#340 | October Q&A: Pushing "Wrong," Laboring Down, Birthing the Placenta, Fistulas, Lip Ties, PP Rage, Pelvic Floors, Explaining Conception to Kids
Send us a textWelcome to the October Q&A episode! We kick things off with a few confessions from our community (and one from us!) before diving into your thoughtful questions on pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.Today’s questions include: Is it safe if you pee in the birth tub? How can you afford a home birth when money is tight? What does it mean to “push wrong” in labor, and how does the Ferguson reflex really work? We also discuss the fear of postpartum rage returning in a subsequent pregnancy, whether OBs should move out of the way so partners can catch the baby, and why so many providers still insist mothers push on their backs.We then cover laboring down and whether it increases risk, the truth about the “30-minute rule” for delivering the placenta, and how prenatal Pilates affects the pelvic floor. We also answer a listener’s question on how to explain conception and birth to young children in a clear, age-appropriate way.Quickies this month: Can an OB tell if a baby is head down without an ultrasound? Do lip ties need correction? Which supplements actually help milk supply? Is estrogen cream useful postpartum? PT vs. chiropractor in pregnancy? Plus a few lighthearted ones, including our guilty pleasure shows, whether we wash our walls, and what we’re currently reading.Call us anytime with your questions, comments, or stories at 802-GET-DOWN!********** Needed <-- this link for 20% off your whole subscription orderDrinkLMNT <-- this link for FREE 8-day supplyPrimally Pure: ingredients good for you and the earth. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTHPostpartum Soothe: Organic herbal padsicles for healing. Promo code DOWNTOBIRTHENERGYBits: <--this link for 20% off Join Patreon for our exclusive contentIG @downtobirthshow Down to Birth Show Call 802-GET-DOWN Watch full videos of all episodes on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed provider for all healthcare matters.
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#339 | Pitocin Without An Epidural Plus An Unintentional Free Birth
Send us a textEmily shares two unforgettable and very different birth stories: an unmedicated hospital induction with Pitocin, and an unplanned free birth at home. In her first birth, she transferred late in pregnancy under New Hampshire’s “two high readings” rule for blood pressure. With a Foley balloon, Cervidil, and the lowest possible Pitocin drip, she labored quietly on all fours, declined unnecessary interventions, and delivered under the fetal ejection reflex—so calmly that all the nurses and doctors from around the maternity ward gathered to witness a rare physiologic Pitocin birth without an epidural.Her second birth brought the perfect contrast: a planned home birth that stalled, restarted after midnight, and ended an hour later with three strong pushes before the midwife could arrive.In this episode, we explore how to choose hospitals based on cesarean rates, what to know about induction protocols (low and slow, and when to stop Pitocin), gestational hypertension vs. preeclampsia, recognizing white-coat hypertension, and why mental training may be the most powerful tool in birth.**********Check out all our sponsor offers here: Needed <-- this link for 20% off your whole subscription orderDrinkLMNT <-- this link for FREE 8-day supplyPrimally Pure: ingredients good for you and the earth. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTHPostpartum Soothe: Organic herbal padsicles for healing. Promo code DOWNTOBIRTHENERGYBits: <--this link for 20% off Join Patreon for our exclusive contentIG @downtobirthshow Down to Birth Show Call 802-GET-DOWN Watch full videos of all episodes on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed provider for all healthcare matters.
