In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Stu Fischbein for his third appearance on  Down to Birth Show. We start the conversation by catching up on some of the latest problems occurring on the birth scene including VBACs, aspirin in pregnancy, the monetization of birth, late pregnancy ultrasounds, big babies, and due dates, before we get into the meat of the episode on Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR). Dr. Stu shares a letter from one of his followers regarding her IUGR diagnosis resulting in an induction at 37 weeks for a 4-pound 14-ounce baby,  which launches into a conversation around what IUGR is anyway and the actual risk of IUGR.  Would that baby have been better off staying in utero for a few more weeks? How can you know postpartum if the baby was in fact IUGR? There are so many nuggets of great information dropped throughout this episode. You don't miss this one! And for more with Dr. Stu, catch episodes #111 & #128.

Dr. Stu Fischbein & Birthing Instincts
Dr. Stu on Instagram

#128 | Vaginal Breech Birth with Dr. Stu of Birthing Instincts: Why It's Safer Than you Think
#111 | The Obstetric Model of Care vs. the Midwifery Model of Care: Interview with Dr. Stuart Fischbein, MD

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Welcome to the February Q&A with Cynthia & Trisha. To kick things off, we share some of your New Year's Resolutions--don't miss this as Trisha makes Cynthia momentarily speechless! Next, we dive into your questions beginning with: Is cord traction really necessary to birth the placenta? Another woman explains that she always throws up in labor right when her water breaks and asks if this is normal. Also, a new mother is curious if giving her baby a pacifier will be harmful or helpful...and more.  In our extended version of today's episode, we answer several more questions about the breast microbiome and the occurrence of plugged ducts, uterine prolapse and how it may impact a future pregnancy, how to care for the ntact) penis, non-stress tests, bicornuate uteri (you read that right) and what constitutes a postpartum hemorrhage.

As always, we thank you for your questions an encourage you to call in at 802-GET-DOWN or 802-438-3696.  Our extended and ad-free episodes are available on Apple subscriptions and our Patreon page. Thank you for tuning-in.

Down to Birth is sponsored by:
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this link today and receive a free sample kit.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
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Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

In today's episode, Cynthia and Trisha break down some of the current guidelines published by ACOG (the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists). You'll see many of these guidelines favor physiological birth and stand for minimal medical intervention in exactly the ways we recommend, which makes it  all the more perplexing why so many of today's obstetricians don't follow along. By understanding ACOG's position on common concerns in pregnancy and birth, you can feel more empowered to advocate for what you know is best for you and your baby.  Did you know that ACOG clearly and strongly states that the use of medical coercion is harmful and should never be practiced or that delivery of a baby is not warranted for suspected fetal macrosomia (big baby)? Or that ACOG knows that routine amniotomy (breaking the bag of water) is not necessary and suggests its use does not improve outcomes? Furthermore, ACOG states that ultrasound performed in late pregnancy is associated with an increase in cesarean section, with no evidence of neonatal benefit (yet how many OBs recommend third-trimester ultrasound)? Tune in to hear what this revered medical authority has to say, and stand tall in defense of your physiological birth plan. You'll see ACOG is on your side more than you might have believed, particularly in light of how today's American obstetricians tend to practice.

ACOG Statement on Refusal of Medically Recommended Care in Pregnancy
Approaches to Limit Intervention During Labor & Birth
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Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

IUGR or Intrauterine Growth Restriction is the latest trend on the obstetric scene--a diagnosis that has afflicted many mothers unnecessarily. Eric, a father of two daughters,  joins us on the show today to discuss his experience with his wife's IUGR experience.  When an early ultrasound told them their baby was measuring smaller than expected, they were sent to maternal-fetal medicine and their baby was labeled as growth-restricted. As their dreams of a birth center birth quickly vanished, they started having regular ultrasounds and non-stress tests to monitor their baby. While Eric's intuition told him everything was ok with their baby, he had to balance the forceful voice of the medical system and his wife's nerves and unease, given the pressure and fear-tactics she was relentlessly subjected to, while having to make constant trips to and from the doctor to continually check on the baby. At forty-two weeks they scheduled a hospital induction, birthing a perfectly non-growth-restricted baby who was estimated to be just forty weeks’ gestation, indicating the doctors incorrectly estimated the due date at the outset. This story illuminates the excessive fear and risk put upon parents and the common inaccuracies of IUGR diagnoses.

