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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes391Founded7 years ago
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Kids & FamilyAlternative HealthHealth & Fitness

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Artwork for Down to Birth

Latest Episodes

Welcome to the August Q&A! Today we kick things off with your answers to the question, “What’s one thing that happened during your birth that no one prepared you for?” From 53-hour labors and projectile vomiting to postpartum shakes, swollen labia, r... more

Clothing is one of the most overlooked sources of chemical exposure in modern life, and it sits on our skin all day, every day, literally from birth until death.

In this episode, we’re talking with Hannah Dunning, The Clean Clothing Chick, about wha... more

More than twenty years ago, Henci Goer's renowned book, The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth, profoundly shaped Cynthia's understanding of pregnancy and birth, setting her on the path that eventually led to her own natural births and a career... more

YouTube

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

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Pregnancy & Birth Made EasyMy Essential Birth
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Recent Guests

Hannah Dunning
Advocate for eliminating chemicals in clothing; consultant and founder of a clean clothing initiative
The Clean Clothing Chick
Episode: #381 | The Chemicals You're Wearing Every Day with The Clean Clothing Chick, Hannah Dunning
Henci Goer
Author and birth educator known for The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth
Author, birth educator
Episode: #380 | Henci Goer on Taking Charge of Your Birth
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
Nancy Wainer
First woman to have a VBAC; home birth midwife and author
Independent
Episode: #367 | Your VBAC Questions Answered by The First Woman to Have One, Nancy Wainer
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

Hosts

Cynthia Overgard
Birth educator, advocate for informed consent, postpartum support specialist; host of the show
Trisha Ludwig
Certified nurse midwife and IBCLC; host of the 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 States2 months 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
    Netherlands5 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 States5 months ago
  • Birth stories

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    coachhed
    United States5 months ago
  • Concerning

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

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Jules0414
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise evidence-based yet compassionate guidance.
Some listeners feel bias or leading questions in certain episodes.
Positive feedback on practical, real-life birth stories and expert interviews.
Fans describe the show as life-changing and essential for birth planning.
Valuable, empowering birth education from trusted hosts.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#215
United States/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#225
Canada/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#241
United Kingdom/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#43
Switzerland/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#78
South Africa/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#108
Colombia/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.

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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 conversations on pregnancy, birth, and postpartum that challenge conventional care while centering autonomy, informed consent, and safety. Across episodes, hosts draw on midwifery experience and guest experts to compare hospital and out-of-hospital options, discuss interventions, and share birth stories and practical guidance for families navigating care decisions. A standout aspect is the consistent emphasis on empowering listeners with research-backed perspectives and community support, including real-world experiences from diverse guests and listeners. Potential listeners may be drawn to frank discussions, practical tips, and a perspective that prioritizes informed choice and advocacy within maternity care.

Where can I find podcast stats for Down to Birth?

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How many listeners does Down to Birth get?

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What are the audience demographics for Down to Birth?

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How many subscribers and views does Down to Birth have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Down to Birth has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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. The Birth Hour - A Birth Story Podcast
5. Healthy As A Mother

How many episodes of Down to Birth are there?

Down to Birth launched 7 years ago and published 391 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Down to Birth?

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What guests have appeared on Down to Birth?

Recent guests on Down to Birth include:

1. Hannah Dunning
2. Henci Goer
3. Thaddeus Owen
4. Heidi Syme
5. Dr. Rhonda Trust
6. Nancy Wainer
7. Tiffany Belanger
8. Andrea from Instinctual Mothering

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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