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Announcement: Between now and year-end, we will be releasing a mixture of brand-new episodes interspersed with old-favorites, due to the sudden loss of Cynthia's husband in November. We will be back to our usual production schedule by New Year's. If you'd like to donate a gift to the GoFundMe that was set up for Cynthia and her family, you may do so here. Thank you to everyone for your beautiful messages, gifts and prayers.
Please keep an eye out for new content and an expanded Down to Birth platform on Patreon, including a new Community feature where listeners can post questions for us and each other. To join and gain instant access to our entire library of video content, go to our Patreon and sign up.
Onto the show:
Lisa Hendrickson-Jack is the author of The Fith Vital Sign, a book detailing normal and abnormal parameters around menstruation and fertility and what your menstrual cycle reveals about your health. She refers to her period as "her secretary", who once per month brings her all the unfinished business in her life and plops it down on her desk to deal with. Most of us think of PMS as an annoying, unavoidable side effect of our monthly flow. Lisa challenges us to see it as a dutiful assistant encouraging us to face the pesky tasks, emotions, people, relationships, jobs, etc. that we tend to brush off or continually avoid during our less open, vulnerable weeks of the month.
Additionally, we discuss the abnormal societal normalization of period pain, what your cervical position can tell you about where you are in your cycle, and how your period flow volume can clue you in to your fertility health.
Finally, Lisa responds to your most pressing questions on whether or not you need to tailor your exercise routine to your cycle stages and what it might mean if your postpartum period is mysteriously absent.
You can learn more about Lisa on Instagram or her website Fertility Friday
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Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.Support Cynthia's family here:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-cynthia-overgards-family-after-tragic-lossConnect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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At twenty-one years old, Lacey was pregnant with her first child. She was young and healthy and expected everything to go perfectly in her labor and birth. As a result of high blood pressure, she was induced for labor. When her son was born blue and unresponsive with an APGAR score of one, she knew something was off. She held her son for only a minute before he was whisked off to the NICU. Noticing that his ears seemed disproportionally small, her maternal instincts were alert. Five days later, she learned her son had Down Syndrome when a nurse inadvertently said, âThis is the second baby with Down Syndrome this week,â upon entering the room. According to Lacey, how and when the news was reported to her and her husband was more difficult and painful than receiving the diagnosis itself.
Today, Lacey shares her mission to help parents understand the gift and beauty of raising a child with Down Syndrome.
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Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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You may remember midwife Lindsey Meehleis from episode #187 in our first off-the-record-style conversation. When we decide to interview Lindsay, we do so without a plan, knowing that whatever is on our minds will be a worthwhile and impactful conversation. In today's conversation, we chat about the problems with modern medicine, how midwifery has evolved over the years, what breech babies can teach us about our emotions, how Lindsey handles pregnancies that go beyond forty-two weeks, how to get your partner or family members on board with choosing home birth the first time, and we even dabbled a bit in the current political climate. Imagine you are sitting at the table next to us at a cafe, eavesdropping on our shop talk, and that's today's episode. Enjoy!
#187 | Carrying the Torch of the Midwives Before Us: An Off-The-Record Kind of Conversation with Home Birth Midwife Lindsey Meehleis
Lindsey Meehleis
The Business of Being Born
Why Not at Home
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Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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Welcome to the October Q&A with Cynthia & Trisha. What's the most absurd thing that you've ever heard said to a woman in labor or to you? Today, we kick it off by sharing your anecdotes and our responses. In our regular episode, we answer:
If I am planning a free birth how do I know if I have a placenta previa and what should I do?
I am twelve weeks pregnant and have extremely sensitive nipples while breastfeeding my toddler. Will this get better or should I stop breastfeeding?
How often do home births transfer to the hospital?
Why do so many women planning unmedicated hospital births end up choosing to get pain medications?
In the extended version available on Patreon and Apple Subscriptions (always ad-free) we address the risk of uterine rupture after a VBAC for a planned home birth, what, if anything, can be done to avoid induction if you have Cholestasis of pregnancy, what gentle sleep training (or support) means, and if you can decline induction with well-controlled gestational diabetes.
In our Quickies segment: Is body odor postpartum is it normal? Why is a VBAC called a TOLAC? Should home birth midwives always carry oxygen? Plus caffeine in pregnancy, postpartum dryness, birthing the placenta in the tub, leaking and letdowns, infant percentiles, and how we take our coffee plus whether our own children appreciate the work we do in the world.
Ep #229 The Risk of Risk-Based Approach with Sara Wickham
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Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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Postpartum rage is a form of emotional upheaval that many mothers experience but seldom feel comfortable discussing. Today's episode aims to break the silence and offer a compassionate and supportive look into the real lives of two mothers living with these intense emotions. Corrine lost her own mother the day after her son was born. Angela, a mother of five with number six on the way, lost her sister unexpectedly in a car accident on her way to help Angela with childcare. In today's episode, Angela and Corrine, who never met before today, share the unexpected ways grief and rage impacted their postpartum experiences from never wanting to have another child to throwing and breaking things. This heartfelt episode brings you close into the minds of women suffering with grief on top of the classic postpartum isolation and overwhelm that all mothers can immediately understand.
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Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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If there is one best place to begin when it comes to optimizing our fertility, it is with food, and who better to bring us the lowdown on what we do and don't need for fertility optimization than Lily Nichols, RDN, the modern-day-author and guru of all things related to food and pregnancy. In today's episode, she delivers crucial information about how our modern food practices, particularly the standard American diet, set us up for sub-optimal fertility and contribute to the most common complications of pregnancy including pre-eclampsia, pre-term labor, PPROM, and more. She opens our eyes to the significant problems with folic acid in our food sources, prenatal vitamins, and birth control, and we get into the nitty-gritty on the difference between folic acid and folate. Additionally, she explains which macro- and micronutrients we need to best support the female body for conception. If optimizing fertility is on your mind, this is a must-listen, must-share episode!
Lily Nichols on Folate: Why itâs Superior to Folic Acid for Pregnancy (even if you donât have MTHFR)
Lily Nichols on InstagramAnd check out our episodes with Lily Nichols:
#203 | Pre-eclampsia: Diet, Nutrition and the Influence of Sperm with Lily Nichols#155 | Gestational Diabetes Prevention and Management with Author Lily Nichols, RDN, CDE
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Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNConnect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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Emotional trauma is stored in the body and can lead to a host of health issues if left unresolved. In this episode, Courtney shares her deeply personal journey of navigating the effects of a controlling and emotionally abusive her mother -- so controlling, in fact, that her demanding mother caused early marital issues for Courtney and her husband. Further, due to being placed on hormonal birth control at a young age, Courtney developed a belief that she couldnât ovulate or conceive naturally, leading her to IVF when she and her husband were ready to start a family.
As she recounts her experiencesâincluding distressing moments during her hospital care that triggered her childhood coping mechanisms of freezing and disassociationâCourtney describes the thought process of being coerced by and ultimately succumbing to a doctor while in labor. Courtney herself is a hospital-based medical professional who was accustomed to doctors and hospitals in her everyday life, so the betrayal and intimidation she experienced came as a genuine shock to her system. After her first birth experience, Courtney shares the heavy emotional work she did to reframe her trauma and establish strict boundaries - for the very first time - with her mother. Courtney went on to have four children in all, ultimately experiencing spontaneous conception and a completely empowered, peaceful birth with her fourth at home.
Courtney's story sheds light on the complex interplay of early trauma and birth, and how embracing physiologic birth can facilitate healing and restore trust in the bodyâs innate capabilities. Tune in for a heartfelt discussion about resilience, healing, and the journey to reclaiming one's body and mind.
@_holisticourtney**********
Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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There are few things a mother can do with such a profound impact as meditation, yet it remains one of the hardest habits to incorporate into one's life, let alone the life of an exhausted, busy mother with a new baby in her arms.
In today's episode, Kelly Smith, yoga/meditation instructor and podcast host of Mindful in Minutes, explains the benefits of meditating for as little as just ten minutes a day. We also discuss the various forms of meditation (including guided), the most common barriers to meditation, and the practical tips to get started right now. In today's outtake, you'll hear about some of our own personal meditation experiences.
If you want to yell less, sleep better, be kinder to yourself, feel better, act calmer, lower your blood pressure, and age in reverse, or if you've just always wanted to meditate but have never taken that first step, then run, don't walk, to listen to this enlightening and inspiring episode!
Mindful in Minutes podcast
Kelly Smith's Website
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Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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Welcome to the September Q&A episode with Cynthia & Trisha. Today, we begin with discussing the problem of increased reliance on Google searches and googling our way to answers that require deep introspection and self-trust rather than an automated and potentially biased and generalized result.
My midwife is making me feel very uncomfortable about my weight gain. How much focus should be put on weight and nutrition in pregnancy? My home birth midwife told me her home-to-hospital transfer rate is 30%. Is that too high, and if so, what should I do about it?What happens if I don't show up for my induction, and should I do this if I don't want to be induced?
In our first question, Cynthia & Trisha debate one woman's question on whether or not she should stay with a midwife she does not feel emotionally connected to or fire her late in the game and choose free birth instead.