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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
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DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this link today and receive a free sample kit.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy

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Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Have you ever wondered why we actually need to get a pap smear or why the testing guidelines frequently change? The presence of HPV or the Human Papilloma Virus is associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer and is the reason behind the pap smear.  A pap smear looks at the health of the cells in our cervix and the presence of HPV. When abnormal cells are found, it is usually recommended that we have those cells removed at the risk of the functionality of our cervix.

In this eye-opening conversation with Nathan Riley, MD, we learn the statistics around actually developing cervical cancer even with an abnormal pap smear, the risks versus benefits of the Gardasil vaccine, and the long-term consequences of cervical procedures, particularly as it relates to a woman's birth experience. Nathan encourages us to think about the HPV virus as we would any virus that we come into contact with in our environment. It's not the virus that we should fear, but rather the response of our immune systems, which can be influenced by modifiable risk factors. If you are due for your pap or have an abnormal result, be sure to listen to this episode.

Nathan Riley MD
Beloved Holistics

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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
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Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy

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Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Hello and is it too late to still say Happy New Year?! Cynthia & Trisha are back with the first Q&A of 2024 in season five of the Down to Birth Show! We kick it off today by sharing some of your highs and lows from the holiday season. Next, we get into our questions beginning with a mother who had low milk supply with her first baby and wonders what she can do in pregnancy and birth to prevent it from happening again; one curious listener wants to know if she can check her own cervix to help determine at what point she should go to the hospital; another caller asks us to explain why due dates are based on your last menstrual period rather than your ovulation date--what happens to those two weeks?

In our extended version, available on Apple subscriptions and Patreon, we first answer a question about normal, healthy sleep patterns for infants and the pressure mothers face to have the baby "sleep through the night." Then we answer if and when "cervical massage" is indicated for a cervix that might be scarred from a previous cervical procedure. Another mom is concerned that her midwives missed a case of early jaundice in her newborn and inquires if getting the RhoGAM shot in pregnancy could have prevented the jaundice. Finally, one mother explains her OB's behavior around her choice to have a VBAC and we chime in with our take on his audacity!

Last, we close with a round of quickies addressing morning sickness, postpartum hemorrhage, GBS swabbing, IUGR and the strangest things we've ever eaten!

Thank you for your great questions and keep them coming at 802-438-3696 or 802-GET-DOWN.

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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this link today and receive a free sample kit.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
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Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Pitocin has been named the most over-used and abused drug in maternity care. It is increasingly used for elective induction despite the lack of FDA approval for this purpose. Rupture of the uterus is a known adverse reaction to this drug, and its use is contraindicated when there is fetal distress or overstimulation of the uterus. Few, if any, women are given full informed consent to the administration of this drug in labor. Katie Spinks is one of these women.

Katie had a routine, elective induction at 39 weeks for the birth of her fourth child. Her uterus ruptured and her baby suffered a long period without oxygen. She was born with severe brain damage, unable to speak or walk, and has been given a very short life expectancy. In this episode, Katie shares the egregious care she received in labor, detailing the mistreatment by her nurse and the medical staff's refusal to listen to her pleas for help when she knew something was wrong. She also describes the overt manipulation of her medical records to remove any evidence of the use of Pitocin in her care.

Katie shares with us the painstaking ways in which her life and that of her family were changed as a  result, but also the deep love and connection she shares with her disabled daughter, Jolene. Among Katie's life missions is for women to receive full informed consent when it comes to Pitocin.

