Down to Birth

When your hospital birth plan repeatedly includes the word  "No", considering home birth becomes extremely enticing. In this episode, Colleen of @uncomplicatedfamily shares with us how she left her OB and chose home birth not only the first time but six more thereafter! Many mothers fear the idea of home birth because they only imagine what might go wrong. And while there are certain risks to consider before home birthing and it isn't the preference of every woman, we review how it can be a safe and smart choice for many, even the first time around.In this conversation we discuss the top reason for home-to-hospital transfer, the data from the largest study ever conducted on home birth (and what information was "conveniently" kept out of the study), and why home birth can be a reasonable choice for 99% of women, yet only 1% are pursuing them.Perinatal mortality and morbidity in a nationwide cohort of 529,688 low-risk planned home and hospital birth.Down to Birth is sponsored by: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 -- Organic herbal padsicles to support healing after vaginal birth. 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.

Chanie of @yoledetacademy is an experienced labor and delivery nurse and expert witness in cases which the appropriate use of Pitocin is in question.  Today, she joins us to give us an insider's perspective on the use of Pitocin in hospital birth. Pitocin, now known as the narcotic of modern obstetrics, is increasingly overused and the harms of its use are significantly under represented.  Join us in this discerning conversation around the use and abuse of Pitocin in hospital 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 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.

RhoGAM or Anti-D is a blood product offered to pregnant women with an Rh-negative blood type who have conceived with an Rh-positive father. The use of RhoGAM is said to significantly reduce the chances of the mother becoming sensitized to a future baby if the current baby she is carrying has an Rh-positive blood type. The RhoGAM injection is routinely offered to all Rh-negative  women, despite that it is not always needed, comes with certain side effects, and isn't 100% effective. In this episode, we hear from two women: Kelsey and Emily, both of whom are Rh-negative mothers. Kelsey and Emily each had RhoGAM in the past: Kelsey had it with her first baby, and Emily had it when she miscarried. Both of them had some degree of side-effects from the shot. In Kelsey's second pregnancy and birth, she declined RhoGAM entirely, and Emily (currently pregnant) is open to getting RhoGAM after her baby's birth. In this roundtable-style episode, we learn about the thought processes leading to their respective decisions. If you are struggling to determine if RhoGAM is the right choice for you, this episode will give you the statistics and factors to consider if and when RhoGAM or Anti-D is necessary and the right choice for you and your baby.**********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.

Hello everyone! We are back with our April Q&A episode, and it is loaded with your excellent questions! Don't forget you can subscribe on Apple podcasts Patreon to hear the extended, ad-free versions.  Here's what we are talking about today:Is it safe to plan a birth center birth if someone has a history of pre-eclampsia, HELLP syndrome and a postpartum hemorrhage?Is it appropriate and/or expected to tip your doula?Other than placenta accreta, what other reasons are there for retained placenta?Can I take beef liver supplements in pregnancy? And do I need to worry about getting too much Vitamin A?  What is safe and what is not?In the case of surrogate and adoptive mothers, who should hold the baby first after the birth?I am experiencing postpartum rage and resentment toward my partner. How long does this last?And in our extended version (available on Apple subscriptions & Patreon):What can I take for after birth pains?If I have an elevated fasting blood sugar and a diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes, is my baby really at risk? If so, what can I do without going on medication?Is being over age 35 really a risk factor in birth?Is there anything you can do to prevent Cholestasis in pregnancy?And of course, everyone's favorite: Quickies!Thanks for joining us, and remember you can call our phone line with your questions 24/7 at 802-GET-DOWN. (That's 802-438-3696)**********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.

Chelsea was determined to have an unmedicated hospital birth. When she was unexpectedly diagnosed with cholestasis at 38 weeks, she found herself getting induced with Misoprostil, Pitocin, and ruptured membranes at 3 cm dilated. She quickly progressed to full dilation, had a short pushing phase and birthed her baby vaginally.  Everything seemed great until she went home and starting passing large blood clots. After multiple calls to different OBs that all passed it off as normal, she started bleeding profusely and was transferred back to the hospital for delayed postpartum hemorrhage. Chelsea's story is one of knowing the importance of trusting our own intuition and insisting we get the care we need when we know something is wrong. Down to Birth is sponsored by: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 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.

If you are pregnant for the first time or even the second or third, we all want to know the secret ingredient to experiencing a "pain-free" birth experience.  Today, we brought on a leading voice in the pain-free birth world, Karen Welton, to go deep on what it takes.  Do you know the most important step in accessing a "pain free" birth? Hint: It's not about what you do in labor. It's not about position. It's not even about your birth location or provider. It's about your brain. It begins and ends with your mindset and focus. The key to mastering your birth is mastering your brain's influence on your physiology.  Can you create an environment for birth where you could be so relaxed and embodied in your physiology that you could have sex in that space? Join us in this enlightening discussion and take the first step to finding a "pain-free" ecstatic, even pleasurable birth experience. Painfreebirth on InstagramPain Free Birth Free MasterclassDown to Birth is sponsored by: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 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.

