Down to Birth (Cynthia Overgard & Trisha Ludwig)
Explorez tous les épisodes de Down to Birth
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Apr 2022 | #156 | Surviving Psychosis: Christa's Story of Postpartum Hallucinations, Intrusive Thoughts & Suicidal Ideations | 00:38:05 | |
Postpartum psychosis occurs in 1 to 2 per thousand births and involves extreme conditions such as hallucinations, intrusive thoughts, paranoia, suspiciousness, hyperactivity and inability to sleep. Today, Christa Ardelean joins us to share her powerful story of suffering with postpartum psychosis. Her story begins with a difficult pregnancy and birth, which, unbeknownst to Christa, included numerous risk factors associated with perinatal mood disorders. When Christa's son was born, she didn't want to hold him. Shortly after, she woke up one morning and said to herself, "My baby would be so much better off if he were dead or if I were." Terrified, she found 24/7 support for the next six weeks while she suffered with hallucinations, intrusive thoughts, and an inability to bond with her baby. With continuous support, medication, and journaling, in time, she completely overcame these feelings. By nine months, she felt like her own person again and now reflects on how her deep love for her son saved her life. If you are suffering from postpartum psychosis, you can can get help now. More episodes like this: Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 11 May 2022 | #160 | The Vagina Whisperer: Painful Sex, Prolapse, Incontinence & Diastasis Recti After Birth | 00:54:47 | |
If you are on Instagram and you have a vagina, you most likely know Sara Reardon, aka the vagina whisperer, pelvic floor extraordinaire! Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles that attach to your pelvis and support your bladder, rectum, and reproductive organs. A healthy pelvic floor is essential to normal functions such as: peeing, pooping, sex, and childbirth. But after pregnancy and childbirth many women experience difficulty in one or all of the above. #25 | Your Core & Pelvic Floor: Interview with Women's Health Physical Therapist Tara Gibson
Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 27 Apr 2022 | #158 | April Q&A: Jaundice; Neonatal Hypoglycemia; C-section & Your Pelvic Floor; Family Boundaries; Meconium; Tearing; Anterior Placentas; Quickies! | 00:43:58 | |
It is time for our monthly Q&A episode! This month we kick it off with a follow-up conversation on the impact of early, frequent breastfeeding on significant jaundice. Next, we address the question of why babies who are born "big" get heel sticks for blood sugar monitoring; the impact of a c-section birth on your pelvic floor; how to manage family boundaries around your birth and birth preferences with your sister and mother-in-law; if you tear during vaginal birth and get medication for stitches, is it still considered an unmedicated or natural birth? Is there a way to monitor your baby's heart rate and still be able to move freely and change position? Will an anterior placenta impact my labor? Tune in to catch all these great questions and more. Thank you to everyone who submitted questions for our monthly Q&A. If you have a questions for a future episode, please submit on our website downtobirthshow.com Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 18 May 2022 | #161 | Four Tips to Train Your Body for Natural Birth with Doula Krisha Crosley | 00:36:37 | |
You may remember today’s guest from episode #105: Tips for Supporting Women in Labor with Guest Host Doula Krisha. This time, Krisha of @serenitylifedoula returns to the show to discuss her effective techniques for "training" - in the athletic sense - her clients for a natural birth. As a former collegiate athlete, Krisha has developed a methodology for training your mind and body to have your easiest, fastest, and safest birth. Today, she explains her four key steps to get there and how you can utilize these practices at home to get your mind and body in the best birth shape. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 20 Apr 2022 | #157 | Labiaplasty Gone Wrong: The Collateral Damage of Ignorant Doctors | 00:51:19 | |
When Jessica Pin was a teenager, she became convinced her labia minora were unusually large and unattractive. Within days of her 18th birthday, she underwent labiaplasty with a prominent and trusted OB/GYN. Without her consent or knowledge, her surgeon severed the dorsal nerve of her clitoris, resulting in a loss of clitoral sensation. In the face of clear evidence, her doctor denied wrongdoing. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 08 Jun 2022 | #164 | Kendra's Story: A Traumatic Birth Due To Hospital Policy and Poor Training | 00:39:49 | |
Kendra grew up around physiologic birth and was a VBAC, breech baby herself. She was planning a birth center birth when she went into labor unexpectedly at 35 weeks. Her physiologic birth plans quickly went out the window as she was continuously monitored, poorly treated, stalled around 7 cm, got an epidural and ended up with a C-section when her baby's heart rate dropped. Despite being born with excellent APGAR scores, her baby was whisked away from her and sent to the NICU for five days, where she had limited access and wasn't able to breastfeed on her terms. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 01 Jun 2022 | #163 | Postpartum Roundtable: A Candid Conversation on Postpartum Depression, Anxiety, Unmet Expectations & Spousal Challenges | 01:06:41 | |
Today's episode is another special roundtable, in which we sat with some postpartum women in Cynthia’s kitchen to talk about their experiences with anxiety, depression, panic attacks, arguments with their spouses, lack of professional and personal support and unmet expectations. Amy is a young mother of three; Devon is a forty-year old mother of one. Through tears and some laughter, you’ll discover that much of what a struggling mom experiences in her early months and years is universal, and even with different lifestyles and networks of support, it’s the emotional journey of postpartum life that everyone can relate to. ********** Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 14 Sep 2022 | #178 | How Out-of-Hospital Birth Prejudice and Provider Bias Harms Mothers and Babies With Attorney Hermine Hayes-Klein | 00:47:21 | |
Hermine Hayes-Klein is a fearless legal advocate for sexual and reproductive rights with a particular passion for defending women’s human rights in childbirth, which, she says, are routinely violated in maternity care systems. In today's episode, we talk to Hermine about provider bias; in particular, the bias hospital-based providers can demonstrate toward (especially home-birth) midwives. However, limiting birth options for mothers does not decrease risk of poor outcomes but rather puts mothers and babies at increased risk. When women choose an alternative birth experience, such as out-of-hospital birth or home birth, the medical bias held by hospital-based providers often results in sub-par or even negligent care of the birthing woman, increasing both her risk and her baby's risk. Hermine Hayes-Klien talks to us today about how United States law fails to protect birth choices and instead excuses obstetricians for biased and negligent care of women who transfer from home to hospital. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 17 Aug 2022 | #174 | This is How Your Marriage Ends with Author Matthew Fray | 00:56:34 | |
Matthew Fray's new book "This Is How Your Marriage Ends: A Hopeful Approach to Saving Relationships" is directed primarily toward a male audience, and asserts most marriages end with a whimper, not a bang. Matthew helps us understand how good people like him "can be terrible husbands" by unknowingly causing harm to their wives. Did you know most divorces are initiated by women? Matthew explains relationships don't tend to end from a single betrayal, but after years of a slow but persistent erosion in trust over seemingly minor marital disputes. Having first-hand experience with a wife who left him when their son was a toddler, Matthew turned to blogging as his outlet for expressing his extreme pain and frustration, initially victimizing himself as a good guy who didn't deserve to lose his family just because he's not perfect. But after hearing from thousands of men and women - particularly after his viral article "She divorced me because I left dishes by the sink" - Matthew experienced a transformation by taking full responsibility for hurting his wife time and time again, having seldom taken seriously her complaints along the way. Matthew says part of the problem is that no one ever taught him how to be a better husband, and he doesn't hold that opinion as an excuse, but as a conviction that men can learn to do better and not end up with wives who'll leave them, as his did. Matthew has been coaching couples for several years before writing his book. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 29 Jun 2022 | #167 | June Q&A: A Small Pelvis, Plugged Ducts, Vaginal Exams, ECVs, Libido Woes, Castor Oil, Cord Prolapse & Painful Sex, Plus Bonus Content | 00:43:59 | |
Hello! This month's Q &A begins with a story from one of our Instagram followers on the pressure to have a vaginal exam to document cervical status so that her doctor can schedule an induction that she didn't need or want. Next, we jump into our questions starting with, "I have a narrow pelvis and grow big babies; what can I do stretch my pelvis for birth?" What can be done about plugged ducts and "Is my haaka helpful or hurtful?" Do I have to be on my back for a cervical exam? What are the risks of external cephalic version for breech babies? Is it normal to have no libido at four months postpartum? Should I use castor oil to induce labor? What is actually necessary for baby care; do we really need all the things? Why is cord prolapse dangerous? And finally, why is postpartum sex so painful? Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 22 Jun 2022 | #166 | Developmental Toilet Training: How to Train Your Baby for Big Kid Success | 00:42:31 | |
Danielle Daure holds a Master's Degree in Education and has over 20 years' combined experience in education and behavior analysis. She is a Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analyst (BCBA, LBA). For years, Danielle worked with children as old as five with extreme anxiety around toilets, to the point where they had severe constipation through tears and tantrums. She saw frustrated parents trying to reward and/or punish their children into potty-training; children who couldn't start preschool because they weren't out of diapers; and even older toddlers with impacted bowels who had to be hospitalized because of days of withholding bowel movements. Developmental Toilet Training Website Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 15 Jun 2022 | #165 | The Holistic OBGYN, Dr. Nathan Riley, on Autonomous, Empowered Birth | 00:36:09 | |
Dr. Nathan Riley is a board certified obstetrician in California advocating for autonomous birth. Through his experiences as a hospice care provider he learned that choices around end of life care are no different from choices in birth: What matters is that mothers feel in charge of their bodies during their birth experiences. He argues that birth is so much more than the standard metrics of vital signs, length of labor, fetal status or any variable routinely measured in labor in the medical model of care. Join us in this stimulating conversation on how women can better empower themselves in birth and hear one courageous OB's perspective on what his role actually is in birth: Supporting your sovereignty and your choice without coercion or judgement. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 27 Jul 2022 | #171 | July Q&A: Premature Rupture of Membranes; Hyperemesis Gravidarum; Aspirin in Pregnancy; Waterbirth Safety; Nipple Pain in Pregnancy; Quickies | 00:43:47 | |
It's the last Wednesday of the month, and you know what that means! We are back with our monthly Q&A episode. Today, we are discussing how long it is safe to go after your bag of waters releases (see link to our amazing birth story below); What can be done to treat or prevent Hyperemesis Gravidarum? Is Aspirin in pregnancy really necessary and what does ACOG have to say about it? When your hospital says waterbirth increases the risk of infection and is harmful to the baby--is that true? The world-expert in water birthing, Barbara Harper, founder of Waterbirth International, steps in to answer this one. And one woman was told her uterus wouldn't be "safe" to have another baby for one year. Also, is it normal to have nipple pain in pregnancy and how will this impact breastfeeding...and quickies! Severe carpel tunnel in pregnancy and what can be done about it; Fetal scalp electrode monitoring: what is it, and do the benefits ever outweigh the risks? You'll hear our thoughts on this "extreme" intervention; Having a two-vessel umbilical cord that was identified during the 20-week anatomy scan; What's the lowdown on red raspberry leaf tea? What are the benefits, and when/how much to consume during pregnancy. Thank you as always for your excellent questions and see you next week! If you would like to submit a question, please call and leave us a message with your question at (802) 438-3696 That's 802-GET-DOWN. (Cute, right?) Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 04 May 2022 | #159 | Yvonne Strahovski's Birth Story: The Most Important Lesson in Childbirth | 01:07:26 | |
Yvonne Strahovski is the Emmy-nominated, SAG Award-nominated and Golden-Globe-nominated actress whose voice you may recognize as the stoic Serena Joy Waterford from The Handmaid's Tale. She is the mother of a toddler and newborn, with starkly different birth stories to share. During Yvonne's first pregnancy, she felt an intuitive pull toward birthing at home, but suppressed her inner voice in favor of the rational, which warned Yvonne that she lived too far from the hospital in the event of a possible transfer. Choosing not to explore it further, Yvonne had her first baby in the hospital. Despite having an obstetrician she deeply trusted, she felt her birthing body start to shut down as soon as she arrived to the unfamiliar setting and found herself surrounded by numerous "strangers" - e.g. hospital staff. Yvonne began her second pregnancy sensing some PTSD from her first birth, and this time allowed her inner voice to grow louder. Yvonne shares her story of consuming a series of inspiring home-birth stories on Down to Birth Show and other platforms, until finally she said, "If all these women can do it, why can't I?" Yvonne's second son was born at home in December 2021, with her husband, midwives and doula present, along with some of her closest friends and even her obstetrician, who served as a back-up attendant. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 13 Jul 2022 | #169 | Protecting Today's Children with Integrative Pediatrician Dr. Joel Gator Warsh | 00:58:34 | |
Should we really be treating fevers in young children? Why are babies so gassy? Are germs helpful or harmful for our kids? Do kids actually need cows' milk? What is the problem with dairy? Dr. Joel Gator Warsh , an integrative pediatrician in Los Angeles, CA, joins us today to discuss what is happening in our environment that is contributing to making kids sicker in the past generation rather than healthier, despite all the resources of modern society. He answers our most pressing questions as new parents, gives us tips on how to make our households healthier and teaches us the most important step we can take to protect our children's health for the long term. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 03 Aug 2022 | #172 | Our Sexual Energy as The Secret Weapon to Our Best Birth and Best Life with Kim Anami | 00:46:08 | |
Sex and birth are inextricably linked. Both functions operate optimally under the same conditions: trust, safety, security, surrender. Furthermore, they both require oxytocin. So it is no wonder that birth can actually be the biggest oxytocin rush and/or orgasm of your life. But the importance of healthy sexual energy goes far beyond birth. It is also the key to our best relationship and our best life. Kim Anami is a holistic sex and relationship coach whose thirty years' experience has been dedicated toward working with couples to show them how to harness their sexual energy as the ultimate power source of their lives. As Kim states, "When we are disconnected from our sexual energy, we are operating at a deficiency. Conversely, when we are connected to our sexual energy we are operating on all cylinders. It is our life force." Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 20 Jul 2022 | #170 | An Empowered Cesarean Recovery with Nicole Alfred | 00:34:56 | |
Nicole Alfred the @csectionrecoverycoach is a cesarean recovery coach, massage therapist, and mother of two. She has given birth two times by C-section: one emergent and traumatic, the other empowered and planned. Her different experiences opened her eyes to the abject lack of support mothers receive post-operatively. Nicole sees a need for much more emotional and physical attention. In today's episode, she shares with us the key steps she believes mothers must take, beginning immediately after surgery and through the first 12 weeks postpartum for optimizing recovery. These steps include restoring healthy digestive function, wound & scar healing, pelvic floor recovery, and connecting with the incision scar to facilitate emotional processing and healing. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 10 Aug 2022 | #173 | Obstetric Violence with Home Birth Midwife Anne Margolis, CNM, RN | 00:35:44 | |
Anne Margolis is a Certified Nurse Midwife, author, and trauma specialist who has been catching babies for over twenty-seven years. Anne began as a nurse, whose first birth experience ended in a fourth degree episiotomy and vacuum delivery after being told she needed an emergency cesarean because her baby's heart rate was decelerating. She was so "checked out" due to stress and shock that Anne describes her first birth as an out-of-body experience. Her baby was born with normal APGARs, which immediately refuted her doctor's fetal distress diagnosis, and she was left completely traumatized in the aftermath. This led her to develop a program for birth trauma healing and turn to home birth midwifery practice, where she could put the mother at the center of the decision-making process. She joins us today to share stories of obstetric violence and redemptive births alike, and to discuss how women can shift their mindsets and make the commitment to birth their babies on their terms, no matter where they choose to give birth. This show is sponsored by: Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 25 May 2022 | #162 | May Q&A: Conversations with Your OB; Erythromycin; Mastitis; IUDs; Artificial Rupture of Membranes; Feeding Routines for Babies; Quickies! | 00:32:31 | |
Hey everyone! Starting this month, we have an exciting announcement: Down to Birth Show is now producing longer Q&A episodes. So if you can't get enough Q&A, and you want to enjoy ad-free episodes all the time, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts! Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 31 Aug 2022 | #176 | August Q&A: Multiple Miscarriages; Evening Primrose Oil; Safe Bed-Sharing; Breastmilk Stashes; Failure to Descend; Pushing; High Blood Pressure | 00:42:47 | |
Hello! It is the last Wednesday of the month, and you know what that means. We are here with our August Q&A episode. Today, Cynthia & Trisha are discussing weight loss after having a baby--can you lose too much too fast? What tests should be done if you've had multiple miscarriages? Can you give us the scoop on Evening Primrose oil for getting labor started--is it helpful or hurtful? How do I handle my mother-in-law who keeps giving me keepsakes for the baby that I don't want? Is there a way to safely bed-share with your baby without investing in extra contraptions? What is the best way to create a stash of breastmilk without causing oversupply? And one of everybody's favorite topics: pushing in labor--when should you and when should you not? Trisha gives one woman the lowdown on all the types of "pain relief" options in labor. Another moms is experiencing some unusual physical symptoms at six-months postpartum and wonders if it means her period is returning. We discuss "failure to descend" versus failure to progress because one listener had a c-section and had never heard of that diagnosis before. We discuss a pregnant woman's high blood pressure questions as she's preparing for her home birth, and Trisha responds to a question about newborn feeding schedules as far as whether there's a time and place for using an alarm. We also discuss short cords, and resources for evidence-based info on induction versus waiting. Thank you as always for your great questions and see you next week! If you would like to submit a question, please call and leave us a message with your question at (802) 438-3696 That's 802-GET-DOWN ********** Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 06 Jul 2022 | #168 | The Business of Birth Control with Abby Epstein: The Importance of Safety, Autonomy and Informed Consent | 00:42:21 | |
The Business of Birth Control is a new documentary directed by Abby Epstein and produced by Ricki Lake, who achieved international acclaim for their revolutionary 2008 film, "The Business of Being Born". Abby joins us today to discuss why she and Ricki made their new film, which boldly shines a light on some of the severe side effects that accompany hormonal birth control, including death -- and the fact that congress, and the pharmaceuticals who make the pill, have long known about these adverse outcomes and have done nothing about it. Most disturbing of all, even though women have gathered, protested and demanded a safer and better-quality pill since the 1960s when these side-effects became known, there has been absolutely no advance in technology nor any improvement in safety standards in decades. In fact, the majority of the budget is allocated toward marketing and advertising. And while most bereaved families have been gagged in exchange for financial settlements, in the film we meet the parents of those who refused and who are demanding change. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 24 Aug 2022 | #175 | Optimizing Your Fertility at Any Age with Naturopath Dr. Aumatma | 00:34:37 | |
