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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes401Founded7 years ago
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Kids & FamilyAlternative HealthHealth & Fitness

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Artwork for Down to Birth

Latest Episodes

Welcome to another Breastfeeding Q&A episode. Today, we start with a conversation about breastfeeding advice on social media and ask our community which breastfeeding “rules” they wish they had never heard.

For today's questions, Trisha responds to ... more

YouTube

When Victoria learned at 10 weeks that she was carrying MoDi twins, she was immediately placed in high-risk care and told to expect frequent monitoring, an operating-room birth, and potentially a C-section. But as her pregnancy progressed, the fear a... more

YouTube

Welcome to the September Q&A! Today we kick things off with your answers to the question, “What did people say when they found out you were planning a home birth?” From being told you’re putting your baby in danger and that you’ll end up in the ER to... more

YouTube

When Marine Corps officer Jacob Dubois's wife, Madison, told him she wanted a home birth, he was skeptical. He assumed the hospital was the safest place to have a baby until he began asking questions, researching, and meeting midwives. 

That journey... more

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Recent Guests

Jacob Dubois
Author of Why Home Birth? and father sharing a dad's perspective on birth outside the system
Episode: #386 | Why Home Birth: A Father's Perspective on Choosing Birth Outside the System
Dr. Roger McFillin
Clinical psychologist, host of The Radically Genuine Podcast, author and commentator on psychiatry and medication safety
The Radically Genuine Podcast
Episode: #385 | The Lindsay Clancy Case: Postpartum Psychosis or Psychiatric Drug Reaction? with Dr. Roger McFillin
Carson Meyer
Birth doula, author of Growing Together, skincare entrepreneur
See in the Moon; Growing Together
Episode: #383 | A Second Home Birth: Vocalizing, Instinct & Skilled Support
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
Tiffany Belanger
Safe co-sleeping educator
Episode: #364 | When Co-Sleeping Gets Complicated: Weaning, Toddlers, and Sleep Transitions with Tiffany Belanger

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 States4 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
    Netherlands6 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 States6 months ago
  • Birth stories

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    coachhed
    United States6 months ago
  • Concerning

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

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Jules0414
    United States7 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
#224
United States/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#142
Chile/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#191
India/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#201
Sweden/Kids & Family

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#387 | September Q&A: Home Birth Reactions, Miscarriage Prevention, Short Umbilical Cords, Stalled Pushing, Postpartum Anxiety, Tandem Breastfeeding
Q: If I had a short umbilical cord in one pregnancy, is it likely to be short in future pregnancies?
Current data suggest that a short cord in one pregnancy does not reliably predict short cords in future pregnancies; decisions should be based on the overall clinical context, not a single cord measurement, and a skilled attendant can manage cord-related scenarios if they arise.
#387 | September Q&A: Home Birth Reactions, Miscarriage Prevention, Short Umbilical Cords, Stalled Pushing, Postpartum Anxiety, Tandem Breastfeeding
Q: What are your opinions on miscarriage prevention protocols?
We are not in favor of routine miscarriage prevention protocols like universal progesterone, supplements, or aspirin without a clear medical indication or a proven history of loss, because evidence shows limited or no benefit in many cases and potential risks; instead, focus on individualized evaluation, underlying causes, and contributing health factors like thyroid, nutrition, sleep, and hormonal balance.
#388 | Twin Home Birth at 38 Weeks: Leaving High-Risk Care and Choosing a Midwife
Q: What did your babies weigh?
The twins weighed six pounds seven ounces and six pounds twelve ounces, and were born at 38 weeks plus one day, healthy and appropriately sized for twins.
#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.

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 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 401 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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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. Jacob Dubois
2. Dr. Roger McFillin
3. Carson Meyer
4. Hannah Dunning
5. Henci Goer
6. Thaddeus Owen
7. Heidi Syme
8. Dr. Rhonda Trust

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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