This episode sheds light on the rare, but real, harms of a drug that is causally and excessively given to women without medical indication or complete informed consent.

Katie Spinks on Instagram

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Cait Scudder, also known as the Millionaire Mother, is a successful entrepreneur and mother of two.  Currently in her third pregnancy, she joins us today to share her story of transformation from resistance to surrender in birth and in life. She describes her traumatic first birth resulting in a third-degree tear and bladder prolapse and the way she was robbed of her power through hospital policy, despite still achieving an unmedicated, vaginal birth. After going deep into somatic and physical healing modalities between her first and second pregnancies, she chose home birth, giving birth in the water to a ten-pound fifteen-ounce boy without tearing or trauma. It was this experience of birthing in her absolute inherent power that transformed her, and Cait is certain the experience is precisely what immediately propelled her business to the next level.

The Millionaire Mother on Instagram

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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancy
Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
 

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
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Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Lizzie Bolliger, aka Fierce Lizzie on Instagram, wasn't always fierce. She went into her first birth experience knowing very little other than that she wanted an unmedicated vaginal birth.  After experiencing premature rupture of membranes, her first birth resulted in Pitocin augmentation and then meconium aspiration, resulting in her baby being taken away from her for the first fifteen hours of life. The second time around, she figured she knew enough to avoid an epidural and Pitocin but still passed on reading, educating or preparing for birth, for the most part. While she achieved an unmedicated vaginal birth, she saw it didn't come without challenges, and she began to deeply question the modern birth industry. In what she calls her postpartum mental breakdown, one day she arrived at her school job and literally couldn't bring herself to enter the building. This "crash" became the turning point that opened Lizzie's eyes and ultimately led to her leaving her teaching job and going full-steam ahead into birth work as a doula and educator. Today, she shares the details of her journey from "good girl" to fierce, autonomous, and unapologetic Lizzie. 

#146 | Finding Autonomy and Asserting Your Birth Plan with Fierce Lizzie

 Fierce Lizzie on Instagram

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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
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Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy

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Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Susan Bratton is an intimacy expert and champion advocate for all who desire their most fulfilling and passionate intimate relationships. She joins us today to discuss how mothers can have a thriving sex life after having a baby and far beyond menopause. If you are someone who doesn't orgasm easily, or who feels guilty for not wanting more sex, or if you just want to learn more about what your body is capable of, this episode is for you! She details the anatomy of the yoni (the tantric word to describe the entire urogenital system--because its not just about the vagina or even the clitoris!) and gives us specific ways in which our partners can worship our female parts, giving us orgasms far beyond what we may believe is possible. We recommend grabbing your partner, maybe a glass of wine, and listening all-in for this juicy and inspiring episode that might just transform your sex life for the rest of your life.

Bonus: Today's episode includes visuals, and is available in full video format to anyone who is a Tier I (or higher) member in our Patreon community. Join us now!
Susan Bratton's Intimacy Coaching

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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this link today and receive a free sample kit.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
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Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Welcome to the December Q&A episode with Cynthia and Trisha! Today, we begin with revealing your holiday traditions and difficult family challenges of the season. Additionally, we share our long-standing holiday traditions. Next, we dive into your questions beginning with:

• What are the signs of postpartum hemorrhage?
• Is failure to progress dangerous and what can you do to prevent it?
• Is it safe to use breastmilk to treat pink eye in a baby?
• Considering the danger of RSV, should I ask family members not to kiss the baby and if so, what should I say?

In the extended version of today's episode, we discuss whether or not vaginal birth is possible when a woman has osteoporosis; whether or not a mother who has a history of precipitous birth should plan to be induced to avoid giving birth en route to the hospital; and is intentionally rupturing the bag of water a good idea to prevent having a precipitous birth at home?

As always, we close with a round of quickies on topics such as weight gain in pregnancy, cervical lips, prenatal vitamins, must-have baby items, and more!

Thank you as always for your fabulous questions and keep them coming by calling into our hotline at 802-438-3696.

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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancy
Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email Contact@DownToBirthShow.com
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Call us at 802-GET-DOWN

Work with Cynthia:
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Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

As we gear up for our season finale next week, we've got a special treat for you today – a "holiday special" episode that's a departure from our usual format. In this extra-long, off-the-record conversation, which we recorded Friday night at Trisha's house, we're delving into the personal questions you've been curious about throughout 2023. That's right, we're steering clear of the usual birth-related questions, and don't worry, you'll get your full dose of those in next week's December Q&A. Join us today for an intimate chat, grab your favorite drink, and settle in for an inside look into our lives.

A big shout-out to our guest-host, the delightful and witty Liz Eidelman, known from @lizeidelman on Instagram, who not only gathered and organized these questions but also did her best to keep us on track. Ever wondered what it's like when we let our hair down? Now's your chance to find out!

As a special end-of-year gift, we're offering this extended episode to everyone ad-free. If you enjoy it, consider supporting our podcast for as little as $2.50/month on Apple or by joining us on Patreon for 100% ad-free episodes every week. We wish a very Merry Christmas and happy holiday season to you and yours, and we'll see you Dec 27 for our final episode of season four!

Explore exclusive content and support our podcast at: Down to Birth Show on Patreon.

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Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Join us for our long-awaited episode with Ashley Mayer, affectionately known as Dr. Green Mom, a highly respected family and pediatric doctor specializing in individualized and holistic medicine. In this insightful conversation, Dr. Mayer not only answers your burning pediatric healthcare questions but also provides a unique blend of personal insights and professional opinions on some of the most commonly debated topics in pediatrics.

Dr. Ashley Mayer addresses crucial concerns such as developing a protocol for fevers in babies under six months of age and discovering the best strategies for managing a fever in young infants. Dive into the realm of infant nutrition as we discuss the use of probiotics for babies and under what circumstances they are recommended. Get her take on infant bowel movements as she shares her perspective on whether it's normal for a breastfed baby to poop only once a week.

We also delve into essential topics like the necessity of vitamin D drops for babies, the contentious issue of circumcision, and the supplement needs for children with the MTHFR variation. Find out whether, and when, she thinks infants require iron and vitamin D supplementation.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the expertise of "Dr. Green Mom" and gain a deeper understanding of the nuanced world of family and pediatric medicine. This episode could make some tough decisions easier for you and transform the way you approach your child's health.

Dr. Green Mom

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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this link today and receive a free sample kit.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
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Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Doulas are an increasingly important, if not essential, member of a birth support team.  However, along with their increased importance, doulas are exposed to an ever-increasing level of risk and liability.  

In this episode, we welcome back to the show maternal healthcare and human rights attorney Hermine Hayes-Klein, to discuss the legal rights and roles of doulas. She asks the question, what does support really look like, and can the doula actually assert the mother's right to informed consent or refusal? The answer is complex, in part because doulas don't answer to a Board and therefore enjoy a flexible job description, which is exclusively between her and her client. Hayes-Klein dispels myths surrounding doula advocacy, clarifying that doulas cannot make decisions for their clients, but can speak for the client with the mother's consent and understanding of all parties in the birth space. 

Hayes-Klein discusses her latest project, The Birth Rights Law Project, focusing on legal security for out-of-hospital midwives and doulas. The Project provides assistance in creating and understanding documentation, offering a potential lifeline for doulas facing or seeking to avoid legal liability.

If you are a doula or a pregnant mother considering doula support, this episode will shed light on how to best establish the client-doula relationship and help doulas to best understand how not only to protect themselves legally but also to define their personal job description between you and her in your birth space.