Dr. Aumatma is a holistic fertility expert who, through her own hormonal challenges, became impassioned about supporting and optimizing women's cycles and fertility irrespective of age. Today, she shares with us the three most common myths in infertility and fertility management, explains what tests we must do to better understand our hormones, and walks us through the key lifestyle factors, sleep, stress, and diet, and how they impact our fertility and conception. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 07 Sep 2022 | #177 | Going Clean & Green for a Non-Toxic Lifestyle with Carly Hartwig | 00:44:32 | |
There are over 85,000 chemicals approved for use in personal care products and fewer than 200 of those have been tested for safety. Carly Hartwig is a home-birth mother of one, Instagram influencer @cleanlivingwithcarly, and soon-to-be certified endocrine wellness and fertility counselor. Her passion for clean living grew out of her own hormonal havoc when she was told in her twenties she had the hormonal landscape of a post-menopausal woman. She soon realized the products she was using daily in her skincare, make-up and household routines were compromising her health and hormones. After eliminating the most common culprits of toxic living such as heavy metals, Pthalates, and Bisphenols, her health was beautifully restored. Today, she is here to educate us on the lack of FDA-regulation when it comes to the personal-care and household-product industries in the Unites States. She also shares some of the primary sources of endocrine disruptors, teaches how to swap the toxic for clean-and-green products, and explains why this is critical for all mothers who are pregnant or trying to conceive. This episode will have you going "Marie Kondo" on everything in your bathroom, pantry, laundry room, and cleaning products, so get ready for clean living with Carly! Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 20 Jun 2022 | Bonus Episode | Midwives Under Assault by Hospital Administrators | 00:36:33 | |
"There is something going on against midwives, against birth centers, and against choice for women." Cathy Parisi is the director of the Connecticut Childbirth & Women's Center in Danbury, Ct since 1999. The center is the only free standing birth center in Connecticut and promotes physiologic birth under the midwifery model of care, offering women choice, freedom, and empowered decision making in their care in the birth center itself or across the street at Danbury hospital. Recently, the hospital administration cited more than one midwife for practicing "out of their scope of care" and revoked one midwifes' privileges to attend birth at the hospital for an incident that happened within the birth center, was clinically appropriate, and entirely within her scope of practice. Cathy joins us today to share the battle that not just her team of midwives are facing from the hospital monopoly; but also, what she believes to be a trend nationwide--punishing midwives and the women who choose to birth with them for choice and autonomy over their own bodies and birth. This episode is close to our hearts as it impacts our local community of women and midwives, is where Cynthia gave birth to her first child and where Trisha provides her breastfeeding services. We stand with the midwives of CCWC.
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We serve women and couples coast to coast with our live, online monthly HypnoBirthing classes, support groups and prenatal/postpartum workshops. We are so grateful for your reviews and shares! Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 21 Sep 2022 | #179 | Creating Healthy, Independent Infant Sleep Habits with Ellie Lindenmayer | 00:45:15 | |
Infant sleep is one of the most important topics on the mind of every new parent. New parents are left wondering what normal infant sleep looks like, how much their baby needs at each age, and how create easier sleep routines resulting in longer stretches of sleep during day and night. Many of today's parents are afraid that any degree of crying will create negative associations or, worse, teach the child their needs won't be met. In preparation for this episode, we solicited questions from the Down to Birth community on Instagram, and we've asked the expert: Ellie is a birth doula and infant sleep specialist who shares her expertise on how to help babies learn healthy sleep habits using wake windows and without aggressive sleep training techniques. In this episode, we take your most important infant sleep questions and get Ellie's expert answers on how to help, such as: Should I swaddle to sleep? Is it ok to breastfeed to sleep? Can I let my baby cry it out? How do I get my baby to sleep longer stretches, how to handle vacationing with baby, and many more. Ellie gives us practical and gentle tools to help our babies get their daily sleep needs met without feeling guilty. If you are looking for more sleep with less stress, this episode is for you. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 28 Sep 2022 | #180 | September Q&A: Family Boundaries; Induction; Cesarean Predisposition; PROM; Marriage After Baby; Lotus Birth; Nausea; Amnio-Infusion | 00:44:45 | |
Hello all! We are back with our monthly Q&A. To kick it off, we have a short conversation on maternal instincts. Next, we discuss how one woman should handle her mother-in-law's request to be called "Mama". Then we review the very few reasons when an induction is absolutely needed, how long you can go with ruptured membranes before inducing labor, followed by a question on familial history and a genetic predisposition to needing a cesarean birth. Another mother calls in to express her postpartum exhaustion and relationship struggles, as she feels depleted by the day and with nothing left to give her husband at the end of it. One mother wonders if being sick during pregnancy is harmful to her baby, and finally we discuss Lotus birth--what is it and is it un-hygienic? Thank you as always for your great questions and see you next week! If you would like to submit a question, please call and leave us a message with your question at (802) 438-3696 That's 802-GET-DOWN. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 05 Oct 2022 | #181 | A Motherless Mother in Recovery Experiencing Birth As the Ultimate Surrender | 00:43:53 | |
Melissa Pennel was thirty-four years old when she was pregnant for the first time. She already had experienced significant life challenges: She had lost her own mother a few years earlier, plus she was seven years sober. Her pregnancy presented several health scares along the way, such as a two-vessel cord and a perceived hole in the baby's heart, eliciting words like possible "fetal demise" from her providers and the potentiality of "organs not developing normally". Her baby was also breech until 36 weeks, keeping Melissa questioning whether her own ego and attachment to a natural birth were the reasons for her challenges. She then went post-term, all the way to 42 weeks, despite pressure from her providers, and during a vaginal exam at her check-up, the amniotic sac "accidentally" ruptured. Due to her work in recovery and a strong muscle for accepting responsibility, she kept coming back to the feeling that she was somehow creating these situations herself - she called this "the choke-hold of control". Melissa caught herself forming negative beliefs like, "Everything's going wrong" and "Nothing is going to be easy." Once her OB broke her waters, she was advised to be induced, and an extremely long and difficult labor ensued. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 12 Oct 2022 | #182 | Labor Induction: Risks, Reasons and Results with Dr. Rachel Reed, PhD | 00:56:08 | |
Dr. Rachel Reed, PhD, author, midwife, researcher and expert in physiologic birth joins us for the second time on the Down to Birth Show to discuss the differences between physiologic birth and induced labor. She shares with us the different ways in which Pitocin/Syntocin impacts the course of labor, including significant risk to mother and baby, versus our own natural oxytocin. You'll learn the unique risks of Pitocin for first-time moms, and the entirely different set of risks Pitocin presents to women who've already given birth before. She explains the general risks of induced labor, and discusses circumstances when induction is absolutely necessary. In this episode, we critique the ARRIVE trial and its flawed results, which have led to many women choosing elective induction at 39 weeks believing it to be a safer option for mother and baby. If you haven't heard it already, be sure to listen to our very popular first episode with Rachel Reed. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 19 Oct 2022 | #183 | Group B Strep: Screening, Risks, Protocols, Problems and Alternatives | 00:37:36 | |
GBS affects approximately one-third of all pregnant women, and involves widespread use of intravenous antibiotics in labor even though the screening tests are known to be highly imperfect, and some women are at significantly greater risk of GBS colonization than others. Further, there are specific risk factors making some babies far more likely to contract GBS than others. This "universal" approach to GBS management is the very start of our deep and detailed discussion on GBS. Cynthia and Trisha have reviewed all the available data from the past three decades to provide you with informed decision-making on GBS. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 26 Oct 2022 | #184 | October Q&A: Evening Primrose; Breastmilk Storage; IUGR; Pumping the Second Side; Bacteria in Urine; Longer Gestations & Early Milestones; Postpartum Meals | 00:41:12 | |
Hello Friends! It is Wednesday, and Cynthia & Trisha are here with your October Q&A episode. To kick it off, we share a story from a listener who wanted everyone to know how a routine gynecologic exam in her twenties turned into a precarious moment in her VBAC experience. Next, we dive into our questions beginning with the potential association between evening primrose oil in pregnancy, a smelly baby at birth, and early cord clamping--could they all be related? Then, we go through the real deal on how long breast milk can sit unrefrigerated and still be safe to feed your baby. Next, comes a lengthy discussion on intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)--what is it and how is it diagnosed? Another mother asks if it is necessary to pump the alternate breast overnight to keep up her supply. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 02 Nov 2022 | #185 | Reyna's Unmedicated Twin Birth Against Doctors' Orders | 00:39:21 | |
