Rephonic
Artwork for Down to Birth
Breastfeeding
Childbirth
Home Birth
Midwifery
Pregnancy
Childbirth Education
Informed Consent
Parenting
VBAC
Postpartum Care
Maternal Health
Cesarean Section
Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Mental Health
Water Birth
Childbirth Advocacy
Hypnobirthing
Co-Sleeping
HPV
Doulas

Join Cynthia Overgard and Trisha Ludwig once per week for evidence-based straight talk on pregnancy, birth and postpartum --- beyond the clichés and beyond the system. With 40 years' combined experience in midwifery, childbirth education and advocacy, publishing, research and postpartum care, we've guided thousands of families toward safer, more empowered choices. Down to Birth is all about safe c... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes390Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Kids & FamilyAlternative HealthHealth & Fitness

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Artwork for Down to Birth

Latest Episodes

When complications arise during pregnancy or birth, many women assume their birth plans are over. But does it have to be that way?

In this episode, we're joined by Catey, a mother of four whose pregnancies and births included severe preeclampsia, in... more

Heads up, all! If you'd like to learn more about our parenting conversation, join our Patreon event: Parenting without Reward & Punishment

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This week’s Q&A begins with a conversation that struck a chord with our community: why mothers nee... more

In today's episode, we invited back Thaddeus Owen and Heidi Syme of DreamWalkerz, this time focusing on electromagnetic fields (EMFs), wireless technology, and the growing questions many families have about how modern environments can affect health. more

Welcome to our July Breastfeeding Q&A episode! We open with a conversation about what surprised women most about breastfeeding (for better or worse) after all the things they'd heard from others, from pain and emotional shifts to supply, pumping, and... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Pregnancy & Birth Made EasyMy Essential Birth
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Pain Free BirthKaren Welton

Recent Guests

Thaddeus Owen
Co-host/guest discussing EMF topics and grounding
PrimalHackers
Episode: #377 | Protecting Your Baby From EMFs: Practical Ways to Reduce Exposure
Heidi Syme
Co-host/guest discussing EMF topics and protective strategies
Episode: #377 | Protecting Your Baby From EMFs: Practical Ways to Reduce Exposure
Dr. Rhonda Trust
Professor at the University of Miami; health communication expert and nutrition/communication researcher
University of Miami
Episode: #372 | The First Meal: Colostrum, Formula, and Newborn Gut Health with Dr. Rhonda Trust, PhD
Tiffany Belanger
Safe co-sleeping educator
Episode: #364 | When Co-Sleeping Gets Complicated: Weaning, Toddlers, and Sleep Transitions with Tiffany Belanger
Andrea from Instinctual Mothering
Listener contributor discussed on Patreon event about formula ties
Instinctual Mothering
Episode: #363 | Breastfeeding Q&A: Chemical Pregnancy, Night Weaning, Oversupply, Mild Tongue Ties
Sarah Buckley
Family physician, writer and researcher on pregnancy and birth
Dr. Sarah Buckley (guest)
Episode: #358 | Dr. Sarah J. Buckley on Oxytocin, Safety, and the Biology of Birth
Colleen Myatt
Doula, educator, and spinning babies instructor; guest commentator
Beautiful Births From Beyond (Connecticut)
Episode: #356 | February Q&A: Tearing vs. Episiotomy, Decels, Posterior Babies, Pitocin, Premature Rupture of Membranes, High Palates, Oversupply
Louise Herbert
Pediatric sleep and development specialist, mom behind Mother Nourish Nurture
Episode: #343 | Rest Assured: Your Instincts are Right About Your Baby's Sleep with Louise Herbert
Sara Perelmuter
Third-year medical student at Weill Cornell and president of the Sexual Medicine Research Team
Weill Cornell
Episode: #341 | Genitourinary Syndrome of Lactation: How Breastfeeding Can Mimic Menopause

Hosts

Cynthia Overgard
Birth educator, advocate for informed consent, postpartum support specialist; Host of Down to Birth Show
Trisha Ludwig
Certified nurse midwife and IBCLC; Host of Down to Birth Show

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • Claim to be Neutral

    These two women sound like they pride themselves on being neutral to all types of births. However listening to a few podcasts and they are dripping with negativity towards OBGYNs and hospital births.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Swimming Instructor
    United Statesa month ago
  • Love the show

    I’ve had a positive birth thanks to all the information I learned from this great podcast. Love the show, thank you Cynthia and Trisha! Kate from the Netherlands

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    _Kate_04
    Netherlands4 months ago
  • Transformed my birth

