Down to Birth

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 centimeters before ultimately having two C-sections. She wants to know why prodromal labor happens, whether fetal positioning or her anatomy could have played a role, and whether things might have gone differently with more time or rest.
Next, a mother who breastfed her first baby for 16 months is six months into breastfeeding her second, who has multiple food intolerances. Her increasingly restricted diet is affecting her milk supply and her mental health, and she’s considering formula. But how do you make a decision that feels completely at odds with the kind of mother you thought you would be?
Then, one mom asked about her a two-vessel umbilical cord and has been advised to have additional growth scans in the third trimester. With an otherwise normal anatomy scan, how concerning is a single umbilical artery, what are the actual risks, and what information would another ultrasound provide?
Quickies this month include intrusive thoughts after weaning, IVF placentas, having young children present at a home birth, postpartum freezer meals, when an epidural can be useful, lunch meat during pregnancy, establishing breastfeeding at six weeks postpartum, free help for newborn latch problems, white coat syndrome, hemorrhoids after birth, morning sickness, vaginal tear repair, babies staying latched through naps, our favorite cookies, how we bring play into our lives, and whether faith or spirituality plays a role in ours.
Call us with your questions, comments or stories at 802-GET-DOWN!
Be sure to watch our workshops on the following topics we discussed during this episode:
Avoiding Perineal Tearing
Ultrasound in Pregnancy: The Research & the Rhetoric
#332 | The Hidden Power of the Infant Microbiome: Optimizing Exposure in Birth & Breastfeeding

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Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Access our workshops: Have a Physiologic Birth in the Hospital and Ultrasound: The Research vs Rhetoric
Needed <-- for 20% off
DrinkLMNT <--  for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure Skincare: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits Superfood<--for 20% off
Join Patreon here
IG @downtobirthshow
Call 802-GET-DOWN.
Watch us on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice.

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. And no, your skin isn’t the impenetrable barrier you may think it is. We also discuss why washing clothes may reduce exposure to some chemicals while potentially increasing exposure to others, as they get broken down.
We wanted to have this conversation both to learn and to raise awareness. The cumulative chemical exposure we face today is unlike anything previous generations experienced, and clothing may be a larger contributor than most people realize. Most of us care about keeping chemicals out of our food; it’s time to have a conversation about our clothes.
In this episode, you'll learn about certifications that may help consumers make more informed choices, including the difference between labels like “made with organic cotton” and more rigorous textile standards, as well as practical steps you can take to reduce exposure for yourself and your family.
The Clean Clothing Chick
Hannah's petition
Hannah on Instagram
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Access our workshops: Have a Physiologic Birth in the Hospital and Ultrasound: The Research vs Rhetoric
Needed <-- for 20% off
DrinkLMNT <--  for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure Skincare: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits Superfood<--for 20% off
Join Patreon here
IG @downtobirthshow
Call 802-GET-DOWN.
Watch us on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice.

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, along with evidence-based maternity care, physiologic birth, induction, cesarean prevention, and informed decision-making. Henci explains why "physiologic care" is about using the least intervention necessary—not avoiding intervention altogether—and why preserving a woman's agency may be one of the most important factors in creating a positive birth experience.
We also explore the evidence surrounding induction, Bishop scores, Pitocin protocols, cesarean rates, choosing a care provider, the role of doulas, and why preserving a woman's agency may be one of the most important factors in creating a positive birth experience.
Whether you're planning a home birth, birth center birth, or hospital birth, this conversation offers practical, evidence-based guidance for taking charge of your birth.
Choosing Induction: When it Might Be Needed
Henci Goer's Website, Books, & Articles
Henci Goer on Instagram
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Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Access our workshops: Have a Physiologic Birth in the Hospital and Ultrasound: The Research vs Rhetoric
Needed <-- for 20% off
DrinkLMNT <--  for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure Skincare: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits Superfood<--for 20% off
Join Patreon here
IG @downtobirthshow
Call 802-GET-DOWN.
Watch us on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice.

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 her midwives navigated medical emergencies while preserving shared decision-making, how they helped preserve the aspects of birth that mattered most to her, and how continuity of care made all the difference. We discuss the differences between physiologic labor and Pitocin inductions, when interventions like epidurals can become valuable tools, and the support that helped her recover from postpartum depression after both uncomplicated and traumatic births.
#358 | Dr. Sarah J. Buckley on Oxytocin, Safety, and the Biology of Birth

Stream our classes on this topic:
Recognizing & Overcoming Postnatal Depletion
Choosing Induction: When it May be Needed
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Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Access our workshops: Have a Physiologic Birth in the Hospital and Ultrasound: The Research vs Rhetoric
Needed <-- for 20% off
DrinkLMNT <--  for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure Skincare: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits Superfood<--for 20% off
Join Patreon here
IG @downtobirthshow
Call 802-GET-DOWN.
Watch us on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice.

Heads up, all! If you'd like to learn more about our parenting conversation, join our Patreon event: Parenting without Reward & Punishment
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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 things we all swore we’d never do as parents (and now do regularly), co-sleeping, screen time, bribes, eating toddler food, rewards & punishments, and raising children with confidence, respect, and strong boundaries.
Then we answer listener questions about:
What truly qualifies a pregnancy as “high risk” and who gets to define what makes someone high risk
Planning a home birth after a previous pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia 
Building confidence after a difficult first birth experience 
Manifesting the birth you want and the role of mindset in labor, despite how discouraging someone (ahem, your own midwife) responds
Whether third babies are really “wild cards” and where that idea comes from
Cytotec, balloon catheters, and induction recommendations in home birth care.
Plus, our Quickies cover wearable breast pumps, mastitis, vitamin D, breech babies, postpartum supplements, homeschooling, friendship, feeding schedules, and more. Thank you to everyone who called us with questions and comments for the show!
Livestream: Should we homeschool? Ask a Mom whose family thrived.
If you'd like to learn more about our parenting conversation, join our Patreon event: Parenting without Reward & Punishment
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Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Access our workshops: Have a Physiologic Birth in the Hospital and Ultrasound: The Research vs Rhetoric
Needed <-- for 20% off
DrinkLMNT <--  for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure Skincare: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Use code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits Superfood<--for 20% off
Join Patreon here
IG @downtobirthshow
Call 802-GET-DOWN.
Watch us on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice.