Down to Birth

Welcome to the July Q&A episode with Cynthia & Trisha.  Today, we kick off the conversation with a story of an OB commenting on the "tightness" of a woman's perineum. Next, we jump into our questions on when sutures are or are not needed after a tear; placenta previa and a prolapsed cord; the risk of infection after rupture of membranes when GBS negative; how to get oxytocin flowing when your spouse is not present at birth; are there risks in pregnancy and postpartum if you have Irish twins; could I have birthed my frank breech baby vaginally even though the hospital said I could not, followed by Trisha's story of her one and only breech birth experience as a midwife.In the extended Q&A, we discuss the difficult decision one mother faces when the only available midwives don't align with her birth choices; a woman whose toddler developed significant tooth decay and questions teething oil over breast milk as the culprit; another mother who is told her baby is not gaining weight well because her breastmilk has an insufficient amount of calories, and a woman who is struggling with appetite due to her stress and anxiety and worries how it will impact her pregnancy.  Finally, we close with a round of quickies including Cynthia's and Trisha's biggest pet peeves in life.  **********Down to Birth is sponsored by:Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit. Stay salty.Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply with nourishing Send us Fan Mail 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% offJoin Patreon for our exclusive contentIG @downtobirthshowDown to Birth ShowCall 802-GET-DOWNWatch full videos of all episodes on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed provider for all healthcare matters.

Dr. Lynelle Schneeberg, PsyD, is a sleep psychologist, an assistant professor at the Yale School of Medicine, and Director of the Behavioral Sleep Program at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. She’s also a Fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. She works with adults who have insomnia and has a particular passion for helping parents whose children have sleep difficulties. She is the author of "Become Your Child’s Sleep Coach: The Bedtime Doctor’s 5-Step Guide, Ages 3-10. "Today, Lynelle give us her expert advice and education on and around sleep difficulties experienced by new parents and parents of young children. Recognizing that sleep deprivation is a bona fide torture tactic, our discussion delves into the negative effects of interrupted sleep for new parents, which can affect them for months and even years. Lynelle clarifies the four stages of sleep, and how much of each stage we tend to require. She also explains how the body prioritizes deep sleep and can brilliantly adjust sleep cycles to compensate for those late-bedtime streaks or the evenings we're awake with insomnia or broken sleep. Lynelle debunks sleep myths (such as, "Can we only obtain deep sleep between the hours of 10pm and 2am?") and helps us to understand: healthy sleep architecture; the various kinds of insomnia; and, the benefits of micro-naps. She provides strategies for getting children to go to bed more easily, and tells us what to do - and what not to do - when it comes to getting good sleep back into your life. **********Down to Birth is sponsored by:Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit. Stay salty.Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply with nourishing protein powder, hydration boosters and lactation bites.Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipplesSend us Fan Mail 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% offJoin Patreon for our exclusive contentIG @downtobirthshowDown to Birth ShowCall 802-GET-DOWNWatch full videos of all episodes on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed provider for all healthcare matters.

Rachel Marynowsk of @Kale.blossom is a licensed naturopathic physician focusing on preconception, fertility and postpartum. In today's episode, Rachel introduces us to the fascinating phenomenon of fetal-maternal microchimerism and how it may influence women's health, particularly postpartum. Fetal-maternal microchimerism refers to the presence of fetal cells in a mother's body and vice versa, exchanged during pregnancy and birth. These cells are believed to serve as a unique form of communication between the mother and the baby, both physically and emotionally, and may be key players in the development of postpartum health issues such as perinatal mood disorders and thyroid changes. Studies show that fetal cells, which also function as stem cells, are found in various organs of the mother's body, potentially offering protective and regenerative properties.  It is believed these cells play a role in the mother's intuition and protective instincts toward her child and may be associated with certain health conditions. The topic raises important questions for further research and exploration, offering a new perspective on the intricate bond between mother and baby.@Kale.Blossom on InstagramKale Blossom**********Down to Birth is sponsored by:Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit. Stay salty.Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply with nourishing protein powder, hydration boosters and lactation bites.Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort after vagSend us Fan MailNeeded <-- 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% offJoin Patreon for our exclusive contentIG @downtobirthshowDown to Birth ShowCall 802-GET-DOWNWatch full videos of all episodes on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed provider for all healthcare matters.

