Down to Birth

Hello everyone! It is that time of the month, and we are back with our December Q&A. To kick it off, we have a follow-up conversation based on one listener's response to  episode #188 on Rhogam. Next, we jump into our questions discussing the actual risks of going past 24 hours or ruptured membranes without contractions and how you can mitigate those risks. We break down why meconium becomes more concerning after 42 weeks gestation and what those actual risks are. One mother who has the flu in the third trimester wonders if this is harmful to her baby and what she should do about it; another mom is curious if it is more helpful or hurtful to use assistance to birth her placenta and questions if a hep-lock or IV port is really necessary in labor. Furthermore, is vitamin D supplementation truly necessary for breastfed babies?  Additionally, we have a great quickies segment on pregnancy headaches, aging placentas, newborn rashes, breast changes in pregnancy, cold-plunging postpartum, water birth and infections and whether or not sleep training babies is really needed.In our extended version, over on Patreon and Apple Subscriptions, we dive into a very important topic: How to accurately calculate your due date based on your specific menstrual cycle, not the average cycle. We discuss delayed cord clamping and where to clamp the cord, two-vessel cords and the implications for induction and the safety of home-birth with midwives who have restricted access to emergency medications. It's an extra-long extended episode this month - happy new year!Remember you can hang with us twice a month during our interactive and educational livestream for our Patreon community members!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.

If we could share every single woman's birth story on this podcast we would; but instead, today we are giving you a glimpse into a handful of hospital stories and anecdotes that represent the rhetoric, mistreatment, and disrespect that mothers experience from hospital staff, midwives, OBs and pediatricians. In this episode, you will hear such things as a mother having her call light put on the other side of the room so she couldn't bother the staff with her questions, another mother purposefully ignored when she needed to use the bathroom postpartum because she refused to give her baby sugar water, an OB telling a mom that her baby will have Cerebral Palsy if she declines a vaginal exam, and another mother getting an episiotomy without her consent, plus other examples of medical coercion and abuse. After each mother's story, you will hear Cynthia's and Trisha's comments. While we know this episode will get you fired up, we hope it will also shed light on just how rampant the problem is within today's maternity care system, with the reminder that you don't have to tolerate mistreatment. Thank you to these mother for taking the time to call us with their stories and thank you for taking the time to listen. Remember to join us for two livestreams per month on Patreon.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.

Meghan Murray and her husband decided to have one more baby. She'd already experienced beautiful vaginal births with her first two boys and, like so many women, she mentally went through all the things she could do this time around to get things just right. In preparing for her dream birth, Meghan hired new midwives who practiced outside of a hospital setting and seemed perfectly aligned with her wishes. She remained fit, practiced Spinning Babies and learned relaxation techniques for a comfortable physiologic birth. She savored her pregnancy knowing it was her last, and excitedly planned her first water birth. At 36 weeks, Meghan suddenly heard a pop and assumed her membranes had released. But instead of amniotic fluid, she saw blood -- and lots of it. As she and her husband left immediately for the hospital, Meghan knew a placental abruption had occurred.Meghan is more than a year out from her birth, and talks to us about her journey of processing what happened. In particular, what it was like having a very traumatic birth her last time around, when her hopes and expectations were at their highest. This show is sponsored by:Silverette USA*Postpartum Soothe*Baby Notebook - Get the App Here*Use promo code DOWNTOBIRTH**********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.

No matter how beautiful, long, short or difficult your birth experience is, nothing compares to  the agony of your brand new baby being whisked out of your arms and admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Nursery (SPC). Mothers in this position often experience less autonomy and authority over the decision-making and informed consent process than they did in their own birth experiences.  Today, we share the individual stories of three women whose babies ended up in the NICU or SPC with one common thread: Informed consent was insufficient or lacking altogether, interventions were performed without permission, and timely diagnoses for their babies were neglected. Meet Cameron, whose home birth plans were derailed when she went into labor spontaneously at 34 weeks; Nicole,  a mother of five and birth doula whose baby was grossly misdiagnosed until a year of age; and Erin, a mother of three who successfully insisted on breast-feeding in the NICU and followed her instincts to fight for her baby to get an early release from an unnecessarily prolonged stay in the NICU. Each mother shares her story and her battle to feed, hold, comfort and mother her baby within the confines of NICU and SCN procedures and policies. And even though these three moms never met, they each came to the same individual conclusion when it comes to the advice they have for all parents: Know your rights, your breastfeeding expectations and your values, and use your instinct to defend all three relentlessly through your NICU experience.**********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!  It is Wednesday, and we are back with our monthly Q&A!  In this month's extended Q&As (always ad-free and available to all by subscribing to Down To Birth + on Apple or joining our Patreon community) we discuss an interesting situation reported by one mom regarding  her "retained placenta" - or was it? How would you know if it's really a medical situation or a failure to be patient? We also respond to one mom regarding the quality of European versus U.S. formulas, we discuss how to really know when to go to the hospital in labor, and whether it is ok to push without an urge - should you do it or wait for the go-ahead? Finally, the question so many parents can relate to: How much should I worry when my breastfed baby has plummeted on the growth curve?In our regular Q&A version (non-extended), one mother inquires about her bedroom temperature being too cold for her newborn but necessary for her own sleep comfort - what's too cold for a newborn and what's the risk? We also discuss petite mothers' abilities to vaginally birth babies, because one woman has received plenty of unsolicited negativity about her body size, despite that she's fit and healthy. We also discuss one provider's comment about having to keep women on their backs while pushing "in case" she needs to utilize the McRobert's position in the event of shoulder dystocia. Is that legit? Cholestasis is the special circumstance faced by another mom, who wants to understand the risks and isn't thrilled it'll most likely mean induction. One Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) mom is concerned about whether she should get an ultrasound to ensure her placenta has not attached over her scar - should this be routine for VBAC and HBAC women?  Other moms are asking:"Is it normal to feel nauseous when breastfeeding"  "Do babies need to be burped after feeds?"  and more.Thank you for all of your awesome questions and for being part of this fabulous community! Call 802-GET-DOWN any time to submit a question for our next Q&A. And remember to join our Patreon community to attend our two educational, interactive livestreams every month!**********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.