When Reyna learned she was pregnant with twins she was told she would need to be induced and get an epidural and that there was no point in staying pregnant beyond thirty-eight weeks. Refusing induction, she went into labor naturally at 39+2. As labor progressed, her obstetrician told her she needed to give birth in the operating room. Without a second thought, Reyna turned and said, "No, I am not giving birth in the OR." Instead, she went into the bathroom, dropped to her hands and knees and created a safe, quiet space for herself while her OB pleaded with her to at least allow her to "deliver" her babies. "No, I don't like you!" Reyna responded. This is an inspiring and courageous twin birth story showing what is possible when a woman takes absolute full responsibility for her birth choices regardless of who attends her birth or where. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 09 Nov 2022 | #186 | Five Tips for Your Easiest Birth with The Naked Doula | 00:39:42 | |
Emma of the naked doula is a mother, instagram phenomenon, artist, and passionate, bold birth educator residing across the pond from us, in England. She uses bright colors, raw imagery and impassioned language to teach her birth philosophy and method. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 16 Nov 2022 | #187 | Carrying the Torch of the Midwives Before Us: An Off-The-Record Kind of Conversation with Home Birth Midwife Lindsey Meehleis | 00:51:17 | |
Lindsey Meehleis is a midwife in Southern California who practices traditional midwifery and has supported women in home birth over the last nineteen years. We invited her on the podcast today without a specific agenda (a rather unusual twist on our style) and let the conversation take on a life of its own. We discussed what is happening with midwifery today as we pondered, "Where have all the traditional midwives gone, how has midwifery changed with the advent of nurse-midwifery, and who will carry the torch for the ancient wisdom of birth going forward?" Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 23 Nov 2022 | #188 | Rhogam for Rh Negative Mothers: How It Works and When It Doesn't | 00:35:27 | |
In today's episode we discuss the problem with Rh negative blood types and how it impacts future pregnancies. We've invited Courtney, mother of three, and her midwife, Jessica, to discuss her experience as an Rh negative mother who became isoimmunized against her baby, resulting in the need for multiple in-utero blood transfusions to save her baby's life. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 30 Nov 2022 | #189 | November Q&A: Cholestasis; Growth Curve Worries; Petite-Women Birth Concerns; The McRobert's Position; Retained Placenta; Burping & Formula | 00:35:14 | |
Hello everyone! It is Wednesday, and we are back with our monthly Q&A! Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 07 Dec 2022 | #190 | Babies in the NICU: Three Mothers' Stories | 00:48:13 | |
No matter how beautiful, long, short or difficult your birth experience is, nothing compares to the agony of your brand new baby being whisked out of your arms and admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Nursery (SPC). Mothers in this position often experience less autonomy and authority over the decision-making and informed consent process than they did in their own birth experiences. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 11 Jan 2023 | #195 | Your Menstrual Cycle & Its Vital Role in Health Explained with Author Lara Briden | 00:37:04 | |
If you are considering the birth control pill to fix your period, think again. Did you know the hormones in your pill don't replace the hormones your body naturally makes? Instead, they mask and suppress them. The period you get at the end of your birth control pill pack is not a real period; it's simply a withdraw bleed from synthetic hormones. Your brain, bones, heart, mood, sex drive, motivation, inspiration, and creativity are all influenced by the hormonal cycles of naturally-occurring estrogen and progesterone. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 14 Dec 2022 | #191 | Placental Abruption: Meghan's Third and Final Birth | 00:41:43 | |
Meghan Murray and her husband decided to have one more baby. She'd already experienced beautiful vaginal births with her first two boys and, like so many women, she mentally went through all the things she could do this time around to get things just right. In preparing for her dream birth, Meghan hired new midwives who practiced outside of a hospital setting and seemed perfectly aligned with her wishes. She remained fit, practiced Spinning Babies and learned relaxation techniques for a comfortable physiologic birth. She savored her pregnancy knowing it was her last, and excitedly planned her first water birth. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 28 Dec 2022 | #193 | December Q&A: Rhogam; Premature Rupture of Membranes; Meconium; Fevers in Pregnancy; Cord Traction; Vitamin D; Waterbirth & Cold Plunges | 00:43:48 | |
Hello everyone! It is that time of the month, and we are back with our December Q&A. To kick it off, we have a follow-up conversation based on one listener's response to episode #188 on Rhogam. Next, we jump into our questions discussing the actual risks of going past 24 hours or ruptured membranes without contractions and how you can mitigate those risks. We break down why meconium becomes more concerning after 42 weeks gestation and what those actual risks are. One mother who has the flu in the third trimester wonders if this is harmful to her baby and what she should do about it; another mom is curious if it is more helpful or hurtful to use assistance to birth her placenta and questions if a hep-lock or IV port is really necessary in labor. Furthermore, is vitamin D supplementation truly necessary for breastfed babies? Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 04 Jan 2023 | #194 | Birth Trauma & PPD Healed Through EMDR and a Redemptive Hospital Birth | 00:41:55 | |
When Emma's first baby was one year old, she opened her phone to review her baby's photos and realized she had spent that year completely avoiding looking back at any images from the first three months of her baby's life. It was clear in that moment, she had experienced significant postpartum depression and delayed bonding with her baby, and the photos were a stark reminder of a truth she hadn't been ready to face. Six months later she ruptured her spleen, resulting in a post-traumatic stress response for which she sought out EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) Therapy. As she worked through her trauma, much of her first birth experience and PPD memories resurfaced. Later, when she found out she was pregnant again and considered where to birth her next baby, she ran the gamut from a fully medicalized birth to free-birth (unassisted home birth) and landed on a hospital birth with a "unicorn OB." She chose to birth in a hospital because it "scared" her, and was a fear she felt she needed to overcome. Emma was GBS positive and established a "No IV, no antibiotics" birth policy and confidently declined. Her water broke just minutes before she welcomed her eleven pound baby safely into her arms. That's right: Eleven pounds. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 01 Feb 2023 | #198 | Midwife Jessy's Undisclosed Breech Home Birth | 00:33:26 | |
Jessy is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) in the state of Utah where breech home birth is against state law. In her second pregnancy, she made three attempts using gentle version techniques to turn her baby, yet her baby turned back to breech every time. Weighing out the risks of breech vaginal home birth versus cesarean, she opted for home birth but kept her baby's breech position to herself and off-the-record. She only hinted to her midwife that her baby was being "stubborn." Jessy's intuition told her that forcing her baby to turn around was not the safest choice, which became evident as truth when her baby arrived with a short cord and a velamentous insertion. This inspiring story overcomes many obstacles including threatened early miscarriage, retained placenta, breech birth, a short cord and vaginal prolapse and demonstrates the ultimate power of a mother's intuition. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 18 Jan 2023 | #196 | The Toughest Part of Being a Doula with the Dynamic Doulas of London, Ontario | 00:45:28 | |
Sarah Hutchison & Lara Martens are the Dynamic Doulas of London, Ontario. Doula work is a delicate balance of keeping a "soft front and hard back", stepping-in and and not overstepping. The fact is, doula burnout is high, the emotional work can be heavy, and the lifestyle is challenging. But as any doula knows, those who are called to the work can't imagine doing anything else and the rewards of supporting mothers in achieving their birth goals are tremendous. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 21 Dec 2022 | #192 | Your Hospital Anecdotes, Our Comments | 01:03:46 | |
If we could share every single woman's birth story on this podcast we would; but instead, today we are giving you a glimpse into a handful of hospital stories and anecdotes that represent the rhetoric, mistreatment, and disrespect that mothers experience from hospital staff, midwives, OBs and pediatricians. In this episode, you will hear such things as a mother having her call light put on the other side of the room so she couldn't bother the staff with her questions, another mother purposefully ignored when she needed to use the bathroom postpartum because she refused to give her baby sugar water, an OB telling a mom that her baby will have Cerebral Palsy if she declines a vaginal exam, and another mother getting an episiotomy without her consent, plus other examples of medical coercion and abuse. After each mother's story, you will hear Cynthia's and Trisha's comments. While we know this episode will get you fired up, we hope it will also shed light on just how rampant the problem is within today's maternity care system, with the reminder that you don't have to tolerate mistreatment. Thank you to these mother for taking the time to call us with their stories and thank you for taking the time to listen. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 08 Feb 2023 | #199 | The Art of Spiritual Midwifery with Anna | 00:40:20 | |
Anna is a Swedish-practicing midwife who was professionally trained in Australia. Anna discusses her view of birth as a rite of passage and a transformational experience, and she laments the current state of the maternity system, which often leads to birth trauma for women. She talks about the desire to control every aspect of pregnancy and birth, and the importance of relinquishing to the unknown and trusting in the intelligence and expertise of the mother and baby. Anna also shares her thoughts on the role of birth in society and the need for a more holistic approach to maternity care. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 15 Feb 2023 | #200 | Physiologic Birth of the Placenta in Water, Optimal Cord Clamping and Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage with Barbara Harper | 00:51:56 | |