Erika gave birth to her first child in the hospital and was labeled a "weirdo"  and stamped as "difficult" for her birth plan intentions.  When the hospital staff tried to take her baby away in order to administer the Vitamin K shot and Erythromycin eye ointment, she refused, holding her baby close as the staff tried to pull the baby from Erika's arms. Next came the call to CPS (Child Protective Services), putting Erika on a government watch list as a threat to her child's well-being. As a long-time yoga practitioner and deep spiritualist, Erika shares her perspective on birth as a one-of-a-kind opportunity to embrace discomfort and release the notion of separation from oneness. Erika HalweilDown to Birth is sponsored by: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 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 with the March Q&A, and it is packed with your awesome questions! How do I go about choosing a midwife? Are there red flags?I had pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome. Can I still have a home birth?Is it safe to take Valtrex in pregnancy for cold sores or is there an alternative?Is it necessary to rub and dry the baby after birth or can baby just be handed to me?Can we talk about the Lindsay Clancy situation and how do we know if we are suffering postpartum psychosis?Does Covid cause decreased blood flow and does Aspirin help?And for those who subscribe on Apple podcasts or Patreon, in the extended version we answer:How do you know when IUGR is a legitimate diagnosis?Is there a way to pump enough to delay the return of your period when breastfeeding?Can you prevent the loss or decrease in milk supply when pregnant but still nursing?When should you introduce a bottle or transition a breastfeeding baby to the bottle and how do you do both?Do you have resources that you recommend for continuing education for parents?In a home-to-hospital transfer for the mother, does the baby go too and if so, does the baby get evaluated? Can the baby stay home?And in our quickies segment we touch on:Surrogates and co-sleeping, young midwives, periods and breastfeeding, induction for gestational diabetes, favorite items for new moms, keepsakes, hiccups in pregnancy, retinol in breastfeeding, Vitamin K alternatives and our shoe collection. Thank you as always for calling in your awesome questions!  Don't forget to join us on Patreon for the extended version and twice monthly live Q&As on all kinds of topics!Thanks for joining us, and remember you can call our phone line with your questions 24/7 at 802-GET-DOWN. (That's 802-438-3696)**********Down to Birth is sponsored by:Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy 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.

Dr. Nathan Riley is an OBGYN who understands the holistic picture of women's health. You may remember him from Episode #165 where he discussed autonomous, empowered birth. Today, he joins us to explain why infertility rates are on the rise, especially for men, and gives us the six principles of holistic fertility that are important for healthy, conscious conception, along with the five fertility powerhouse nutrients. In the second part of the episode, we discuss the aspect of fertility that goes far beyond the standard "temperature" and "timing" approach: the importance of intimate, fun, playful sex for conception. This episode is sure to open your mind and give you the holistic scope you won't get at your IVF clinic. Grab your partner and your baby MOJO and  sit down for an enlightening discussion on fixing fertility.  #165 | The Holistic OBGYN, Dr. Nathan Riley, on Autonomous, Empowered BirthDown to Birth is sponsored by: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 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.

Claude Racine Valinsky is a former professional dancer and choreographer in Los Angeles who is now a mother who has recovered from postpartum depression and become a thriving mom-preneur. She returns to the show for the third time to share her "gangster mindset" for turning our most difficult moments in life into our greatest opportunity for growth, expansion, fulfillment and success. Claude joined us in episode #28 to share her home birth story and again in episode #72, where she opened up about the darkness of her postpartum depression, sudden weight gain, and health struggle with a Hashimoto's diagnosis. After that episode, we promised to do a follow-up to and none of us imagined such a transformation would follow.Today, at 41, Claude is in the best shape of her life physically, fulfilled as a wife and mother, and making far more money than she ever imagined possible from a business she started just two years ago, which has financially transformed every aspect of her family's life. She is back with a powerfully motivating message on how mothers who may barely recognize themselves right now can begin to take small steps toward reinventing themselves. She tells us how she picked herself up by her bootstraps and gives us advice on how to embrace our own power even amid despair, and to recognize we are all capable of living a happy, vibrant and fulfilling life postpartum.Claude Racine-Valinsky#28 | Claude Racine-Valinsky's Birth Story: No Place Like Home#72 | The Winding Road Through Postpartum with Claude Racine-ValinskyThis podcast episode is sponsored by LMNT, the electrolyte drink with everything you need and nothing you don't. Get a free 8-day supply with your first order here.**********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.