Additionally, we answer the following:Later, in the extended version of today's episode available on Patreon or Apple subscriptions, we discuss:
#87 | Postpartum Rage: The Outburst-Guilt-Shame Cycle#272 | Nancy Wainer, CPM and Pioneer of the VBAC, Shares Her Journey from Mother to Midwife#273 | Special Q&A Featuring Nancy Wainer on VBAC and More
Two-step delivery: what it is and why we don't like it; Pushing your baby out when you have no urge to push; Rupturing of membranes and the potential impact on causing a baby to rotate from an anterior to posterior position; What it means to have a platypelloid pelvis and if any pelvic shapes make vaginal birth impossible or more difficult?
Finally, we close with a round of quickies on the following: nipple shields; eating placentas and likening it to cannibalism; height and big babies; holding clingy babies; flying at 35 weeks; resenting sleeping husbands; prolapse after birth; making a twin pregnancy happen; morning sickness; timelines for breastfeeding babies getting back to birth weight; and personal experiences with terrible haircuts.
Livestream: Postpartum Rage: A Deep Dive into postpartum rage, why it occurs, and how to understand and break the cycle. Available on Patreon.
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Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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Welcome to our second 'Breastfeeding Q&A' episode with Trisha & Cynthia. We open with an inspiring success story of a mother whose baby did not start breastfeeding for the first time until around five months of age. Additionally, we answer the following questions:
I tried everything to increase my supply and stumped every lactation consultant I met with; is this going to happen to me again and what could have been the cause of my low milk supply?I have low milk supply and recurrent plugged ducts. My lactation consultant told me to pump after feeding but won't that increase my plugged ducts? How do I increase my supply and prevent plugged ducts?From a nurse: In my hospital, we teach moms that babies are sleepy in the first 24 hours and won't eat very much, but also we tell them to wake the baby every 2-3 hours to feed them so they don't get low blood sugar. Help! I feel like I am confusing mothers.Lastly, we answer quickies including: what are the best breastfeeding snacks, are nipple shields harmful, does milk supply drop in pregnancy, how do I increase milk supply on one side, how to prevent thrush, what's the best breast pump, and more!
Listen here to the May 2024 Breastfeeding Q&A
Jaundice & Breastfeeding:
When grouped by number of breastfeeds in the first 24 hours, exaggerated jaundice on day six occurred in:
28% who breastfed 0-2 times
24.5% of babies who breastfed 3-4 times
15% of babies who breastfed 5-6 times
12% of babies who breastfed 7-8 times
0% of the babies who breastfed 9-11 times
(Yamauchi and Yamanouchi, 1990)
Thanks to everyone who called in! Please call 802-GET-DOWN (that's 802-438-3696). See you next week!
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Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember
Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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"Hi Iâm Olivia. I was a patient of Dr. Javaid Perwaiz, so, I donât trust you." Each time Olivia met with a new medical provider, she prefaced her introduction with the above statement. Olivia was a patient of Dr. Perwaiz for many years before he was sentenced to 59 years in prison after a jury convicted him on 52 counts of health care fraud arising from performing medically unnecessary procedures including irreversible hysterectomies. Eventually, Olivia found a team of providers who she trusted to have a baby under their care. Despite developing severe pre-eclampsia, resulting in a 35-hour induction and relinquishing her natural birth plans, Olivia had a safe and satisfying birth experience because she had learned to take the most important advice: Hear everyone and listen to yourself. This self-trust allowed her to control what she still could and surrender to the rest. This powerful story is the perfect example of finding the balance between bodily autonomy, informed consent, and medically necessary care.
To learn more about the case against Dr. Javaid Perwaiz read here
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply. Be sure to use the unique link to buy yours today.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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Taylor Westenberger celebrated her baby shower at 33 weeks pregnant with her first baby. Little did she know, two days later she would go into labor and give birth to a 4.5 pound baby boy. Her birth experience, while generally smooth, involved the absence of her husband due to Covid protocols and an unconsented episiotomy. She was encouraged to breastfeed in the NICU, but when it came to taking her baby home she was warned about the dangers of co-sleeping and told horror stories of babies who had died in their mothers' beds. Determined to provide the safest environment for her little one, Taylor embarked on a mission to learn about safe co-sleeping practices. If you've ever wondered about co-sleeping safely with a newborn, this episode offers valuable insights and reassurance. Tune in for Taylorâs inspiring story and expert advice on creating a secure and loving sleep environment for your baby.
