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PODCAST

Down to Birth

Cynthia Overgard & Trisha Ludwig

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

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All Episodes

34:11

#319 | Devon's Footling Breech Birth Story: Accepting...

Down to Birth ·

2025/06/04

Send us a text Devon Stockton was deeply rooted in health and wellness and armed with years of medical experience. She had only ever envisioned a natural, low-intervention birth and took all of the necessary steps to prepare herself. But her birth took an unexpected turn upon arrival at the hospital when she discovered her baby was footling breech and a cesarean would be necessary. Devon recounts the emotional shift, the support of her husband, and the unexpected calm of her labor before surg...

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43:56

#318 | May Q&A: Precipitous Births, Tearing Tips,...

Down to Birth ·

2025/05/28

Send us a text Welcome to the May Q&A with Cynthia & Trisha. If you have been wondering what you should plan to eat after giving birth, we've got the answers in today's episode, and we think they'll surprise you! For today's regular episode, we answer the following: Can you remove an epidural for pushing?Can the cervix swell shut if you push before it is fully dilated?Can you prevent a tear in a precipitous birth when the baby comes flying out?Can I still have a VBAC if I had a big ba...

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53:46

#317 | The Risk of Uterine Rupture: Breaking Down...

Down to Birth ·

2025/05/21

Send us a text What's the one question every woman wants to answer when considering a VBAC? Is it safe for me and my baby? In today's episode, Cynthia & Trisha break down the available data on VBAC, why we should discard the term TOLAC, the actual risks of uterine rupture, whether induced with Pitocon versus a prostaglandin or having spontaneous labor versus expectant management. We present the few cases in which a woman should not choose to VBAC and help mothers understand their decision...

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46:34

#316 | The Body Ready Method for Optimizing Labor...

Down to Birth ·

2025/05/14

Send us a text Did you know that how you breathe on a daily basis can influence how your birth goes? Yes, your rib cage impacts your pelvic tension! On today's episode, we have Lindsay McCoy, a birth doula, exercise physiologist, and co-founder of the Body Ready Method. She explains how breath, mobility, and pelvic balance all come together to support a smoother, more efficient labor—and how a few simple daily practices in pregnancy can reduce the need for interventions in birth. She reminds ...

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67:52

#315 | The Preeclampsia Puzzle: Misdiagnoses,...

Down to Birth ·

2025/05/07

Send us a text Preeclampsia is an increasingly common diagnosis, but are we getting it right? This episode tackles the alarming reality of misdiagnosis and the rush to intervene prematurely with induction. Join us and functional medicine expert Sarah Thompson, researcher and author of Functional Maternity, as we dive into the deeper nature of preeclampsia, beyond simple blood pressure readings. Learn about the crucial roles of sleep, stress, and your body's detox pathways in the prevention of...

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43:13

#314 | April Q&A: Epidurals, Pushing Too Soon, Castor...

Down to Birth ·

2025/04/30

Send us a text Welcome to the April Q&A episode! Today's episode begins with your answers to our question: How do you cope when you are at your breaking point in parenting? If you are looking for some creative ideas, you will find them here! And someone, please tell us where one Mississippi, two Mississippi came from? Next, we get down to birth and answer the following questions: Why do some women choose unmedicated, physiological births despite societal pressures and perceived diff...

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47:06

#313 | Including Children at Birth: Should They Be...

Down to Birth ·

2025/04/23

Send us a text What happens when we invite our children into the sacred space of birth? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Morgan MacDermott, a naturopathic doctor, perinatal health specialist, and mother of four, to talk about the transformative experience of having siblings present at birth. We tackle the key questions: Should all children be present at birth, and if not, which considerations should be considered? Will they be scared? Will the mother be able to stay focused? What happens ...

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48:35

#312 | Avoiding the Unnecessary Cesarean: A Five-Step...

Down to Birth ·

2025/04/16

Send us a text Today we’re talking about one of the most important—and misunderstood—topics in maternity care: the unnecessary cesarean. In the U.S., about one in three babies is born by C-section, but in physiologic birth settings, that number can be as low as 2–4%. So what’s driving the difference? In this episode, Cynthia and Trisha unpack the many layers behind the rising cesarean rate and offer a grounded, evidence-based approach for avoiding surgery when it isn’t truly needed. From prov...

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42:57

#311 | Listen to Me: Black Maternal Health, Tragedy,...

Down to Birth ·

2025/04/09

Send us a text In honor of Black Maternal Health Week, we’re joined by Stephanie Etienne and Kanika Harris, creators of the documentary Listen to Me. The film follows the pregnancy and birth journeys of several black women. It reveals a devastating reality: Black mothers in the U.S. and U.K. are dying in childbirth at far higher rates than white women regardless of education, income, or resources. Kanika shares the heartbreaking story of losing her twin babies after a sudden onset of preeclam...

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58:11

#310 | The Co-Sleeping Controversy: Overcoming Fear &...

Down to Birth ·

2025/04/02

Send us a text What if sleeping beside your baby isn’t dangerous—but actually protective? In this episode, we talk about one of the most instinctive things mothers do—and one of the most feared and judged: co-sleeping. Today's guest is Isadora Ambrose, founder of Happy Co-Sleeper and a certified holistic infant sleep specialist. Why are parents told to never sleep with their babies when every cell in their body wants to keep them close at night? Isadora breaks down what makes co-sleepin...

