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.
Down to Birth
Latest Episodes
#384 | Military Maternity Care in Sicily: Tara’s Birth Story
Tara was pregnant and stationed with her husband in Sicily, where military rules required her to give birth at the naval hospital on base. What followed was a birth marked by pressure, fear-based counseling, an induction she did not want, repea...
#383 | A Second Home Birth: Vocalizing, Instinct & Skilled Support
Birth doula and mother of two Carson Meyer joins us to share the story of her second home birth and the very different emotions that came with approaching birth after such a positive first experience.Carson talks about the anxiety she ca...
#382 | August Q&A: Prodromal Labor, Breastfeeding vs. Formula Guilt, Two-Vessel Cords, When Epidurals Help, Kids at Home Births, Intrusive Thoughts
Welcome to the August Q&A! Today we kick things off with your answers to the question, “What’s one thing that happened during your birth that no one prepared you for?” From 53-hour labors and projectile vomiting to postpartum shakes, swolle...
#381 | The Chemicals You're Wearing Every Day with The Clean Clothing Chick, Hannah Dunning
Clothing is one of the most overlooked sources of chemical exposure in modern life, and it sits on our skin all day, every day, literally from birth until death.In this episode, we’re talking with Hannah Dunning, The Clean Clothing Chick...
#380 | Henci Goer on Taking Charge of Your Birth
More than twenty years ago, Henci Goer's renowned book, The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth, profoundly shaped Cynthia's understanding of pregnancy and birth, setting her on the path that eventually led to her own natural birt...
Fan Mail
hi, I loveee your podcast and have been a listener for 10 months. I'm at that time in my life where a lot of my friends and co-workers have been having babies the past year, and it has made me want to learn and prepare myself for pregnancy knowing I would start trying to conceive later this year. You have provided SO much helpful and empowering information and I couldn't thank you enough! My question are: 1. Should I look for an OBGYN and a Midwife that aligns with how I want my birth to be, or only a midwife? 2. Pros and cons for a licensed and unlicensed midwife when living in a state that 3. Where can I find my state law on how many weeks I'm allowed to be pregnant before a licensed midwife has to end her care? Thank you!
Santa Ana, California