Taylor's Website: The Sleepy Circle
Taylor Westenberger on Instagram
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply. Be sure to use the unique link to buy yours today.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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Welcome to the August Q&A episode with Cynthia and Trisha. Today, we start by discussing various experiences in which mothers feel a visceral response to a family member, friend, or provider crossing a boundary with their baby--think kissing your baby without permission. In our first question of the episode, we invite Carly Hartwig from @cleanlivingwithcarly, to explain how to understand our fertile window and ovulation through assessing your cervical mucus. Next, Cynthia provides some financial guidance in response to one mother's concern about transitioning to a SAHM and not having her own financial independence or source of income. Additionally, we discuss the risks, or lack thereof, with marginal cord insertions, uterine windows, concerns about fundal massage, the bogus term anorexic pelvis, contact naps, GBS in urine, postpartum hemorrhage, lack of libido and more!
#92 | Postpartum Mini: Rethinking Self-Care#60 | Love + Marriage + Baby: Interview with Maggie O'Connor, LMFT
If you are not already a subscriber on Apple podcasts or Patreon, please join us today for the extended version of today's episode. Thank you for your wonderful questions as always, and please keep them coming at 802-438-3696 or 802-GET-DOWN.
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with our unique link and receive a free 8-day supply. Be sure to use the unique link to buy yours today.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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If you've ever felt that your husband is falling short or if you are a dad looking to be more available to your wife, this episode is for you. Today, we chat with Dan Doty, the co-founder of Fatherhood Ready and a passionate advocate for expectant dads. As a father of three, Dan brings his unique perspective on building a men's organization focused on emotional growth, exploration, and connection. His journey from wilderness guide to fatherhood expert was shaped by his transformative experiences working with adolescent boys and their fathers. Witnessing the profound emotional breakthroughs that happen when fathers and sons connect deeply inspired Dan to support expecting dads.
We delve into the challenges new fathers face, from societal expectations to the lack of role models, and Dan offers practical advice on bridging the gap between intention and action.
Additionally, we tackle the issue of the "motherload" and its impact on parental and marital stress. We share personal and professional anecdotes, exploring why many women feel their partners "just don't get it" regarding the immense responsibilities and emotional burdens they carry daily.
Danâs honest and heartfelt discussion provides valuable insights for anyone navigating the complexities of parenthood or seeking to understand family dynamics better. Join us for this engaging conversation and discover how expecting dads can make a meaningful impact from day one, contributing fully to their family's well-being and their own growth as fathers.
Fatherhood Ready
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply. Be sure to use the unique link to buy yours today.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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Were you billed erroneously for your birth, or charged for something frivolous like "skin to skin contact" or "out of hospital birth"? Did you receive an exorbitant hospital bill for services you may not have asked for or even incurred? Are you worried that your hospital bills are going to go unpaid? Did you want to leave Against Medical Advice (AMA) but were told your insurance would not pay for your services? In today's episode, we invite Sue Chamberlain, a medical billing professional with over twenty years of experience in the industry to explain how medical billing in the United States Health Care system works, the ways you can fight or contest charges you don't believe are valid, and how hospital and insurance companies finagle the system to benefit their bottom line over patient well-being.
Thank you for your wonderful questions as always, and please keep them coming at 802-438-3696 or 802-GET-DOWN.
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Davin & Adley-- The perfect nursing and pumping bra combined
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply. Be sure to use the unique link to buy yours today.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is not morning sickness, but rather a potentially life-threatening complication of pregnancy that may cause weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration, disability due to severe nausea and/or vomiting and can cause long-term health issues for mother and baby, including death.
Today, we are joined by Kimber W. MacGibbon, executive director of the HER foundation, and Ashton Paige Clark, a wife and mother who experienced HG in five pregnancies. Together, they share Ashton's story of struggling through HG and the desperate decision she was forced to make to ensure her survival. Ashton and Kimber help us understand the true severity of HG, the lack of provider understanding, and the potentially life-saving treatments that are available but often withheld from mothers experiencing HG in their pregnancies. If you are anyone you know is struggling with HG, this episode could be life-saving. If your care provider is not aware of the dangers of HG or is neglecting to consider it as a diagnosis, please share this episode.