Catrina's first pregnancy was labeled high risk when a routine ultrasound revealed a two-vessel cord, leading to repeat ultrasounds and a diagnosis of IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) and low fluid at 35 weeks. Her doctor immediately sent her in for an induction, and because her baby was still breech at that point, she ended up with a C-section. Catrina felt completely "checked-out" during the whole experience, as this was the exact opposite of the birth she had planned for. Her baby ended up in the NICU for five days and over 24 hours of time passed before she held her newborn.  After this experience, she was sure she would never have another baby. Just over a year later, she was pregnant again, chose home birth and had the HBAC (home birth after cesarean)  of her dreams.**********Down to Birth is sponsored by:Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit. Stay salty.Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply with nourishing protein powder, hydration boosters and lactation bites.Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort after vaginal birth. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.Email Contact@DownToBirthShow.comInstagram @downtobirthshowCall us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia: 203-952-7299 HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha: 734-649-6294Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.Send us Fan MailNeeded <-- 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% offJoin Patreon for our exclusive contentIG @downtobirthshowDown to Birth ShowCall 802-GET-DOWNWatch full videos of all episodes on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed provider for all healthcare matters.

We are back answering your questions in the June Q&A episode.  We kick it off with a woman's story of multiple non-consented vaginal exams in labor, her complaint to the hospital, and the hospital leadership's response. Next, we jump into our questions including:I really want a home birth, but I am afraid that hospital birth is safer and that home birth is dangerous. How do I determine this risk? My mom had a c-section for a cervix that swelled shut. Is that possible?I am struggling with boundaries and decision-making with my husband around staying home and home-schooling the children versus returning back to work. Could getting in the water too early slow down my labor?  Barbara Harper from Waterbirth International calls in her response. I am ten weeks postpartum and have a positive pregnancy test.  Could this be for real?In the extended version, available on Apple subscriptions and Patreon, one woman asks if she should have listened to her nurse who ordered her not to push.  Could a nuchal hand in labor be a justified cause for a c-section? Should the cord only be cut after the placenta has been delivered? Who should I notify about being dropped as a patient and black-listed in surrounding practices?In our quickies segment, we discuss weight gain in pregnancy, periods returning too soon, precipitous labor and increased bleeding,  birth pools, early pregnancy, red raspberry tea and dates, strengthening the amniotic sac, a fear of sex in pregnancy, and our best marriage advice for after baby. We were also asked to share something we can do that most people don't know about us.Finally, don't miss the outtake!**********Down to Birth is sponsored by:Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancyDrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.Love Majka Products -- SuppSend us Fan Mail 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% offJoin Patreon for our exclusive contentIG @downtobirthshowDown to Birth ShowCall 802-GET-DOWNWatch full videos of all episodes on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed provider for all healthcare matters.

Eyla Cuenca, a birth doula and birth trauma alchemist, delves into the emotional and psychological aspects of pregnancy and birth. She highlights the varying experiences pregnant women may encounter when it comes to their healthcare providers and how it can impact their journeys.Eyla introduces the concept of birth trauma alchemy, which focuses on transforming birth traumas and wounds into opportunities for growth, self-knowledge and empowerment. We delve into the psycho-emotional work required during pregnancy and after, highlighting how a woman's birth experience profoundly shapes her memory and emotions surrounding the event. For example, giving birth can trigger past feelings of "unwanted touches" from childhood, even from seemingly mild memories of being told to hug and kiss relatives and friends of parents. We explore the societal pressure to prioritize a healthy baby over a woman's emotional well-being and challenge the notion that a healthy baby is the only measure of a successful birth. Our conversation underscores the need for women to utilize their sense of self-worth and the ability to advocate for their birth preferences to ensure a positive and empowering birthing experience.Eyla Cuenca Birth**********Down to Birth is sponsored by:Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit. Stay salty.Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply with nourishing protein powder, hydration boosters and lactation bites.Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort after vaginal birth. Send us Fan Mail 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% offJoin Patreon for our exclusive contentIG @downtobirthshowDown to Birth ShowCall 802-GET-DOWNWatch full videos of all episodes on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed provider for all healthcare matters.

