Down to Birth

Our September Q&A is here!  Today, we open the episode with a discussion around choosing the best pediatrician for you and your baby; next we address shoulder dystocia and postpartum hemorrhage followed by questions such as: How do you handle family dynamics where you and your Mother-in-law have differing ideas about where and how to give birth? Is fundal massage after birth necessary? Do you...

Giana is one of our Down To Birth Show listeners whose OB had told her to get an induction at 38 1/2 weeks due to a large baby. When she declined, her OB offered a scheduled Cesarean section as an alternative. Giana noticed the OB emphasized the importance of getting the baby out, but ignored the risk factors associated with induction or scheduled Cesarean.  She took matters into her own hands by...

Mabel Bashorun  of withinherbirthservices is a certified Lamazae childbirth educator and certified lactation consultant. Her journey into birth work stems from her unique story of trying to conceive, at age 26, and desiring a vaginal birth while having uterine fibroids. Today, she shares her struggle with achieving her birth goals as a result of her diagnosis and helps other women living with fibr...

We are back today with our 2nd episode in our three-part series on provider red flags. In this segment, we discuss the key issues that may come up in your second trimester and will get you thinking if you are in the right place with the right provider...think glucose screening test, discussions around baby's size, doulas, attention to your emotional well being,  provider punctuality and condu...

What does it really mean to have an orgasmic birth?  Sure, you might have a “birthgasm,” but more likely you’ll feel the ecstasy of the physiological birth process. In today’s minisode, Trisha walks us through the complex interplay of hormones that brings us to ecstasy in birth and what it takes to get there. This show is sponsored by: Postpartum Soothe * Beautiful Births and Beyond Doula Services...

Barbara Harper is an internationally-published author and the founder of Water Birth International.   Her best selling book “Gentle Birth Choices” has been translated into nine languages. Her latest collaborative project was published in May 2021, entitled, “Bringing Birth Home.”   Barbara joined us on Down to Birth to discuss all the benefits of water birth in episode #100.  Today, she is back to...

Kayleigh Summers of @thebirthtrauma_mama   joined us on the show in episode # 116: Surviving an Amniotic Fluid Embolism, to share her deeply traumatic birth story in which she literally died during childbirth. She and her baby both survived. In that episode we discussed her lengthy and non-linear healing process. It just so happens Kayleigh is also a therapist, who has a unique perspective on her...

Hello Again! It is time for our August Q&A. Because we love our IG conversations so much, we open the episode with the very important topic of establishing family boundaries postpartum and share your biggest concerns while offering our best advice.  Next we have a short convo on "good babies" followed by answering your questions including: Is measuring too big a reason for C-section?...

Jessica found that community made all the difference, starting in pregnancy. After having a beautiful birth, she ran into significant breastfeeding and even formula challenges. She was moved and humbled when a community formed around her once again to ensure her baby was cared for and fed. Jessica's story inspires us to seek community and become that lifeline for someone else. * * * * * * * *...

In today's episode, Cynthia and Trisha present the first of three conversations on determining whether you've hired the right provider for your pregnancy and birth.  In our experience there are tell-tale warning signs indicating your provider may not be as supportive of your birth goals as you think. When you hear or see this language or behavior, it may be time to look elsewhere.  Stay...

Dr. Jess MD is a NYC-based doctor of Psychiatry who sought routine OB care early in her first pregnancy.  When her provider didn't know which trimester of pregnancy she was in, she realized she was just a number in a system that was not going to support the kind of birth experience she envisioned for herself, her husband, and her baby.  She sought out a home birth midwife and never looked bac...

Trigger Warning: This episode contains sensitive content around birth and birth trauma and may not be for everyone. Kayleigh describes the birth of her son as the worst day of her life; and it literally was because she actually died during birth.  Her son was born via emergency cesarean as she was being resuscitated on the operating table after experiencing an Amniotic Fluid Embolism.  She and her...

It is time for our monthly Q&A! We are back with a short birth story of a necessary C-section birth followed by your input on food cravings in pregnancy, nausea remedies and your most common pregnancy food aversions.  Next, we discuss the most common relationship challenges in the early postpartum followed by your questions including: Can I have an unmedicated birth if I have a low pain tolera...