Active management of the third stage of labor refers to interventions that are taken to speed up the delivery of the placenta and reduce the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. This typically involves the administration of an oxytocic drug like Pitocin or Syntocinon to increase the contraction of the uterus and the use of techniques like fundal pressure and controlled cord traction to guide the placenta out of the uterus. Expectant management, on the other hand, is a more hands-off approach in which the placenta is left to detach and be delivered naturally, without the use of drugs, manual manipulations or interventions. This approach is usually used when there are no risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage and the mother and baby are both in good condition. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 25 Jan 2023 | #197 | January Q&A: Postpartum Hemorrhage; Mucous Plugs; Pumping for Work Trips; Beyond 42 Weeks; Flat Nipples; Starting Solids; Placentas | 00:43:43 | |
We are back with our first Q&A of 2023. We begin today by discussing absurd comments shared with us around natural birth statistics before we jump into our regular Q&As, starting with: Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 22 Feb 2023 | #201 | February Q&A: Tongue-Tie & Bodywork, Cervical Exams, Ovulation, Postpartum Baths, Placenta Accreta, Forceps, Synthetic Fragrances, Tearing | 00:44:23 | |
It's time for our monthly Q&A episode with your Down to Birth Show hosts Cynthia & Trisha. After a quick chat about the brutally cold weather (how unoriginal), we jump right into our listener-submitted questions beginning with:
And in the ad-free, extended version for our Patreon and Apple Subscribers, we answer a question about newborn transition, difficulty breathing and delayed cord clamping; the use of forceps and whether or not they are ever needed; the idea of ovulatory cycles and just how much "lifetime" ovulation is optimal; placenta accreta and how likely it is to recur, and more. Finally, we give our input on one woman's concern about her 16 month old breastfeeding "too much", according to her pediatrician. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 01 Mar 2023 | #202 | From Bliss to Rage: A Mother's Journey with Postpartum Depression | 00:34:38 | |
When Lauren gave birth to her first baby, everything was seemingly perfect. Breastfeeding was going well, and she was totally in love with her baby girl. What she didn't see coming was a series of lifestyle changes including moving that set her up for her previously-managed OCD transforming into bouts of postpartum rage. At 9 months postpartum, when her pediatrician told her that her baby was too small, the regularly occurring outbursts that soon followed were classic for the postpartum rage cycle: trigger-outburst-guilt, with much of her rage directed at her husband. We discuss the triggers that exacerbated her postpartum mood disorder and the importance of seeking support and understanding the signs and symptoms of perinatal mood disorders. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 05 Apr 2023 | #207 | My Baby is Not Going Anywhere: Yoga Teacher Erika Halweil's Birth Story | 00:37:59 | |
Erika gave birth to her first child in the hospital and was labeled a "weirdo" and stamped as "difficult" for her birth plan intentions. When the hospital staff tried to take her baby away in order to administer the Vitamin K shot and Erythromycin eye ointment, she refused, holding her baby close as the staff tried to pull the baby from Erika's arms. Next came the call to CPS (Child Protective Services), putting Erika on a government watch list as a threat to her child's well-being. As a long-time yoga practitioner and deep spiritualist, Erika shares her perspective on birth as a one-of-a-kind opportunity to embrace discomfort and release the notion of separation from oneness. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 19 Apr 2023 | #209 | The Danger of Retained Placenta, Delayed Postpartum Hemorrhage & Negligent Care: Chelsea's Birth Story | 00:47:36 | |
Chelsea was determined to have an unmedicated hospital birth. When she was unexpectedly diagnosed with cholestasis at 38 weeks, she found herself getting induced with Misoprostil, Pitocin, and ruptured membranes at 3 cm dilated. She quickly progressed to full dilation, had a short pushing phase and birthed her baby vaginally. Everything seemed great until she went home and starting passing large blood clots. After multiple calls to different OBs that all passed it off as normal, she started bleeding profusely and was transferred back to the hospital for delayed postpartum hemorrhage. Chelsea's story is one of knowing the importance of trusting our own intuition and insisting we get the care we need when we know something is wrong. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 15 Mar 2023 | #204 | The Return of Claude Racine-Valinsky From the Depths of Postpartum Depression to "Gangster" Mom Mode | 00:43:51 | |
Claude Racine Valinsky is a former professional dancer and choreographer in Los Angeles who is now a mother who has recovered from postpartum depression and become a thriving mom-preneur. She returns to the show for the third time to share her "gangster mindset" for turning our most difficult moments in life into our greatest opportunity for growth, expansion, fulfillment and success. Claude joined us in episode #28 to share her home birth story and again in episode #72, where she opened up about the darkness of her postpartum depression, sudden weight gain, and health struggle with a Hashimoto's diagnosis. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 22 Mar 2023 | #205 | Six Principles of Holistic Fertility & How to Conceive with Dr. Nathan Riley | 00:47:28 | |
Dr. Nathan Riley is an OBGYN who understands the holistic picture of women's health. You may remember him from Episode #165 where he discussed autonomous, empowered birth. Today, he joins us to explain why infertility rates are on the rise, especially for men, and gives us the six principles of holistic fertility that are important for healthy, conscious conception, along with the five fertility powerhouse nutrients. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 29 Mar 2023 | #206 | March Q&A: Choosing a Midwife, HELLP, Cold Sores, Drying the Baby, Lindsay Clancy, Covid & Aspirin, IUGR, Bottles, Parent Resources | 00:46:10 | |
We are back with the March Q&A, and it is packed with your awesome questions!
And for those who subscribe on Apple podcasts or Patreon, in the extended version we answer:
And in our quickies segment we touch on:
Thank you as always for calling in your awesome questions! Don't forget to join us on Patreon for the extended version and twice monthly live Q&As on all kinds of topics! Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 08 Mar 2023 | #203 | Pre-eclampsia: Diet, Nutrition and the Influence of Sperm with Lily Nichols | 00:47:27 | |
Pre-eclampsia impacts more than 5% of pregnancies, is a leading cause of pre-term birth and is increasingly on the rise. When it comes to this difficult diagnosis, we often are told there is nothing we can do other than give birth, usually by induction, sometimes by cesarean. While the etiology of pre-eclampsia is not fully understood and much more research needs to be done, we do know that diet and nutrition play a key role in the development of and/or severity of pre-eclampsia. Lily Nichols, expert nutritionist and author, returns to explain the critical nutrient deficiencies that are associated with this illness and illuminates the newest research pointing to male sperm as a potential player in the development of pre-eclampsia. If you are wondering if there is anything you can do to prevent or slow the development of pre-eclampsia, then this episode will guide you on how to do just that. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 10 May 2023 | #212 | A Conversation on Pitocin with an L&D Nurse and Expert Witness | 00:31:12 | |
Chanie of @yoledetacademy is an experienced labor and delivery nurse and expert witness in cases which the appropriate use of Pitocin is in question. Today, she joins us to give us an insider's perspective on the use of Pitocin in hospital birth. Pitocin, now known as the narcotic of modern obstetrics, is increasingly overused and the harms of its use are significantly under represented. Join us in this discerning conversation around the use and abuse of Pitocin in hospital birth. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 03 May 2023 | #211 | Declining RhoGAM: A Conversation with Two Rh-Negative Women | 00:46:51 | |
RhoGAM or Anti-D is a blood product offered to pregnant women with an Rh-negative blood type who have conceived with an Rh-positive father. The use of RhoGAM is said to significantly reduce the chances of the mother becoming sensitized to a future baby if the current baby she is carrying has an Rh-positive blood type. The RhoGAM injection is routinely offered to all Rh-negative women, despite that it is not always needed, comes with certain side effects, and isn't 100% effective. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 12 Apr 2023 | #208 | Achieving a Pain-Free Birth with Karen Welton @painfreebirth | 00:47:37 | |
If you are pregnant for the first time or even the second or third, we all want to know the secret ingredient to experiencing a "pain-free" birth experience. Today, we brought on a leading voice in the pain-free birth world, Karen Welton, to go deep on what it takes. Do you know the most important step in accessing a "pain free" birth? Hint: It's not about what you do in labor. It's not about position. It's not even about your birth location or provider. It's about your brain. It begins and ends with your mindset and focus. The key to mastering your birth is mastering your brain's influence on your physiology. Can you create an environment for birth where you could be so relaxed and embodied in your physiology that you could have sex in that space? Join us in this enlightening discussion and take the first step to finding a "pain-free" ecstatic, even pleasurable birth experience. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 05 Jul 2023 | #220 | Catrina's HBAC: A Mother's Triumph Over Medical Intervention | 00:33:12 | |
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. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 26 Apr 2023 | #210 | April Q&A: PPH, Tipping Doulas, Vitamin A in Pregnancy, Surrogacy, Postpartum Rage, After Birth Pains, GDM, Age Over 35, Cholestasis | 00:42:50 | |
Hello everyone! We are back with our April Q&A episode, and it is loaded with your excellent questions! Don't forget you can subscribe on Apple podcasts Patreon to hear the extended, ad-free versions.
And in our extended version (available on Apple subscriptions & Patreon):
And of course, everyone's favorite: Quickies! Thanks for joining us, and remember you can call our phone line with your questions 24/7 at 802-GET-DOWN. (That's 802-438-3696) Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 17 May 2023 | #213 | Choosing Home Birth the First Time Around with Colleen Mason @Uncomplicated Family | 00:41:57 | |
When your hospital birth plan repeatedly includes the word "No", considering home birth becomes extremely enticing. In this episode, Colleen of @uncomplicatedfamily shares with us how she left her OB and chose home birth not only the first time but six more thereafter! Many mothers fear the idea of home birth because they only imagine what might go wrong. And while there are certain risks to consider before home birthing and it isn't the preference of every woman, we review how it can be a safe and smart choice for many, even the first time around. Down to Birth is sponsored by: Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 07 Jun 2023 | #216 | The Mystery of Functional Birthing Explained with Author Sarah Thompson | 00:47:32 | |
With the right knowledge and education about the intricacies of our own health, we have the potential to influence how our body gives birth. Did you know that by twenty-eight weeks of pregnancy your body is already making physiological and functional shifts to prepare for labor? Or that your baby's adrenal glands are the biggest factor in the initiation of labor? Have you ever heard that sub-clincal hypothyroidism is associated with a significantly higher rate of postpartum hemorrhage or that if you are magnesium deficient, your oxytocin receptors may not be as readily available? Are you curious about the role of CoQ-10 in the prevention of pre-eclampsia or how hylauronic acid influences cervical readiness for labor? Author Sarah Thompson of @functionalmaternity gets into all the fascinating details of the functional birth process and gives us practical tips on what we can do to optimize our bodies for birth. We're sure you've never heard physiologic details like this before. Grab a pen, a pad of paper, and your thinking cap for this one! Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 31 May 2023 | #215 | May Q&A: NSTs, Short Cords, Boundaries, Fetal Ejection Reflex, Decels in Labor, Artificial Rupture of Membranes, VBAC, Postpartum Doulas | 00:48:41 | |
Hello! We are back with the May Q&A. This month we kick things off with a short conversation on obstetrical rhetoric around the risks of cesarean birth and induction, followed by your excellent questions on:
And in our extended version of this episode, we dive into:
Pitocin Episode #134 here. Join us over on Patreon or subscribe on Apple podcasts for the extended version of this episode. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 24 May 2023 | #214 | Four Ways Waterbirthing Improves Home Birth Outcomes | 00:42:31 | |
Lisa Marie and Richard Oxenham are a water-birthing midwifery duo extraordinaire in addition to being husband and wife and protégés of Barbara Harper of Waterbirth International. Lisa has attended over six hundred water births and has never, not once, induced a woman's labor. Through their years of experience, they have come to believe that giving birth in water improves birth outcomes over giving birth out of the water. In this episode, we cover the ways in which water birth increases the safety of home birth by reducing complications associated with cord evulsion, shoulder dystocia, deep tearing, postpartum hemorrhage, and newborn transition. Lisa also touches on how water birth may be the most effective tool for easing the birth experience for those with a history of trauma or abuse. We also learn the real meaning of the word "vagina." Don't miss this incredibly important and highly informative episode on the benefits of home water birth. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 14 Jun 2023 | #217 | EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing for Birth Trauma with Carolyn Yates, LMFT | 00:42:00 | |
At least one-third of women report to experiencing birth trauma. Traumatic experiences can be trapped in the physical body and manifest as post-traumatic stress disorder, easily triggered by everyday events and preventing us from fully embracing our experience as a mothers. Talk therapy can be helpful but often is not sufficient to fully resolve trauma, because trauma causes our brains to become wired to focus on repetitive thoughts, creating a maladaptive circuit. Fortunately, when we sleep, our brains process our emotions and release negative associations, but it takes many weeks or even years for trauma to fully process in our sleep. EMDR works to accelerate this process through specific, guided eye movement therapy, and has been shown to be extremely effective at quickly and successfully releasing trauma. In the United States, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense have cited EMDR as a “best practice” in treating veterans with PTSD. Research demonstrating the effectiveness of EMDR includes dozens of clinical trials, research studies and academic papers. It has been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and multiple other governmental and/or health organizations. Carolyn Yates, LMFT and EMDR practitioner joins us today to explain how and why EMDR is a revolutionary treatment for not only birth trauma but any traumatic event. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 12 Jul 2023 | #221 | Understanding Fetal-Maternal Microchimerism with Rachel Marynowski of @Kale.Blossom | 00:34:47 | |
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. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 13 Sep 2023 | #230 | The Free Birth Dilemma with Sara Rosser | 00:41:38 | |
Sara Rosser is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). While she has not had a free birth herself, she has supported women in her community who have chosen to do so. Free birth (or "wild birth") is a controversial practice in which a woman chooses to give birth in the absence of a trained birth professional, whether that be a midwife or obstetrician. In today's discussion, we dig into why a woman might choose free birth, whether or not free birth is "safe" for a mother and baby, how those women who require medical support are treated if they transfer from a free birth, the role of the doula in free birth, and a general discussion around how and why the free birth movement has taken hold. Ultimately, we seek to answer the question: Are those who support free birth enabling the movement or simply supporting a woman's right to choose what she believes is best for herself and her baby? Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 19 Jul 2023 | #222 | Overcoming & Understanding Sleep Deprivation with Dr. Lynelle Schneeberg | 00:51:44 | |
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. " Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 26 Jul 2023 | #223 | July Q&A: Prolapsed Cord, Tearing & Sutures, PROM, Nursing & Tooth Decay, Irish Twins, Breastmilk Calorie Concerns, Breech Birth, Pet Peeves | 00:43:38 | |
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. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 09 Aug 2023 | #225 | Free-Birthing as a Woman of Color: How Nichollette Chose One Extreme Over Another | 00:33:08 | |
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. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 16 Aug 2023 | #226 | The Case for Co-Sleeping with OnTrack Baby | 00:46:14 | |
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?). 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. ********** Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 02 Aug 2023 | #224 | Introducing Solid Foods with Katie Ferraro of Baby Led Weaning Made Easy | 00:36:31 | |
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?
