Down to Birth

Dr. Elliot Berlin is a chiropractor and doula who has a knack for getting babies to assume the best position for birth.  He's become an integral part of the Los Angeles county natural birth community and is the host of the Informed Pregnancy Podcast.  He believes every woman should have the birth they desire and provides the tools and knowledge he feels make all the difference. In this episod...

In today's mini-episode, Jen shares the story of her first of two VBACs - that is, vaginal birth after Cesarean. Jen's first birth was a scheduled Cesarean due to placenta previa, and having been cleared of that condition the second time around, Jen switched providers when her doctor didn't seem 100% on board with the idea of a VBAC. The midwives she hired believed in her every step...

We are back with our monthly Q&A! This week we discuss the just right temp for laboring in the water, understanding why it is so hard to ask for help postpartum, how to best breathe in labor, what to do about morning sickness and nausea in early pregnancy; and finally, we bring in physical therapist, Tara Gibson, to help us better understand the impact of pubic symphysis dysfunction during lab...

What does it take to have a successful VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean)?  In this episode, we hear from several women about their successful VBAC stories followed by a discussion between Cynthia and Trisha on what it takes to get there. If 60-80% of VBAC attempts are successful and only 13% of candidates are having them, what is holding them back or standing in their way?  Tune in to hear our t...

I've been doing this work a long time. And from where I sit, I have the unique advantage of being able to observe trends and societal patterns. And there's something I've been trying to figure out for a long time: What's up with postpartum women telling us their partners - especially when those partners are men/husbands - are "supportive"? This doesn't quite sit...

Breastfeeding aversion is a little known and little discussed phenomenon that more than a few mothers experience. Zainab, author of “When Breastfeeding Sucks” and advocate for women who experience breastfeeding as less than wonderful at best and seriously shitty at worst, is here to explain what it is, what it means, and how to work with it...or not because sometimes breast is not best. If you&apo...

We are never more receptive to love (thank you, oxytocin) than in the early months after having a baby. For every couple, bringing home a baby for the first time brings up massive amounts of emotion; and, how we recognize and process these emotions with our partner determines whether we grow closer or more distant during this unique and highly vulnerable life transition. In today's episode, M...

In this episode, one of Cynthia's HypnoBirthing clients, Andrea, shares her pregnancy and birth experience. She wanted a happy, natural birth and describes her process in achieving one, but the predominant thing she feels she learned is that she - and all women - should feel they have choice along the way. That all decisions belong to the birthing mother.  * * * * * * * * * * If you enjoyed t...

What does it mean if my baby won't stay head down in late pregnancy? Can I prepare my perineum for birth by taking a sitz bath during pregnancy?  Let's talk about VBAC/VBA2C and why Failure To Progress (FTP) is NOT a risk factor for another cesarean birth. Here's the biggest worry for new mothers planning to breastfeed: making enough milk and how to do it. What if I get the urge to...

Joni Stone is a homebirth midwife of twenty years. After studying neuroscience in undergrad, she earned a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology with a focus in Spirituality from Columbia. Her work explored the physical changes our brains go through in becoming mothers, and how these changes are akin to the same brain changes that occur after an intense life experience, which may result in sp...

It's not your boobs! It's your baby. One of the biggest misconceptions that new mothers have around breastfeeding is that they won't be able to produce enough milk to meet their baby's needs. And one of the top three reasons that mothers stop breastfeeding is a sense of insufficient milk production, leaving mothers feeling that their bodies and breasts have failed them. In toda...

When it came to having the birth experience she desired, Jasmine was not giving up. After two prior C-sections, she was determined to have a VBAC.  More than forty-eight hours into her third labor with a failed epidural she was exhausted, afraid....and nine centimeters. Three pushes later, despite many odds, her baby was in her arms. Tune in today to hear this inspiring VBA2C birth story. * * * *...

Do you know why some vaginal births are fast and others slow? Some easy and others difficult, if not impossible? Optimal fetal positioning is the answer and despite what we've been led to believe, head-down is not the whole story. Gail Tully, the world's foremost expert on fetal positioning and founder of Spinning Babies is here with us today to explain how your everyday activities from...

Today's Birth Story Mini-Episode features Candra, a first-time Mom who had GBS (Group B Strep), release of membranes, antibiotics, vomiting and intense back labor. Despite everything her birth was natural and as soon as her daughter came out, she said she was ready to have another. Candra's story is a great example of how birth can be a good and fulfilling experience even when it's...

Imagine if your husband left for the hospital without you while you were in labor? What does it mean to have an anterior placenta? How might flat nipples impact your ability to breastfeed? When it comes to positions for giving birth, YOU are in charge. Ever wondered how to prepare for the possibility of an unexpected and unassisted home birth? Whether you are planning a cesarean birth or suddenly...

She asks for a list of things that make me leak – my first incontinence homework. I begin: ‘Walking, running, stretching, coughing, sneezing, lifting up a baby, farting, shouting, crying, standing up, long strides, buses, exercise, stairs ...’” This is the beginning of Luce Brett’s book PMSL or How I literally Pissed Myself Laughing and Survived the Last Taboo to Tell the Tale. Today, we interview...

Hi everyone! In this Postpartum Mini episode Cynthia talks about Postpartum Anxiety, which is four times more common than Postpartum Depression, though it technically falls under the same umbrella. Postpartum anxiety can affect anyone (even fathers and parents who adopt), and is a function of how intensely bonded you are to your baby. The problem is, most people don't know about it. And if yo...

Dr. Neel Shah, an obstetrician and professor at Harvard medical school, is dedicated to improving maternity care in the United States. Think part-scientist, part-sociologist and you'll see how his work in maternity care has made him a globally-recognized expert in tackling one of the biggest challenges for women giving birth today: the widely variable and sometimes extreme cesarean rate acros...

Today we're talking with Becky and Tom, one of several HypnoBirthing couples Cynthia has worked with who ended up with an unplanned home birth. When you hear these stories, it's often hard to remember that the couple really believed they were about to get in the car. But some babies don't give quite enough advanced notice and you find yourself having a DIY birth at home! * * * * * *...

Hi all! One of Cynthia's expecting HypnoBirthing moms had a story to share in class that brought her to tears, and now she's sharing it for all of you. How do you know if you're with the right provider? With so much uncertainty and so few hard facts, a woman's intuition, and often her partner's as well, is hands down the best way to inform this all-important decision. Jess...

Some things are best kept to ourselves...when Sandy and her husband decided to have a home birth, they also decided to keep their decision just between the two of them. This is a beautiful birth story of trusting ourselves, the parents of the baby, to know what is best for our desired birth experience. * * * * * * * * * * If you enjoyed this episode of the Down To Birth Show, please subscribe and...

We are kicking off this month's Q&A with some outrageous, real-life OB comments (#shitmyobsaid) because it is all too common that women are subjected to outlandish untruths and often degrading language. There are plenty of excellent providers out there, so switch if you must! Here's the question on almost every woman's mind: Will I poop in labor and how can I prevent this? Also,...

Hi everyone! Today Trisha continues providing breastfeeding information for those of you who want to know what to expect in that first week of forming a breastfeeding relationship with your newborn. Trisha gives tips as to what makes this process easier and also describes how your investment in this first week will payoff in the long run with an easier breastfeeding experience overall. Thanks for...

In the United States approximately 90% of mothers with twins give birth by C-section, the majority of which are scheduled. Katie Novack of The Wonder List is a travel blogger who never planned on having children. Suddenly she and her husband of 13 years discovered they were not only pregnant - but with twins! They felt a strong desire to bring their babies into the world vaginally and discovered p...

In this birth story mini-episode, Rachel shares the story of her blissful birth using HypnoBirthing and how feeling empowered in her own birthing choices allowed her to have a pain-free and truly thrilling birth experience.   * * * * * * * * * * If you enjoyed this episode of the Down To Birth Show, please share with your pregnant and postpartum friends. Between episodes, connect with us on Instag...