#178| How Out-of-Hospital Birth Prejudice and Provider Bias Harms Mothers and Babies with Attorney Hermine Heyes-Klein 

#153 | Legal Case Study #2 with Attorney Hermine Hayes-Klein: Injured by Obstetrics with Nowhere Else To Turn

#138 | Legal Case Study #1 with Attorney Hermine Hayes-Klein: Traumatized at a Major Teaching Hospital While Interns Watched and Learned

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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancy
Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
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Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Welcome back to our monthly Q&A with Cynthia & Trisha! This month, we kick things off with a short story from an L&D nurse attending a mother giving birth to her seventh baby who was coerced into an unnecessary cesarean and what we think about how it was handled.

Next, we get into your questions starting with: How do I defend myself against friends and family who don't support my plans for a natural birth? Another mom asks what she can do to prevent her waters from breaking before labor begins, followed by a woman who expresses her frustration with her OB for insisting that she do a vaginal exam in late pregnancy to determine the baby's head position. Is this necessary or useful? We answer quickies on blackout curtains for baby naps, let-downs while breastfeeding, blood pressure checks in labor, handling natural birth nay-sayers, and more. The personal question of the month had to do with what each of us enjoys as an "old person" habit or hobby.

In the extended version of today's episode, available on Apple subscriptions and Patreon, you get additional questions on Hashimoto's disease in pregnancy, accidental urine leaking in pregnancy, iron absorption and diary, and drawing the line on what should and should not be considered routine in prenatal care. 

Then, as always, we wrap up with quickies and the personal-question of the month!

Join us today on Apple subscriptions or Patreon for ad-free and extended episodes.
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancy
Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
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Call us at 802-GET-DOWN

Work with Cynthia:
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Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Elizabeth Parsons of Purely Parsons is a mother of five, living on seventy acres in Appalachia, homesteading with her husband and children. For her fourth pregnancy, she had a planned home birth with her seasoned midwife. Despite having regular prenatal care and even an ultrasound the day before she went into labor, Elizabeth had an unexpected twin double breech birth at forty weeks! After the first baby was born, six minutes later, she felt the urge to push again and it seemed unusually intense for the placenta they all expected to emerge. Out came another baby -- born bottom first! In fact, both babies were breech, but nothing was so remarkable as an unexpected twin that evaded all prenatal care. Tune in for this inspiring, fun birth story affirming that twin, breech vaginal birth is a viable option, even at home. 

Purely Parsons on Instagram

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A 2023 article from Yale News flashed across news outlets in the United States headlined:

"Yale researchers find that breastfeeding can cost over $11,000 a year. " The article goes on to say, "While the 2022 baby formula shortage in the United States sparked calls for an increase in support for breastfeeding nationwide, a group of researchers at the Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine sought to demonstrate how breastfeeding can impose significant financial burdens on families as well."

While there is no doubt breastfeeding is a major commitment and consumes a tremendous amount of time, there is also a significant cost of NOT breastfeeding, which failed to be discussed in the article.

In today's episode, we invited university professor and lactation expert, Dr. Rhonda Trust, PhD, to discuss the true costs of formula feeding versus breastfeeding. She explains that the Yale article misled the public and failed to name the protective health benefits for both mom and baby over a lifetime when breastfeeding is optimally supported, such as lower infant mortality and decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancer for mothers. Drawing from her prior experience as the Policy and Advocacy Chair for the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition, Rhonda also shares economic data from numerous research studies, demonstrating the direct cost savings are upwards of 14 billion dollars annually when 90% of babies are exclusively breastfed. 

Breastmilk is a free food source for every baby and saves infants' lives. While breastfeeding may not always be the right choice for every mother, breastmilk is the best choice for every baby. It is the job of public health officials and medical schools to share accurate and complete information regarding breastfeeding. In this episode, we discuss critical research that was either purposefully or unintentionally omitted from this article.

Yale News Article
No Such Thing as a Free Lunch: The Direct Marginal Costs of Breastfeeding
Suboptimal Breastfeeding in the United States: Maternal and Pediatric Health Outcomes and Cost
Rhonda Trust on Instagram
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In this heartwarming episode, we met with the woman we believe is our oldest and wisest podcast fan and devout member of our Patreon community: Lee Roversi, a CSA farm owner in Hawaii, mother of three adult children, and grandmother. Lee begins by reflecting on her upbringing in Connecticut during the 1950s and how it shaped her perspective on motherhood. Her traditional family background contrasted with her later path toward holistic childbirth choices. Lee's story unfolds with anecdotes from her three home births, defying the norm of hospital deliveries at the time. Her first childbirth experience, in Manhattan with a midwife, was marked by a marathon 36-hour labor, yet it was a transformative experience that set her on a unique path.

Lee spent most of her time with us sharing her thoughts on the changing landscape of childbirth practices over the decades. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing the inner strength within every birthing woman -- a lesson she learned firsthand. Lee's journey wasn't without its challenges, but her conviction in the power of intuition and her commitment to natural childbirth prevailed.

The conversation takes a poignant turn as Lee discusses the significance of postpartum support and community. She highlights the value of support groups like La Leche League and the importance of maintaining connections in the age of isolation. Lee's heartfelt advice to new mothers centers on cherishing the fleeting moments of early motherhood and finding solace in the knowledge that women are never alone in their struggles.

We engaged in a heartfelt dialogue about the transformative journey of motherhood, the power of community, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. This episode reminds us to savor the precious moments of motherhood, to seek support and connection, and to trust in our innate abilities as women.

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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancy
Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email Contact@DownToBirthShow.com
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWN

Work with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.com

Work with Trisha:
734-649-6294

Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Tess Frame is a mother of two who experienced severe pneumonia in late pregnancy after contracting the flu. Her condition became septic, resulting in organ failure and premature labor. She gave birth by cesarean at thirty-five weeks while comatose, and was intubated in critical care for several weeks after.  While in a coma, she experienced and/or perceived traumas she could only begin to unwind after becoming conscious, trying to unravel what experiences were real and what were only imagined in her unconscious state. She was convinced she had been kidnapped and assaulted and struggled to reconcile her conscious and subconscious experiences while in the coma. It was a heart-wrenching twenty-five days before Tess could finally meet her baby, and it took an additional three to four months for Tess to fully feel he belonged to her. She shares her birth story and her ambitious healing journey guided, perhaps surprisingly, by the twelve-step addiction recovery program. Supported by her church and community, she focused on mending her mind, body, and family, ultimately being granted a second chance at life.

Tess on Instagram

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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancy
Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email Contact@DownToBirthShow.com
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWN

Work with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.com

Work with Trisha:
734-649-6294

Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Hello everyone - it's your favorite day of the month, when we take your calls! As always, thank you for submitting your excellent questions to 802-438-3696 (802-GET-DOWN). Keep them rolling in! We love hearing from you.

Today, we kick things off with some of the hilarious comments and questions your husbands and partners have said during pregnancy and birth. Next, we dive into our questions beginning with one mom seeking guidance on how best to make mom friends after having a baby.  Another listener asks if it is true that her friend needed to have a C-section because her abdominal muscles were too tight. The answer is no, but we brought on pelvic floor specialist, Tara Gibson, to explain why. Next, we give our opinion on the recommendation for a mother with type 1 diabetes to have twice-weekly ultrasounds and non-stress tests starting at 32 weeks. Is having a velamentous cord insertion a reason for needing a C-section or induction?

In the extended version of today's episode, always available ad-free on Apple subscriptions and Patreon, we answer the controversial question about the necessity of Vitamin D drops for breastfed babies, followed by another listener's concern about her "big baby" needing hourly glucose checks, questions on glucose, weaning, and more.

Finally, we close with a round of quickies including a question on VBACs, weaning from breastfeeding, and at last, our "personal question" of the month: the last show we each binged!

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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancy
Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email Contact@DownToBirthShow.com
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWN

Work with Cynthia:
203-952-7299
HypnoBirthingCT.com

Work with Trisha:
734-649-6294

Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.