Don't miss this insightful and helpful episode that will set you and your baby up for happy tummies and happy hearts. Postpartum Soothe™ is 100% organic. An herbal tincture for pads toward a safer, easier recovery. Silverette USA Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 30 Aug 2023 | #228 | August Q&A: Routine PP Pitocin, Insufficient Glandular Tissue, Boundaries with In-laws, Fundal Massage, Fore-milk, Manual Dilation, Weight Gain in Pregnancy, A Husband with Addiction | 00:43:04 | |
It's time for the August Q&A episode with Cynthia & Trisha! We kick off today's episode with the crazy and unsupportive comments most often heard by our listeners. Grab a cup of coffee or tea, and get ready for some laughs. Next, we get into our questions, including: Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 21 Jun 2023 | #218 | Birth Trauma Alchemy with Eyla Cuenca | 00:49:36 | |
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. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 23 Aug 2023 | #227 | Tips For Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage with @thealliewoods | 00:35:22 | |
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. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 20 Sep 2023 | #231 | Heart Moms: One Mother's Journey with Congenital Trans-Position of the Great Arteries | 00:37:31 | |
Jo Young is a "heart mom" from the U.K. Being a heart mom indicates belonging to a community of parents whose children are born with congenital heart defects. Jo's narrative unfolds as she recounts the poignant moment when her plans for a home birth dissolved into the stark reality of laboring within the confines of an ambulance. She describes her postpartum moments of cradling her newborn daughter before relinquishing her to the surgical team, and delves into the trials and tribulations of the breastfeeding journey, underscoring the indomitable spirit that she, her partner, and their resilient baby summoned to surmount these challenges. Jo's story is a beacon of encouragement and a wellspring of inspiration for families navigating the turbulent waters of heart parenthood. Through her compelling narrative, she extends a comforting hand to reassure others of the unwavering support within the heart community. Furthermore, she highlights the remarkable strength and resilience that reside within the spirit and character of these special infants. Join us for a stirring conversation that sheds light on the power of love, hope, and strength in the face of adversity. ********** Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 28 Jun 2023 | #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 | 00:48:25 | |
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:
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? Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 06 Sep 2023 | #229 | Sara Wickham: The Risk of the Risk-Based Approach | 00:54:02 | |
Dr. Sara Wickham, PhD, MA, PGCert, BA, is a best-selling author, speaker, and researcher who works independently. She has more than twenty years' experience as a midwife; she's lectured in more than 30 countries; and, she is a researcher and author of seventeen books, and has edited three midwifery journals. She is considered a leading expert on the research and evidence around many of the most controversial topics and most difficult decisions in childbirth: Induction, newborn interventions, GBS infection, RhoGAM or Anti-D prophylaxis for Rh-negative mothers, and plus-size pregnancy. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 04 Oct 2023 | #233 | Esophageal Atresia: When Liz Eidelman's Baby Was Born "Incompatible With Life" | 00:56:41 | |
Liz Eidelman, whose name some of you may recognize as the funny mom on Instagram @lizeidelman, gave birth to her first child in the hospital with a team of med students present. She had an episiotomy she didn't want, a vacuum-assist that led to another flood of people in the room, and a baby who was whisked away to the NICU within moments of birth, leaving Liz in the dark about her baby's condition. Overhearing nurses whisper, "The mother doesn't know yet," added to her anxiety. What Liz and her husband soon learned was that their baby was born with esophageal atresia, necessitating a life-saving surgery on Day Two of their baby's life. ********** Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 18 Oct 2023 | #235 | Solution or Sham? The Anti-Depressant Industry Exposed with Dr. Roger McFillin | 00:52:32 | |
Dr. Roger McFillin, a seasoned clinical psychologist and the compelling voice of the Radically Genuine Podcast, dares to question the prevailing surge in depression diagnoses in our modern world. He boldly sheds light on the truth about SSRIs, leveling grave accusations of "criminal negligence" at the doctors who knowingly sidestep informed consent requirements. Dr. McFillin uncovers a disturbing reality—one where patients are shielded from the harsh truth of low efficacy rates, serious risks, and debilitating long-term side effects, such as inability to orgasm. In this episode, Dr. McFillin unveils the elaborate charade woven by the pharmaceutical industry. He underscores the unsettling fact that antidepressants, touted as life-changing solutions, actually provide relief to a mere fifteen percent of those who turn to them, all while carrying a risk of suicide that's double that of a placebo. The heart of our conversation revolves around the calculated cherry-picking of scientific data, which serves to construct a narrative that prioritizes pharmaceutical profits over individual well-being. Dr. McFillin contends that labeling these medications as "anti-depressants" is a gross misnomer, a stance he courageously shared through his YouTube channel. His insights earned him the attention of influential figures like Joe Rogan, but punishment from YouTube, who mysteriously took down his channel without explanation immediately after he exposed critical research findings. Dr. McFillin's mission is clear: he implores the public to embrace critical thinking and cast aside the blinders that obscure a disconcerting reality—a medical system that peddles drugs not on the basis of research, but rather at the whims of the marketing department. As we delve deeper into the episode, we explore how the catchphrase "trust the science" often contradicts the actual scientific research. Later on, our conversation shifts over to postpartum depression and the lives of postpartum mothers. These exhausted and overwhelmed women represent just one of many vulnerable groups suffering harm, not help, by the professionals they entrusted. Join us in this eye-opening discussion as we unravel the layers of deception and confront the unsettling truths about our contemporary medical landscape. Dr. Roger McFillin's unwavering commitment to authenticity challenges the status quo, beckoning us to peer beyond the facade and reckon with the stark realities we collectively face. Radically Genuine Podcast Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 27 Sep 2023 | #232 | September Q&A: Infant Reflux, Tearing, The Homebirth Environment, Waterbirthing with PROM, Esophageal Atresia, Postpartum Cramping, Newborns | 00:42:48 | |
Hello Friends! It is time for the September Q&A episode! Today, we open with two listener emails sharing their experiences on declining circumcision and accepting a necessary emergency cesarean birth. Next, we dive into your questions beginning with: Seeking more comprehensive solutions for infant reflux beyond the basics? We've got you covered. Then, we tackle the dilemma of giving birth at home when it feels safest, despite not feeling the most relaxed due to working from home. We'll share valuable perspectives on making the right choice for you. Curious about the accuracy of ultrasounds in diagnosing esophageal atresia? Liz Eidelman, a mother of a baby born with EA, joins us to answer this question. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 25 Oct 2023 | #236 | October Q&A: Mom Friends, Tight Abdominal Muscles, Diabetes & Pregnancy, Velamentous Cords, Vitamin D & Breastfeeding | 00:43:26 | |
Hello everyone - it's your favorite day of the month, when we take your calls! As always, thank you for submitting your excellent questions to 802-438-3696 (802-GET-DOWN). Keep them rolling in! We love hearing from you. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 08 Nov 2023 | #238 | Our Eldest Fan Shares Her Wisdom with Today's Young Mothers | 00:41:41 | |
In this heartwarming episode, we met with the woman we believe is our oldest and wisest podcast fan and devout member of our Patreon community: Lee Roversi, a CSA farm owner in Hawaii, mother of three adult children, and grandmother. Lee begins by reflecting on her upbringing in Connecticut during the 1950s and how it shaped her perspective on motherhood. Her traditional family background contrasted with her later path toward holistic childbirth choices. Lee's story unfolds with anecdotes from her three home births, defying the norm of hospital deliveries at the time. Her first childbirth experience, in Manhattan with a midwife, was marked by a marathon 36-hour labor, yet it was a transformative experience that set her on a unique path. The conversation takes a poignant turn as Lee discusses the significance of postpartum support and community. She highlights the value of support groups like La Leche League and the importance of maintaining connections in the age of isolation. Lee's heartfelt advice to new mothers centers on cherishing the fleeting moments of early motherhood and finding solace in the knowledge that women are never alone in their struggles. We engaged in a heartfelt dialogue about the transformative journey of motherhood, the power of community, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. This episode reminds us to savor the precious moments of motherhood, to seek support and connection, and to trust in our innate abilities as women. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 01 Nov 2023 | #237 | On Life Support During Birth: Tess Frame Describes Waking Out of a Coma Postpartum | 00:46:57 | |
Tess Frame is a mother of two who experienced severe pneumonia in late pregnancy after contracting the flu. Her condition became septic, resulting in organ failure and premature labor. She gave birth by cesarean at thirty-five weeks while comatose, and was intubated in critical care for several weeks after. While in a coma, she experienced and/or perceived traumas she could only begin to unwind after becoming conscious, trying to unravel what experiences were real and what were only imagined in her unconscious state. She was convinced she had been kidnapped and assaulted and struggled to reconcile her conscious and subconscious experiences while in the coma. It was a heart-wrenching twenty-five days before Tess could finally meet her baby, and it took an additional three to four months for Tess to fully feel he belonged to her. She shares her birth story and her ambitious healing journey guided, perhaps surprisingly, by the twelve-step addiction recovery program. Supported by her church and community, she focused on mending her mind, body, and family, ultimately being granted a second chance at life. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 11 Oct 2023 | #234 | Cynthia's Second Birth Story: Lessons in Trust | 00:43:39 | |
Hello, everyone! It's Cynthia here. Today, in celebration of my birthday, I want to share the extraordinary story of my daughter's birth. This personal narrative delves into the pivotal role intuition and self-trust played throughout my conception and pregnancy with her. You'll learn of some unexpected challenges we faced, and you'll hear about our unconventional attempt to reposition our breech baby head-down. Definitely don't try that at home - even though we did. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 15 Nov 2023 | #239 | The Cost of Breastfeeding Versus Formula Feeding with Dr. Rhonda Trust, PhD | 00:43:37 | |
A 2023 article from Yale News flashed across news outlets in the United States headlined: "Yale researchers find that breastfeeding can cost over $11,000 a year. " The article goes on to say, "While the 2022 baby formula shortage in the United States sparked calls for an increase in support for breastfeeding nationwide, a group of researchers at the Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine sought to demonstrate how breastfeeding can impose significant financial burdens on families as well." Yale News Article Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 29 Nov 2023 | #241 | November Q&A: Biophysical Profiles; Preventing PROM; Lacking Natural Birth Support; Declining Cervical Exams; Having Hashimoto's; Anemia | 00:38:30 | |
Welcome back to our monthly Q&A with Cynthia & Trisha! This month, we kick things off with a short story from an L&D nurse attending a mother giving birth to her seventh baby who was coerced into an unnecessary cesarean and what we think about how it was handled. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 10 Jan 2024 | #247 | The Birth of Fierce Lizzie: From Rule Follower to Autonomy Advocate | 00:44:51 | |
Lizzie Bolliger, aka Fierce Lizzie on Instagram, wasn't always fierce. She went into her first birth experience knowing very little other than that she wanted an unmedicated vaginal birth. After experiencing premature rupture of membranes, her first birth resulted in Pitocin augmentation and then meconium aspiration, resulting in her baby being taken away from her for the first fifteen hours of life. The second time around, she figured she knew enough to avoid an epidural and Pitocin but still passed on reading, educating or preparing for birth, for the most part. While she achieved an unmedicated vaginal birth, she saw it didn't come without challenges, and she began to deeply question the modern birth industry. In what she calls her postpartum mental breakdown, one day she arrived at her school job and literally couldn't bring herself to enter the building. This "crash" became the turning point that opened Lizzie's eyes and ultimately led to her leaving her teaching job and going full-steam ahead into birth work as a doula and educator. Today, she shares the details of her journey from "good girl" to fierce, autonomous, and unapologetic Lizzie. #146 | Finding Autonomy and Asserting Your Birth Plan with Fierce Lizzie
Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 22 Nov 2023 | #240 | An Unexpected Twin Born at Home: Elizabeth Parsons of @PurelyParsons | 00:32:19 | |
Elizabeth Parsons of Purely Parsons is a mother of five, living on seventy acres in Appalachia, homesteading with her husband and children. For her fourth pregnancy, she had a planned home birth with her seasoned midwife. Despite having regular prenatal care and even an ultrasound the day before she went into labor, Elizabeth had an unexpected twin double breech birth at forty weeks! After the first baby was born, six minutes later, she felt the urge to push again and it seemed unusually intense for the placenta they all expected to emerge. Out came another baby -- born bottom first! In fact, both babies were breech, but nothing was so remarkable as an unexpected twin that evaded all prenatal care. Tune in for this inspiring, fun birth story affirming that twin, breech vaginal birth is a viable option, even at home. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 06 Dec 2023 | #242 | The Legal Rights and Roles of Doulas with Attorney Hermine Hayes-Klein | 00:51:28 | |
Doulas are an increasingly important, if not essential, member of a birth support team. However, along with their increased importance, doulas are exposed to an ever-increasing level of risk and liability. If you are a doula or a pregnant mother considering doula support, this episode will shed light on how to best establish the client-doula relationship and help doulas to best understand how not only to protect themselves legally but also to define their personal job description between you and her in your birth space. #153 | Legal Case Study #2 with Attorney Hermine Hayes-Klein: Injured by Obstetrics with Nowhere Else To Turn ********** Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 27 Dec 2023 | #245 | December Q&A: Your Holiday Traditions; Postpartum Hemorrhage; Failure to Progress; RSV; Precipitous Birth; Osteoporosis | 00:53:39 | |
Welcome to the December Q&A episode with Cynthia and Trisha! Today, we begin with revealing your holiday traditions and difficult family challenges of the season. Additionally, we share our long-standing holiday traditions. Next, we dive into your questions beginning with:
Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 17 Jan 2024 | #248 | Redefining Power in Birth & in Life with Cait Scudder @themillionairemother | 00:37:32 | |
Cait Scudder, also known as the Millionaire Mother, is a successful entrepreneur and mother of two. Currently in her third pregnancy, she joins us today to share her story of transformation from resistance to surrender in birth and in life. She describes her traumatic first birth resulting in a third-degree tear and bladder prolapse and the way she was robbed of her power through hospital policy, despite still achieving an unmedicated, vaginal birth. After going deep into somatic and physical healing modalities between her first and second pregnancies, she chose home birth, giving birth in the water to a ten-pound fifteen-ounce boy without tearing or trauma. It was this experience of birthing in her absolute inherent power that transformed her, and Cait is certain the experience is precisely what immediately propelled her business to the next level. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 24 Jan 2024 | #249 | Katie Spinks Breaks the Silence: Pitocin, Uterine Rupture, and Life-Altering Consequences | 00:50:52 | |
Pitocin has been named the most over-used and abused drug in maternity care. It is increasingly used for elective induction despite the lack of FDA approval for this purpose. Rupture of the uterus is a known adverse reaction to this drug, and its use is contraindicated when there is fetal distress or overstimulation of the uterus. Few, if any, women are given full informed consent to the administration of this drug in labor. Katie Spinks is one of these women. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 31 Jan 2024 | #250 | January Q&A: Cervical Massage, VBAC Provider Red Flags, Due Date Calculation, Infant Sleep, Sufficient Milk Supply, RhoGAM and More | 00:44:39 | |
Hello and is it too late to still say Happy New Year?! Cynthia & Trisha are back with the first Q&A of 2024 in season five of the Down to Birth Show! We kick it off today by sharing some of your highs and lows from the holiday season. Next, we get into our questions beginning with a mother who had low milk supply with her first baby and wonders what she can do in pregnancy and birth to prevent it from happening again; one curious listener wants to know if she can check her own cervix to help determine at what point she should go to the hospital; another caller asks us to explain why due dates are based on your last menstrual period rather than your ovulation date--what happens to those two weeks? Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 13 Dec 2023 | #243 | Dr. Green Mom Answers Your Questions on Vitamin D, Circumcision, MTHFR Gene, C-Sections Babies' Needs, Fevers, Probiotics & More | 00:38:42 | |
Join us for our long-awaited episode with Ashley Mayer, affectionately known as Dr. Green Mom, a highly respected family and pediatric doctor specializing in individualized and holistic medicine. In this insightful conversation, Dr. Mayer not only answers your burning pediatric healthcare questions but also provides a unique blend of personal insights and professional opinions on some of the most commonly debated topics in pediatrics. Dr. Ashley Mayer addresses crucial concerns such as developing a protocol for fevers in babies under six months of age and discovering the best strategies for managing a fever in young infants. Dive into the realm of infant nutrition as we discuss the use of probiotics for babies and under what circumstances they are recommended. Get her take on infant bowel movements as she shares her perspective on whether it's normal for a breastfed baby to poop only once a week. We also delve into essential topics like the necessity of vitamin D drops for babies, the contentious issue of circumcision, and the supplement needs for children with the MTHFR variation. Find out whether, and when, she thinks infants require iron and vitamin D supplementation. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the expertise of "Dr. Green Mom" and gain a deeper understanding of the nuanced world of family and pediatric medicine. This episode could make some tough decisions easier for you and transform the way you approach your child's health. Dr. Green Mom Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 03 Jan 2024 | #246 | Your Sex Life Revived with "Sexpert" Susan Bratton | 00:49:24 | |
Susan Bratton is an intimacy expert and champion advocate for all who desire their most fulfilling and passionate intimate relationships. She joins us today to discuss how mothers can have a thriving sex life after having a baby and far beyond menopause. If you are someone who doesn't orgasm easily, or who feels guilty for not wanting more sex, or if you just want to learn more about what your body is capable of, this episode is for you! She details the anatomy of the yoni (the tantric word to describe the entire urogenital system--because its not just about the vagina or even the clitoris!) and gives us specific ways in which our partners can worship our female parts, giving us orgasms far beyond what we may believe is possible. We recommend grabbing your partner, maybe a glass of wine, and listening all-in for this juicy and inspiring episode that might just transform your sex life for the rest of your life. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 20 Dec 2023 | #244 | Our First-Annual "Ask Us Anything Personal" | 01:20:41 | |
As we gear up for our season finale next week, we've got a special treat for you today – a "holiday special" episode that's a departure from our usual format. In this extra-long, off-the-record conversation, which we recorded Friday night at Trisha's house, we're delving into the personal questions you've been curious about throughout 2023. That's right, we're steering clear of the usual birth-related questions, and don't worry, you'll get your full dose of those in next week's December Q&A. Join us today for an intimate chat, grab your favorite drink, and settle in for an inside look into our lives. Explore exclusive content and support our podcast at: Down to Birth Show on Patreon. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 14 Feb 2024 | #252 | A Father's Perspective on his Baby's Inaccurate IUGR Diagnosis | 00:37:25 | |
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. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 06 Mar 2024 | #255 | What's Up with Intrauterine Growth Restriction: An Off-the-Record-Style Conversation with Dr. Stu Fischbein | 01:00:21 | |
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. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 07 Feb 2024 | #251 | HPV and Your Abnormal Pap May Not Be What You Think: Cervical Cancer Prevention with Nathan Riley, MD | 00:50:40 | |
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. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||
| 28 Feb 2024 | #254 | February Q&A: Vomiting in Labor, Cord Traction, Pacifiers, Probiotics and Plugged Ducts, Breast Milkshake, PPH, Bicornuate Uterus | 00:44:06 | |
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. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content. Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube! Work with Cynthia: Work with Trisha: Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. | |||