At least one-third of women report to experiencing birth trauma. Traumatic experiences can be trapped in the physical body and manifest as post-traumatic stress disorder, easily triggered by everyday events and preventing us from fully embracing our experience as a mothers. Talk therapy can be helpful but often is not sufficient to fully resolve trauma, because trauma causes our brains to become wired to focus on repetitive thoughts, creating a maladaptive circuit.  Fortunately, when we sleep, our brains process our emotions and release negative associations, but it takes many weeks or even years for trauma to fully process in our sleep. EMDR works to accelerate this process through specific, guided eye movement therapy, and has been shown to be extremely effective at quickly and successfully releasing trauma. In the United States, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense have cited EMDR as a “best practice” in treating veterans with PTSD. Research demonstrating the effectiveness of EMDR includes dozens of clinical trials, research studies and academic papers. It has been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and multiple other governmental and/or health organizations. Carolyn Yates, LMFT and EMDR practitioner joins us today to explain how and why EMDR is a revolutionary treatment for not only birth trauma but any traumatic event. For more about EMDR visit:https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/Carolyn Yates, LMFTDown to Birth is sponsored by:Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit. Stay salty.Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply with nourishing protein powder, hydration boosters and lactation bites.Silverette NursingSend us Fan Mail 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% offJoin Patreon for our exclusive contentIG @downtobirthshowDown to Birth ShowCall 802-GET-DOWNWatch full videos of all episodes on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed provider for all healthcare matters.

With the right knowledge and education about the intricacies of our own health, we have the potential to influence how our body gives birth. Did you know that by twenty-eight weeks of pregnancy your body is already making physiological and functional shifts to prepare for labor? Or that your baby's adrenal glands are the biggest factor in the initiation of labor? Have you ever heard that sub-clincal hypothyroidism is associated with a significantly higher rate of postpartum hemorrhage or that if you are magnesium deficient, your oxytocin receptors may not be as readily available?  Are you curious about the role of CoQ-10 in the prevention of pre-eclampsia or how hylauronic acid influences cervical readiness for labor?  Author Sarah Thompson of @functionalmaternity gets into all the fascinating details of the functional birth process and gives us practical tips on what we can do to optimize our bodies for birth.  We're sure you've never heard physiologic details like this before. Grab a pen, a pad of paper, and your thinking cap for this one!Functional Maternity on InstagramFunctional Maternity**********Down to Birth is sponsored by:Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit. Stay salty.Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply with nourishing protein powder, hydration boosters and lactation bites.Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort after vaginal birth. Send us Fan Mail 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% offJoin Patreon for our exclusive contentIG @downtobirthshowDown to Birth ShowCall 802-GET-DOWNWatch full videos of all episodes on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed provider for all healthcare matters.

Hello! We are back with the May Q&A.  This month we kick things off with a short conversation on obstetrical rhetoric around the risks of cesarean birth and induction, followed by your excellent  questions on:Short cords and small placentasSetting boundaries with well-meaning parenting advice-giversThe necessity or not of Non-stress tests (NST) in late pregnancyTrue medical indications for artificial rupture of membranes (AROM)VBAC labor contractions and an interesting tidbit on the impact of eating dairy in pregnancy Supporting the fetal ejection reflex (FER)Can coffee (yep, you read that right) prevent tearing in labor?And in our extended version of this episode, we dive into:Ultrasounds in late pregnancyPap smear recommendationsFetal heart rate decelerations in laborPostpartum doulas and how they can best support breastfeedingUmbilical cords as bungee cords or not?And of course, everyone's favorite, a round of quickies!Pitocin Episode #134 here.Join us over on Patreon or subscribe on Apple podcasts for the extended version of this episode. Down to Birth is sponsored by:Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit. Stay salty.Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply with nourishing protein powder, hydration boosters and lactation bites.Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort after vaginal birth. Send us Fan Mail 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% offJoin Patreon for our exclusive contentIG @downtobirthshowDown to Birth ShowCall 802-GET-DOWNWatch full videos of all episodes on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed provider for all healthcare matters.

Lisa Marie and Richard Oxenham are a water-birthing midwifery duo extraordinaire in addition to being husband and wife and protégés of Barbara Harper of Waterbirth International. Lisa has attended over six hundred water births and has never, not once, induced a woman's labor.  Through their years of experience, they have come to believe that giving birth in water improves birth outcomes over giving birth out of the water. In this episode, we cover the ways in which water birth increases the safety of home birth by reducing complications associated with cord evulsion, shoulder dystocia, deep tearing, postpartum hemorrhage, and newborn transition. Lisa also touches on how water birth may be the most effective tool for easing the birth experience for those with a history of trauma or abuse. We also learn the real meaning of the word "vagina."  Don't miss this incredibly important and highly informative episode on the benefits of home water birth.   BarefootMidwifeBeardedmidwife**********Down to Birth is sponsored by:Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy. DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit. Stay salty.Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply with nourishing protein powder, hydration boosters, and lactation bites.Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort after vaginal birth. Send us Fan Mail 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% offJoin Patreon for our exclusive contentIG @downtobirthshowDown to Birth ShowCall 802-GET-DOWNWatch full videos of all episodes on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed provider for all healthcare matters.