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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

kids & family alternative health

All Episodes

28:27

#388 | Twin Home Birth at 38 Weeks: Leaving High-Risk...

Down to Birth ·

2026/10/07

When Victoria learned at 10 weeks that she was carrying MoDi twins, she was immediately placed in high-risk care and told to expect frequent monitoring, an operating-room birth, and potentially a C-section. But as her pregnancy progressed, the fear and anxiety she felt at every appointment led her to reconsider the model of care she had accepted. Victoria joins us to share how she left her OB and maternal-fetal medicine team midway through pregnancy and found a home birth midwife experienced ...

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55:48

#387 | September Q&A: Home Birth Reactions,...

Down to Birth ·

2026/10/01

Welcome to the September Q&A! Today we kick things off with your answers to the question, “What did people say when they found out you were planning a home birth?” From being told you’re putting your baby in danger and that you’ll end up in the ER to family members questioning your midwife, calling you brave, or even threatening to tell your husband not to let you, you had a lot to say. Then we get into your questions. One mother is seven weeks pregnant after a 12-week miscarriage earlier...

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42:27

#386 | Why Home Birth: A Father's Perspective on...

Down to Birth ·

2026/09/23

When Marine Corps officer Jacob Dubois's wife, Madison, told him she wanted a home birth, he was skeptical. He assumed the hospital was the safest place to have a baby until he began asking questions, researching, and meeting midwives. That journey inspired Jacob to write Why Home Birth?, a book written for fathers who want to better understand birth and confidently support the women they love in chooseing birth outside of the medical system. In this conversation, we discuss why birth e...

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81:46

#385 | The Lindsay Clancy Case: Postpartum Psychosis...

Down to Birth ·

2026/09/16

The tragic case of Lindsay Clancy has ignited a national conversation about postpartum psychosis, maternal mental health, and criminal responsibility. Clinical psychologist Dr. Roger McFillin of The Radically Genuine Podcast believes a critical part of the story has been largely overlooked: the psychiatric care Lindsay received in the months leading up to what happened. Roger returns to Down to Birth to examine Lindsay’s medical history, severe sleep deprivation, reported reactions to psychia...

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42:08

#384 | Military Maternity Care in Sicily: Tara’s...

Down to Birth ·

2026/09/09

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, repeated talk of a C-section, and a series of interventions that often seemed to create more questions than answers. In this episode, Tara shares how late fetal heart rate decelerations led her care team to tell her that refusing induction could result...

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36:32

#383 | A Second Home Birth: Vocalizing, Instinct &...

Down to Birth ·

2026/09/02

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 carried in the final weeks of pregnancy, the problem with predicting when labor will begin, and her persistent worry that her midwife might not make it to the birth. We also discuss what it means to feel safe enough to be completely uninhibited in labor, why so...

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51:47

#382 | August Q&A: Prodromal Labor, Breastfeeding vs....

Down to Birth ·

2026/08/26

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, swollen labia, running out of hot water during a home birth, and yes, pooping in labor, you had a lot to say. Then we get into your questions. One mother experienced nearly identical prodromal labors with both of her babies, never dilating beyond five centime...

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49:28

#381 | The Chemicals You're Wearing Every Day with...

Down to Birth ·

2026/08/19

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, about what no one is regulating, no one is disclosing, and very few are questioning: the chemicals in our clothes and textiles. Many of these chemicals are believed to act like estrogen in the body, binding to receptors and interfering with normal signaling...

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54:01

#380 | Henci Goer on Taking Charge of Your Birth

Down to Birth ·

2026/08/12

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 births and a career in birth education and client advocacy. In this special conversation, we sit down with the author herself, now one of the most influential voices in evidence-based maternity care. Today, we discuss Henci's newest book, Taking Charge of Your Birth...

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39:53

#379 | When Birth Gets Complicated: The Midwifery...

Down to Birth ·

2026/08/05

When complications arise during pregnancy or birth, many women assume their birth plans are over. But does it have to be that way? In this episode, we're joined by Catey, a mother of four whose pregnancies and births included severe preeclampsia, inductions, postpartum hemorrhages, postpartum depression, thyroid disease, infertility, and a hospital transfer. Despite these serious complications, every one of her births was planned under the care of certified nurse-midwives. Catey shares how he...

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58:50

#378 | July Q&A: Parenting Styles, Mom Hobbies,...

Down to Birth ·

2026/07/29

Heads up, all! If you'd like to learn more about our parenting conversation, join our Patreon event: Parenting without Reward & Punishment ********** This week’s Q&A begins with a conversation that struck a chord with our community: why mothers need creativity, hobbies, and joy, and sharing inspiring stories from postpartum women who rediscovered parts of themselves through music, art, and new passions. We also dive into an impassioned discussion about parenting values, including the ...

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59:51

#377 | Protecting Your Baby From EMFs: Practical Ways...

Down to Birth ·

2026/07/22

In today's episode, we invited back Thaddeus Owen and Heidi Syme of DreamWalkerz, this time focusing on electromagnetic fields (EMFs), wireless technology, and the growing questions many families have about how modern environments can affect health. We discuss the difference between naturally occurring and man-made electromagnetic fields, the research that has fueled concern about wireless technologies, and why this topic has become increasingly relevant as our homes fill with Wi-Fi networks,...

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47:29

#376 | July Breastfeeding Q&A: Sore Nipples,...

Down to Birth ·

2026/07/15

Welcome to our July Breastfeeding Q&A episode! We open with a conversation about what surprised women most about breastfeeding (for better or worse) after all the things they'd heard from others, from pain and emotional shifts to supply, pumping, and expectations that didn’t match reality. Additionally, we answer the following questions: I’m pregnant and still breastfeeding my toddler. What should I know about tandem nursing, and how do I prioritize a newborn without creating oversupply? ...

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52:35

#375 | Making Sense of Everyday Toxin Exposure with...

Down to Birth ·

2026/07/08

In today’s episode, we talk with Carly and Rachel of Kale Blossom about environmental toxins, what matters when it comes to everyday exposure, and how mothers can make thoughtful changes without getting pulled into fear-based messaging. The conversation around “low-tox living” can quickly become overwhelming, especially during pregnancy and early motherhood, when concern for your baby is understandably high. We wanted to cut through the noise and ask a more useful question: where does reducin...

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46:41

#374 | Fibroids in Pregnancy: IUGR, Induction,...

Down to Birth ·

2026/07/01

In today’s episode, Cassidy Peck shares a birth story shaped by large fibroids, a late IUGR diagnosis, low amniotic fluid, and a postpartum emergency that nearly cost her life. After years of debilitating periods and a delayed fibroid diagnosis, Cassidy conceived naturally and planned a home birth with an experienced midwife. Her pregnancy was largely uncomplicated until late third trimester, when concerns about fetal growth and fluid levels led to induction at 37 weeks. What followed was an ...

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53:34

#373 | June Q&A: VBAC Labeling, Big Baby Ultrasounds,...

Down to Birth ·

2026/06/24

In today's episode we reference the following resources: Should I be induced? Evidence on the ARRIVE Trial Planning Your Successful VBAC ********** Welcome to the June Q&A! In today's episode, we begin with a listener who has some things to say about the term VBAC. Our questions begin with one from a new mother whose enthusiastic in-laws are eager to babysit her exclusively breastfed baby. The conversation is less about breastfeeding and more about expectations, trust and boundaries...

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48:25

#372 | The First Meal: Colostrum, Formula, and...

Down to Birth ·

2026/06/17

Most parents have heard that breastfeeding is beneficial. What far fewer understand is why those first feedings matter so much, what colostrum does beyond nutrition, and how early feeding choices shape the gut microbiome, immune system, and long-term health. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Rhonda Trust, PhD, registered dietitian, professor of health communication, and longtime breastfeeding educator, for a conversation about newborn gut health, colostrum, skin-to-skin contact, formula supplementat...

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54:06

#371 | Mothers in the Birth Space: Should You Have...

Down to Birth ·

2026/06/10

In today’s episode, we take on a question many women think about but don’t always say out loud: should your mother be at your birth? We share listener voicemails from women who made very different choices. Some had their mothers in the room, some kept them close by but not present for the birth, and others chose not to include them at all. It’s a candid, interesting conversation that gets into what shapes that decision and why it can feel more complicated than you might expect, even in close,...

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39:02

#370 | 43-Week Pregnancy: Jessica and Aaron...

Down to Birth ·

2026/06/03

In today's episode, we sat with Ontario couple Jessica and Aaron, who share the birth story of their first child. Jessica's pregnancy included several key decision points, including whether to accept RhoGAM and how to approach care and manage the expectations of their loved ones as they moved well past their due date -- nearly 3 weeks past! They describe how they evaluated risk, navigated recommendations, and remained aligned as a couple under increasing pressure, while working with a midwife...

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51:21

#369 | May Q&A: Postpartum Hemorrhage, RhoGAM, Family...

Down to Birth ·

2026/05/27

Happy Spring! And welcome to the May Q&A! We start with a listener email we loved, followed by a discussion on creativity and why it matters, especially in the early years of motherhood when it can feel completely out of reach. Then we get into your questions. We talk about postpartum hemorrhage and how it’s defined, including whether 500 cc of blood loss is truly cause for concern, and the use of Pitocin and Cytotec in that context, particularly for VBAC mothers. We also revisit RhoGAM a...

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393 results

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