In today's episode we discuss the problem with Rh negative blood types and how it impacts future pregnancies. We've invited Courtney, mother of three, and her midwife, Jessica, to discuss her experience as an Rh negative mother who became isoimmunized against her baby, resulting in the need for multiple in-utero blood transfusions to save her baby's life.  Typically, women who carry the Rh negative blood type are given a blood product called Rhogam, which protects the mother from developing an auto-immune response against her future babies. In Courtney's case, Rhogam (also known as anti-D) did not work. As a result, her own body "attacked" her third baby, causing her baby to have life-threatening anemia in utero.  The purpose of this episode is to help mothers (a) learn about the issue behind Rh negative blood types; (b) understand how Rhogam works to prevent isoimmuization; (c) know the risks associated with receiving the Rhogam injection; and (d) feel empowered by discovering that even a high-risk pregnancy, such as Courtney's, can be co-managed under midwifery care to achieve the labor and birth goals associated with a low-intervention or natural 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.

Lindsey Meehleis is a midwife in Southern California who practices traditional midwifery and has supported women in home birth over the last nineteen years.  We invited her on the podcast today without a specific agenda (a rather unusual twist on our style) and let the conversation take on a life of its own.  We discussed what is happening with midwifery today as we pondered, "Where have all the traditional midwives gone, how has midwifery changed with the advent of nurse-midwifery, and who will carry the torch for the ancient wisdom of birth going forward?"   We stumbled into a passionate conversation around the current cancel culture and concerns around the insidious yet intentional erasure of women through fundamental changes in everyday language and how women unknowingly give their power away through compliance not only in language but also in birth. Grab a cup of tea and join us at the table for this inspiring and important conversation on the future of birth and women. Lindsey Meehleis on Instagram @lindseymeehleisThis show is sponsored by:Silverette USA*Postpartum Soothe*Baby Notebook - Get the App Here*Use promo code DOWNTOBIRTH**********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.

Emma of the naked doula is a mother, instagram phenomenon, artist, and passionate, bold birth educator residing across the pond from us, in England. She uses bright colors, raw imagery and impassioned language to teach her birth philosophy and method. Today, she joins us on the Down to Birth Show to share her secret sauce to your easiest and best birth. She explains five specific strategies that anyone can incorporate into their labor including: Floppy face, floppy fanny, the comb technique, KICO (knees in calves out), and how and why to "party through labor!" We also discuss how birth can be orgasmic and what circumstances exist to even make that possible. This must-listen episode will leave you with important and essential need-to-know tips to help you have your easiest, safest and best birth.  The Naked Doula on InstagramThis show is sponsored by:Silverette USA*Postpartum Soothe*Baby Notebook - Get the App Here*Use promo code DOWNTOBIRTH**********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.

When Reyna learned she was pregnant with twins she was told  she would need to be induced and get an epidural and that there was no point in staying pregnant beyond thirty-eight weeks. Refusing induction, she went into labor naturally at  39+2.  As labor progressed, her obstetrician told her she needed to give birth in the operating room. Without a second thought, Reyna turned and said, "No, I am not giving birth in the OR."  Instead, she went into the bathroom, dropped to her hands and knees and created a safe, quiet space for herself while her OB pleaded with her to at least allow her to "deliver" her babies.  "No, I don't like you!" Reyna responded. This is an inspiring and courageous twin birth story showing what is possible when a woman takes absolute full responsibility for her birth choices regardless of who attends her birth or where.  **********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 Friends! It is Wednesday, and Cynthia & Trisha are here with your October Q&A episode.  To kick it off, we share a story from a listener who wanted everyone to know how a routine gynecologic exam in her twenties turned into a precarious moment in her VBAC experience.  Next, we dive into our questions beginning with the potential association between  evening primrose oil in pregnancy, a smelly baby at birth, and early cord clamping--could they all be related?  Then, we go through the real deal on how long breast milk can sit unrefrigerated and still be safe to feed your baby. Next, comes a lengthy discussion on intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)--what is it and how is it diagnosed?  Another mother asks if it is necessary to pump the alternate breast overnight to keep up her supply. Other moms are asking:"If I have bacteria in my urine at eight weeks gestation, do I need antibiotics in labor?  My doctor told be it is non-negotiable." "Is there any correlation between longer pregnancies and meeting developmental milestones sooner?" "Help! I want to support my postpartum friend but have no idea what meals to make; what is a nutritious postpartum meal?"  And, of course, we finish off the episode with a round of quickies touching on pacifiers versus thumb-sucking, home birth, how soon to have sex after trying to conceive, water birth, prolapse, and eating dates for a faster labor!And if that is not enough, you can get more of your questions answered in our extended version of this episode by subscribing to Down To Birth + on Apple or joining our Patreon community.  There, we discuss how uterine fibroids may impact labor, experiencing postpartum insomnia, baby wanting food at just 4 months; setting boundaries with in-laws and managing breastfeeding along with wanting your partner to take at least one of the nighttime feedings. Thank you for all of your awesome questions and for being part of this fabulous community!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.