Nicole Neesby, her husband and children are Americans living in Mexico. In this mini-sode, Nicole tells the story of searching for the just-right provider to attend the birth of her fourth baby. When she didn't find what she was looking for in Mexico, they booked an Airbnb in San Diego and gave birth back in her homeland. This show is sponsored by: Postpartum Soothe * *Use promo code DOWNTOBI...

Before Kristina became pregnant, she believed birth was a scary, painful, and potentially dangerous event. Her mindset around birth was mostly fear-based and centered on pain. Once she became pregnant, something stirred inside. She wanted to learn more. In educating herself, she realized she craved to feel all aspects of labor, took Cynthia's HypnoBirthing class, and decided to have an unmedi...

Trigger Warning: This episode contains sensitive content and detail and may not be for everyone.  We share this story because we know many women, like Andrea, suffer with the nearly impossible choices around late term abortion. Andrea is a singer/songwriter living in NYC who wants to be a mother. She joins us on the show today to share her heart-wrenching story of choosing between having a severel...

Are doctors misinforming patients? How can the medical model of birth cause harm to birthing mothers? Why are half of the cesarean births in the United States performed unnecessarily?  Why is one's satisfaction with her own birth experience so low on the priority list?  These are the questions we dive into with Dr. Stu on today's episode. Stuart James Fischbein, MD, also know as “Dr. Stu...

Your body has been perfectly designed for childbirth. In this episode, Cynthia explains the difference between a mammal birthing in a state of fear versus trust. It's all part of nature's perfect design to protect the baby from arriving amid harm. Our job is to respect that process and to learn to work with it. This episode may be even more important for your partner to listen to than yo...

We have a fun and informative Q&A episode for you this month! We kick it off with confessions and shares from our Instagram community related to: Comments from our own mothers after we give birth; Finding community when we have none; Fear of intrusive thoughts; What constitutes too much crying postpartum; Fear of managing the "pain" of labor; Best food choices for labor and more. Nex...

Emily Geller Hardman , a New York Opera singer, gave the performance of a lifetime with her unassisted VBAC in the back of the car as her husband sped down the highway en route to the Connecticut birth center from Pennsylvania.  At 37 weeks, she went into labor unexpectedly while at a wedding three hours from home. In the middle of the night, she knew she was in labor, and it was time to hit the r...

Hello friends! When you first become pregnant, the next question is where and with whom will I give birth? In today's mini sode, Trisha helps you to determine the best place for you to give birth.  You may be surprised to learn that you have the answer more than we do, but we can tell you the most important question to ask yourself and how to create your best birth space. Take a listen to tod...

Wondering how to best manage the fourth trimester?  This week on the show we are speaking with Kimberly Ann Johnson , author of  "The Fourth Trimester" and "Call of the Wild." After experiencing her own “black hole” through her postpartum experience, she studied indigenous cultures around the world to learn how we can do a better job with the postpartum period.   From her exper...

Husbands and partners, this is one is for you! Today, on the show we have guest host Krisha of @serenitylifedoula speaking with us about the best ways to support mothers in labor.  Did we mention that Krisha is a birth doula with a 100% vaginal birth rate? And she gives all that credit to the birthing mother AND their partners for doing all the tricks and tips we share with you today!  Birth partn...

In today's "Pregnancy" Minisode, Cynthia discusses six red flags that could mean you're planning to birth with a provider who may not be right for you. After this episode, find us @downtobirthshow on Instagram and share your stories with us. That is, how do you know you are with the wrong - or right - provider?   ********** Send us Fan Mail Access our workshops: Have a Physiolo...

When it comes to giving birth, women are too often told a healthy baby is all that matters. And while none of us will argue that a healthy mom and baby are the highest priority, it’s time to give mothers the respect, dignity, and agency they deserve in their birth experiences. Milli Hill is the author of “Give Birth Like a Feminist” and “The Positive Birth Book”, and is here to tell you that women...