Down to Birth
Join Cynthia Overgard and Trisha Ludwig once per week for evidence-based straight talk on pregnancy, birth and postpartum --- beyond the clichés and beyond the system. With 40 years' combined experience in midwifery, childbirth education and advocacy, publishing, research and postpartum care, we've guided thousands of families toward safer, more empowered choices. Down to Birth is all about safe childbirth, while recognizing a safe outcome isn't all that matters. We challenge the status quo, explore women's rights in childbirth, and feature women from all over the world, shining shine light on the policies, culture, and systemic forces that shape our most intimate and transformative of life experiences. You'll hear the birth stories of our clients, listeners and numerous celebrities. You'll benefit from our expert-interviews, and at any time you can submit your questions for our monthly Q&A episodes by calling us at 802-GET-DOWN. With millions of downloads and listeners in 90 countries, our worldwide community of parents and birth professionals coms together to learn, question and create change, personally and societally. We're on Instagram at @downtobirthshow and at Patreon.com/downtobirthshow, where we offer live ongoing events multiple times per month. Become informed, feel empowered, and join the movement toward better maternity care in the United States and worldwide. As always, hear everyone, listen to yourself.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 39 minutes
- Episodes
- 337
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
#54 | Spinning Babies: Optimizing Your Baby's Position for a Faster, Easier Labor with Gail Tully
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 …
#53 | Birth Story Mini: Candra's Back Labor with Group B Strep
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 he…
#52 | September Q&A: Hilarious Husbands; Birthing Positions; Flat Nipples; Gentle Cesarean; Unassisted Home-Birth Tips; Anterior Placentas
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 breastfe…
#51 | Postpartum Incontinence: Author Luce Brett's Journey Through the Wet-Knickered Wilderness to Dry Land
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, cryin…
#50 | Postpartum Mini: You're Not Going Crazy, It's Probably Postpartum Anxiety
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 sa…
#49 | Dr. Neel Shah OBGYN: Agency, Dignity, & The Number One Risk Factor for Cesarean Birth
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 s…
#48 | Becky and Tom's DIY Home Birth
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 h…
#47 | Pregnancy Story Mini - Jess Hears Herself
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 th…
#46 | Sandy's Secret Home Birth
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 beauti…
#45 | August Q&A: Outrageous OB Comments; Pooping in Labor; Mastitis; C-Sections and Genetics; Birth Plans; Children in the Birthing Room
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 de…
#44 | Breastfeeding Mini: The First Week of Breastfeeding and Why it Matters Most
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 …
#43 | Katie's Birth Story: Twins Born Naturally Against All Odds
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 …
#42 | Birth Story Mini: Rachel's Natural Water Birth
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…
#41 | How the Language We Use Impacts Our Birth: Interview with Sara Pixton of Birth Words
Have you ever wondered why we call it "labor" or say he or she "delivered" my baby? Maybe you felt defeated when your care provider diagnosed you with "failure to progress" or suggested…
#40 | July Q&A: The Placenta & Advanced Maternal Age; COVID-19 Silver Lining ; Chapped Nipples & Poor Latch; Who Can Have a Natural Birth; Pitocin Postpartum; Unsolicated Family Advice
So many excellent questions came in for this week's Q&A episode! We begin with a brief discussion on the possibility of a little silver lining for mothers & babies giving birth during …
#39 | HypnoBirthing Mini: How and Why Affirmations Work
Hi everyone! We're back today with another HypnoBirthing mini. Regardless of whether you have taken - or plan to take - a HypnoBirthing class before giving birth, we're going to talk ab…
#38 | Your Dog And Newborn: Interview with Heather Corum from Canine Company
We love dogs and we love babies, so what is the best way to bring your baby home when you already have a dog in the house? All of us at the DTB show are dog owners and dog lovers, and w…
#37 | Hospital To Home: A Midwife's Perspective with NYC Midwife Chloë Lubell
Chloë Lubell is a midwife living and working in New York City. She has worked in a number of different settings including public hospitals, private hospitals, birth centers, and homes. …
#36 | Birth Story Mini: Tiffany's Breech-Baby Cesarean followed by Natural VBAC
Hey, everyone! We've got another great birth story for you on this mini-episode Monday. Tiffany shares the birth stories of each of her sons. Tiffany's first birth was incredibly arduou…
#35 | Sex: From Pain To Pleasure: Interview with Women's Physical Therapist, Dr. Lauren Crigler
Sex after childbirth. The topic everyone’s thinking about, but hesitates to bring up. Whether it’s pleasurable or painful, we can put a lot of guilt and pressure on ourselves to do thin…