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#338 | Breastfeeding Q&A: How to Night Wean, Delayed Milk Production, Breastmilk & Cavities, Biting the nipple, Strong Let-Downs, Oversupply
Send us a textWelcome to another Breastfeeding Q&A episode. Today, we start with a conversation on how to night wean and your personal experiences with what worked best. For today's questions, Trisha responds to:How child-led weaning works at 14 months, 18 months, and 2 years oldNursing strikes at 6 months — why they happen and how to respondNight weaning tips: gentle strategies without losing daytime breastfeedingWhy milk supply sometimes doesn’t come in (and hospital factors that affect it)How to stop biting while breastfeeding (without turning it into a game)Coping with strong or painful letdowns and oversupplyBreastfeeding myths: Does breastfeeding cause cavities?Nutrition for moms: hops, beer, and spirulina for milk supplyHow to manage sleep deprivation, co-sleeping, and even feeding twinsFor quickies, we tackle rapid milk ejection, breastmilk and cavities, reducing oversupply, biting, all-night latching, beer & milk supply, nipple damage, feeding twins. Watch this episode in full video format on YouTube.Thank you to everyone for these great questions and remember you can call us any time at 802-GET-DOWN (that's 802-438-3696). See you next week!**********Our sponsors, Patreon, and contact info are below: Needed <-- this link for 20% off your whole subscription orderDrinkLMNT <-- this link for FREE 8-day supplyPrimally Pure: ingredients good for you and the earth. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTHPostpartum Soothe: Organic herbal padsicles for healing. Promo code DOWNTOBIRTHENERGYBits: <--this link for 20% off Join Patreon for our exclusive contentIG @downtobirthshow Down to Birth Show Call 802-GET-DOWN Watch full videos of all episodes on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed provider for all healthcare matters.
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#337 | Toddlers & New Siblings: Expert Tips from Devon Kuntzman of Transforming Toddlerhood
Send us a textBringing a new baby home is exciting—but it can feel overwhelming when you’re worried about how your toddler will adjust. You may be wondering: Will my toddler feel jealous? How do I handle tantrums? How do I keep my child feeling loved while caring for a newborn?In this episode, toddler expert Devon Kuntzman, author of the book Transforming Toddlerhood: How to Handle Tantrums and Power Struggles and Raise Resilient Kids Without Losing Your Mind, joins us to share practical wisdom for parents navigating this transition. In this discussion, we explore how to decode toddler behavior without harmful labels, set loving boundaries that build security, and handle big emotions—whether in the safety of your home or the middle of a grocery store. We discuss sibling jealously, strategies for parental preference, how to handle tantrums, time-outs, spanking and boundaries. Then we ask Devon your questions at the end, quickie style! Watch this episode in full video format on YouTube.**********Check out all our sponsors here: Needed <-- this link for 20% off your whole subscription orderDrinkLMNT <-- this link for FREE 8-day supplyPrimally Pure: ingredients good for you and the earth. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTHPostpartum Soothe: Organic herbal padsicles for healing. Promo code DOWNTOBIRTHENERGYBits: <--this link for 20% off Join Patreon for our exclusive contentIG @downtobirthshow Down to Birth Show Call 802-GET-DOWN Watch full videos of all episodes on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed provider for all healthcare matters.
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#336 | How Tongue Tie Impacts Vaginal Birth, Breastfeeding & Infant Development
Send us a textIn this episode, occupational therapist and IBCLC Michelle Emanuel joins us to explore the hidden ways tongue-tie affects babies long before birth. She explains how oral restrictions begin in the embryo, influence fetal positioning, and impact birth outcomes including torticollis and C-sections. We dive into the anatomy of the tongue, how it connects to breathing, posture, and feeding, and why many tongue-ties remain hidden or misdiagnosed.We discuss feeding positions, tummy time, swaddling, and infant sleep, and, of course, SIDS, including airway safety, sleep surfaces, toxins, and the importance of ventral (tummy) time for development and sleep.Michelle shares insights on when a frenotomy is truly needed, the risks of unnecessary or too-early releases, and why myofunctional therapy and whole-body approaches are critical for optimal long-term outcomes. This episode is a must-listen for parents, birth professionals, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of how tongue-tie influences health even before your baby is born. Watch this episode in full video format on YouTube.Michelle's WebsiteInstagramOur Patreon Event with Michelle**********Our sponsors, Patreon, and contact info below: Needed <-- this link for 20% off your whole subscription orderDrinkLMNT <-- this link for FREE 8-day supplyPrimally Pure: ingredients good for you and the earth. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTHPostpartum Soothe: Organic herbal padsicles for healing. Promo code DOWNTOBIRTHENERGYBits: <--this link for 20% off Join Patreon for our exclusive contentIG @downtobirthshow Down to Birth Show Call 802-GET-DOWN Watch full videos of all episodes on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed provider for all healthcare matters.
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.
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