The HER Foundation
If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like:
#211 | Declining RhoGAM: A Conversation with Two Rh-Negative Women**********
Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Vitality: An athleisure brand made for women, by women, designed with style and comfort for pregnancy and beyond.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply. Be sure to use the unique link to buy yours today.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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Send us a text
Welcome back to the July Q&A with Cynthia & Trisha. Today we kick off the episode with one mother's story of her transition from OB to midwife to an unintentional free birth her 9 pound, 4 oz baby born at home in her bathroom and then the premium medical bill she received from her OB for "extra counseling time." Next, we jump into our questions starting with:
Do twin moms need extra medical help to get their labor going because the mother's uterus is more stretched out?What is your opinion on faith-based midwives and how their beliefs may influence how they care for you?Do you have any tips for managing the postpartum period with a toddler?What do you recommend regarding the TDAP vaccine in pregnancy?Does having a hemorrhoid that bleeds pose any risk to giving birth at home?And in the extended version of today's episode available on Patreon and Apple subscriptions, you'll hear the following:
Should I be worried about gaining 55 pounds "already" in my pregnancy?What is your opinion on low progesterone and what do you recommend for supplementing? (You'll hear which product is no longer FDA-approved, after years of use.)Is it normal to leak colostrum in pregnancy and does it indicate anything about my milk supply?As always, we close with a round of quickies touching on Botox in pregnancy, breastfeeding acne, NSTs, breastfeeding and tooth decay, breast pumps, compressions stockings, toddler immune systems, fashion trends, and foods we won't touch.
Thank you for your wonderful questions as always, and please keep them coming at 802-438-3696 or 802-GET-DOWN.
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply. Be sure to use the unique link to buy yours today.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
-
Send us a text
Dr. Joel Gator Warsh is a classically trained integrative pediatrician with a holistic health practice in California. His approach to care puts parents at the center of the decision-making process. In today's episode, we discuss the key questions parents should ask when interviewing a pediatrician (and yes, you should interview numerous pediatricians before choosing the best fit for your family), including:
How to talk about the vaccine schedule; The benefits and risks of Vitamin K; Does where you give birth affect how your pediatrician views you, and, if applicable, will they support your having a home birth;What are the most common reasons a pediatrician would release a family from their care; How important are growth curves; andAre there alternatives to antibiotics for an ear infection?Dr. Joel delves into these questions and helps us understand the most effective relationship dynamics between a family and their pediatrician for a child-centered, holistic healthcare experience. Keep an eye out for Joel's new book: Parenting at Your Child's Pace: The Integrative Pediatrician's Guide to the First Three Years.
Episode #169: Protecting Today's Children with Integrative Pediatrician Dr. Joel Gator Warsh
Dr. Joel Gator Warsh
Dr. Joel's Website
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Vitality: An athleisure brand made for women, by women, designed with style and comfort for pregnancy and beyond.
Davin & Adley-- The perfect nursing and pumping bra combined
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and receive a free 8-day supply. Be sure to use the unique link to buy yours today.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
-
Send us a text
The importance of healthy oral function is essential not only for infant feeding but also for a person's entire life. Poorly shaped palates, low resting tongue posture, restricted tongues, and mouth breathing are all common signs of oral restrictions or tension that can begin in the womb and influence one's health from infancy through adulthood. In today's episode, Jeannie Nelson, a speech and language pathologist from Breathe Eat Sleep Talk joins us to explain what myofunctional therapy is, how it can help, and the key red flags to look for in infancy or childhood to identify oral restriction. In this episode you will learn:
Why mouth breathing can be harmfulWhat resting tongue posture is and why it mattersWhat to do if your baby sleeps with an open mouthHow tongue position influences your facial developmentSimple tips to help your baby improve and strengthen his or her oral functionThe purpose of today's episode is to inform parents on how oral health and the musculature of the tongue affects whole body health, and to address potential matters related to airway health early on in order to prevent issues later in life.
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Vitality: An athleisure brand made for women, by women, designed with style and comfort for pregnancy and beyond.
Davin & Adley-- The perfect nursing and pumping bra combined.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
-
Send us a text
In last week's episode (#272) you met legendary midwife-author Nancy Wainer. Well she's back today for Part II, where she joins us in a Q&A-style episode to answer our listeners' questions. Nancy experienced the first planned VBAC in the United States and she coined the acronym itself in her first book, Silent Knife, published in 1983. She has over 40 years of birth experience and has supported women through some incredible births that almost certainly would have resulted in surgery in any other environment. Today, she takes questions from our community including:
1. What are the common characteristics of women who have had successful VBACS
2. Is it still safer and healthier to have a VBAC if it has been less than 18 months since your cesarean?
3. Is a classical cesarean incision truly a contraindication to VBAC
4. How much impact does the shape of a woman's pelvis have on her labor?
5. Is there ever an indication to break a woman's bag of water in labor?
We are honored to have her wisdom and advice to share with our community and this won't be the last time you hear from her!
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Vitality: An athleisure brand made for women, by women, designed with style and comfort for pregnancy and beyond.
Davin & Adley-- The perfect nursing and pumping bra combined
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy.
Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all of the above sponsors.
Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha:
734-649-6294Please remember we donât provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.
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