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40:25

#309 | March Q&A: Uterine Rupture Risk; Weaning...

Down to Birth ·

2025/03/26

Send us a text Cynthia and Trisha are back with the March Q&A episode! This one kicks off with a fun discussion on things that our Instagram followers think people should know but don’t—like how, when you say you’re eating a kiwi, you’re actually referring to either a kiwi bird or, worse, a person from New Zealand! In today’s Q&A episode, we answer these questions: Do I need to schedule a cesarean at 40 weeks if I’m planning a VBAC? My OB says I do.How do I know when it’s time to wean...

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63:42

#308 | Mammogram Myths: Safer Ways to Screen for...

Down to Birth ·

2025/03/19

Send us a text In today's episode, Dr. Jenn Simmons shares her powerful journey from a leading breast cancer surgeon to an advocate for functional medicine and holistic health. Drawing from her personal experience with illness and healing, Dr. Simmons discusses the dangers and limitations of traditional breast cancer screening with mammography and offers insight into safer, more effective alternatives like QT imaging, the ARIA test, and the importance of self-breast exams. This conversation ...

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47:57

#307 | When Labor Stalls: Recognizing and Resolving...

Down to Birth ·

2025/03/12

Send us a text Labor dystocia, often labeled as "failure to progress," is the leading reason for cesarean birth in the United States. At its core, prolonged labor is frequently influenced by suboptimal fetal positioning, as well as the mother’s biomechanics, anatomy, and physiology. In this episode, we delve into the true causes of labor dystocia and explore how intentional movement and positioning—both during pregnancy and labor—can promote a smoother, more efficient birth. Our discussion co...

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43:37

#306 | Breastfeeding Q&A: Engorgement & Oversupply;...

Down to Birth ·

2025/03/05

Send us a text Do you know the "hi" joke? If not, you haven't been listening long enough or need to go back to our earliest episodes, lol! If you haven't been there you should. We have some amazing episodes from season one. Anyway, today is all about breastfeeding. Trisha answers our listeners' questions on the following: Are there any techniques to relieve engorgement and over-production of milk in the early days to be more comfortable? And Cynthia asks Trisha: Why is oversupply such a probl...

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46:45

#305 | February Q&A: Induction at 37 Weeks, "Lazy"...

Down to Birth ·

2025/02/26

Send us a text Welcome to the February Q&A! Today, Cynthia & Trisha kick off the episode by discussing reasons why our community has lost friendships or relationships over their parenting choices. In our regular episode, we answer the following questions: 1. Is there such a thing as a lazy newborn, and if so, what can you do about it? 2. Can my placenta detach in pregnancy? My OB told me I can't have sex because my placenta is low-lying and it could separate. 3. I have a diagno...

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41:07

#304 | Why Algae is the Superfood for Fertility,...

Down to Birth ·

2025/02/19

Send us a text In today’s episode, we explore the powerful benefits of spirulina and chlorella—two superfoods that boost energy, improve digestion, and alkalize your body, especially during pregnancy. Each tiny tablet is pure food with the nutritional equivalent of an entire plate of vegetables. Trisha noticed a significant difference in her energy level during her workouts once she started taking spirulina each morning. So we've invited Catharine Arnston, founder of EnergyBits, to exp...

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32:38

#303 | Car Birth to Premature Baby with Megan...

Down to Birth ·

2025/02/12

Send us a text Today we dive deep into an incredibly empowering and unique birth story. Megan Wilson of @wilsonfamilyhomestead shares her journey of unexpectedly giving birth to her 33-week baby in a car and the powerful decision she made to trust her instincts, rather than following the traditional hospital protocol. She purposefully broke her own water in the car to expedite the birth once they were parked in the hospital parking lot. In an inspiring twist, Megan reveals her decision to hav...

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44:50

#302 | Facing PTSD with Shoulder Dystocia at Home Birth

Down to Birth ·

2025/02/05

Send us a text In this episode, Allison Angelini shares the profound and challenging story of her second pregnancy and birth. From the start, Allison had a premonition that her birth might not go as planned. Compounding her worries, she experienced a traumatic event while camping with her toddler, which left her grappling with PTSD and anxiety throughout her pregnancy. Despite her fears, Allison pursued a home birth. Her labor was long and intense, complicated by an anterior cervical lip and ...

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40:59

#301 | January Q&A: Cervical Scarring, Shoulder...

Down to Birth ·

2025/01/29

Send us a textWelcome to the first Q&A episode of Season 6 with Cynthia & Trisha! We’re kicking things off by discussing some lesser-known causes of cervical scar tissue that could impact labor progress. It’s a good reminder to consider how any procedure or reproductive intervention might affect future births.In this episode, we answer a new collection of listener questions, including one about a mom-to-be who wants a home birth but is feeling uneasy about having someone else in the h...

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56:22

#300 | Vaccine Rights, Research and Consent with Just...

Down to Birth ·

2025/01/22

Send us a textAs an active member of the military, Alexandra was required to take various medical products. After experiencing multiple adverse reactions, she started researching the benefits, safety and risks of each, leading her to create the platform, "Just the Inserts." Just the Inserts provides all the publicly available information on vaccines and other medical products to help parents make informed choices about what they will accept or decline for themselves and their children.&...

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