with in our environment. It's not the virus that we should fear, but rather the response of our immune systems, which can be influenced by modifiable risk factors. If you are due for your pap or have an abnormal result, be sure to listen to this episode.

    Nathan Riley MD
    Beloved Holistics

    **********
    Down to Birth is sponsored by:
    DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this link today and receive a free sample kit.
    Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
    Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
    Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy


    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



    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.

    • 50 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
418 Ratings

418 Ratings

Caitlyn……L ,

I recommend this show ALL the time!

As a birth doula, I am hoping every one of my clients and family members will take my suggestion and listen to Down to Birth. Cynthia and Trisha have helped me prepare for my own home birth, learn about my body, succeed in breastfeeding, laugh on crazy days, prepare and educate myself as a doula, opened many conversations with fellow birth workers, provide be with evidence based research, and empowered me as a woman and mother. I am forever grateful. I found my mind expanded and my confidence stronger with each episode. They are also very entertaining for my daily walks! Thank you for being my walking buddies!

Birthwithliv ,

Informed & Empowered

The holy grail of birth podcasts. Easy to understand, evidence-based information shared in a relatable and thought provoking way. My absolute favorite podcast of any genre. I credit the information shared with my positive birth despite a 34w induction due to sudden and severe preeclampsia.

Tmc9223 ,

A podcast that will give you information and strength!

There was so much I gathered from your show and it gave me strength going into my second birth. I can proudly say I just birthed my second baby without one medical intervention at the hospital and it was so empowering and healed some of the trauma from my last experience. I credit this show with helping me feel prepared and empowered for this experience. Thank you, ladies!

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