    I give myself credit for my birth, first and foremost, but Cynthia and Trisha had a big role, too! I learned how to have an empowered, informed, and calm home birth, even with complications like retained placenta and postpartum hemorrhage. I trust their knowledge and insight and find value in every episode I listen to, even 1 year postpartum. I recommend this to every woman thinking of getting pregnant, already pregnant, or even postpartum!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    keenacbean
    United States4 months ago
  • Birth stories

    I loved listening to all the birth stories. It really helped me with my birth!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    coachhed
    United States4 months ago
  • Concerning

    Do not recommend this podcast if you have a high risk pregnancy

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Jules0414
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Thoughtful, empowering birth education that challenges myths with science.
Listeners praise practical, evidence‑based guidance and compassionate storytelling.
Many reviews highlight life‑changing preparation for home birth and informed decisions.
A few critique perceived bias and leading questions from hosts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#150
United States/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#148
Canada/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#45
Chile/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#241
Saudi Arabia/Kids & Family

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#377 | Protecting Your Baby From EMFs: Practical Ways to Reduce Exposure
Q: What are the biggest sources of EMF exposure in the home and how should you minimize them?
Tests show magnetic fields, Wi‑Fi routers, and even copper pipes can be substantial sources. Reducing exposure includes turning off Wi‑Fi at night, using Ethernet‑connected (non‑Wi‑Fi) baby monitors, and using grounding strategies like barefoot grounding and reducing proximity to high‑field appliances.
#378 | July Q&A: Parenting Styles, Mom Hobbies, What's "High Risk" Anyway, Third Labors, Manifesting Your Best Birth, Cytotec in Home Birth
Q: What advice do you have about planning a home birth after a prior complicated birth (e.g., preeclampsia) and balancing confidence vs. medical risk?
Continue with home birth if that's the choice, while acknowledging that risks can change as pregnancy progresses; monitor conditions that could affect safety, but avoid letting fear override informed, value-aligned decisions; build confidence by evaluating risk factors over time and focusing on controllable aspects of labor.
#378 | July Q&A: Parenting Styles, Mom Hobbies, What's "High Risk" Anyway, Third Labors, Manifesting Your Best Birth, Cytotec in Home Birth
Q: What truly qualifies as a high-risk pregnancy and when might continuous monitoring be indicated?
High risk is any situation with increased risk to mother or baby, but what constitutes that risk varies by provider and context; inducing or increasing monitoring should be weighed against actual risk, with the understanding that data and universal guidelines are limited and that different professionals have different safety circles.
#376 | July Breastfeeding Q&A: Sore Nipples, Breastfeeding Instincts, DMER, Low Blood Sugar in Infants and Tandem Feeding
Q: How should tandem nursing be navigated when a new baby arrives and whether the older child should continue co-sleeping?
Tandem nursing typically centers the newborn first in the feeding sequence, with the toddler adapting over time; natural weaning may occur before the new baby's arrival, and co-sleeping should be managed safely with the toddler in a separate arrangement if needed to maintain safe sleep for everyone.
#376 | July Breastfeeding Q&A: Sore Nipples, Breastfeeding Instincts, DMER, Low Blood Sugar in Infants and Tandem Feeding
Q: What went differently from what you were led to believe about breastfeeding in your own experience, positively or negatively?
Responses showed a mix of realities: some found breastfeeding harder than expected due to factors like latch issues or baby temperament, while others found it easier than anticipated; overall the consensus encouraged persistence, seeking support, and staying flexible.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Down to Birth

What is Down to Birth about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Evidence-based discussions on pregnancy, birth, and postpartum that challenge medicalized norms while emphasizing informed consent, autonomy, and safe, physiology‑centered care. Episodes feature birth stories, expert interviews with midwives, physicians, and lactation consultants, and listener Q&As that tackle VBAC, water birth, breastfeeding, trauma, and postpartum recovery. A standout factor is the hosts' long‑standing advocacy for women's rights in childbirth, extensive real‑world experience, and a willingness to critique hospital protocols while spotlighting practical strategies for safer, empowerment‑driven care. The show frequently surfaces global perspectives, policy issues, and practical how‑tos, making it a practical resource for b... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Down to Birth?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Down to Birth:

1. Birthing Instincts
2. Evidence Based Birth®
3. Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy
4. Pain Free Birth
5. The Birth Hour - A Birth Story Podcast

How many episodes of Down to Birth are there?

Down to Birth launched 7 years ago and published 390 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Down to Birth?

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What guests have appeared on Down to Birth?

Recent guests on Down to Birth include:

1. Thaddeus Owen
2. Heidi Syme
3. Dr. Rhonda Trust
4. Tiffany Belanger
5. Andrea from Instinctual Mothering
6. Sarah Buckley
7. Colleen Myatt
8. Louise Herbert

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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