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
Childbirth Advocacy
Water Birth
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes382Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessAlternative HealthKids & Family

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Artwork for Down to Birth

Latest Episodes

In today's episode, Kristina shares her breech birth story following a long journey marked by cycle irregularities, miscarriage, and difficulty conceiving. At 40 weeks, she learned that her baby was breech and was scheduled for a C-section, despite h... more

In today’s episode, Cynthia and Trisha are joined once again by Nancy Wainer, award-winning author, longtime home birth midwife, and the woman who coined the term VBAC in her 1980s book Silent Knife. With decades of experience supporting women throug... more

In today's episode, we speak with Stephanie about her stillborn daughter, Penelope, who arrived at 39 weeks and 6 days. After two healthy births and a completely uneventful third pregnancy, Stephanie found herself facing the unthinkable: an awareness... more

Welcome to the April Q&A with Cynthia and Trisha! Today, we begin with a conversation about one of the most personal questions women face: is there a best age to have children? We talk about the pressures around timing, fertility, career, and spacing... more

Key Facts

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Pregnancy & Birth Made EasyMy Essential Birth

Recent Guests

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
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
Barbara Harper
Advocate for water birth and founder of Water Birth International
Water Birth International
Episode: #352 | January Q&A: Water Birth Myths, Breaking Waters, Cord Clamping in C-Sections, Fetal Monitoring, Wake Windows, Frozen Breastmilk
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
Devon Kuntzman
Toddler expert, founder of Transforming Toddlerhood, and author of the upcoming book on toddler management
Transforming Toddlerhood
Episode: #337 | Toddlers & New Siblings: Expert Tips from Devon Kuntzman of Transforming Toddlerhood

Hosts

Cynthia Overgard
Birth educator, advocate for informed consent, and postpartum support specialist
Trisha Ludwig
Certified nurse midwife and international board certified lactation consultant

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • 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
    Netherlandsa month 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 Statesa month ago
  • Birth stories

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    coachhed
    United States2 months ago
  • Concerning

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

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Jules0414
    United States3 months ago
  • This podcast changed me

    Down to Birth might’ve changed my life! I’ve been listening for years and have enjoyed every minute. Cynthia and Trisha feel like friends and guided me through my pregnancy and homebirth. I felt so incredibly prepared for the journey thanks to them! Now they guide me for breastfeeding/weaning, mothering, and just life! As a big time pregnancy and birth enthusiast, I don’t think I’ll ever stop listening 🩵🩵

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    frusterado
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, the podcast is recommended as an essential resource for those planning to start or expand their families.
There are voices of criticism regarding perceived biases in the discussions, particularly around certain medical practices and interventions.
Many appreciate the hosts' experience and approachable style, seeing them as relatable figures in their pregnancy journeys.
Listeners praise the informative and empowering nature of the content, noting its ability to prepare them for childbirth and motherhood.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#143
United States/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#213
Canada/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#27
Chile/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#95
Brazil/Kids & Family
Apple Podcasts
#213
New Zealand/Kids & Family

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#367 | Your VBAC Questions Answered by The First Woman to Have One, Nancy Wainer
Q: How much does having a doula impact the likelihood of a successful home birth VBAC?
A knowledgeable, supportive presence can reduce fear and improve confidence, particularly in home birth settings, but the key is the quality and experience of the support person rather than their title alone.
#367 | Your VBAC Questions Answered by The First Woman to Have One, Nancy Wainer
Q: Are there any reliable warning signs of impending uterine rupture for someone planning a VBAC?
There are no definitive physiological markers; listening to the body's signals and having a calm, informed birth team is crucial, with emphasis on environment, position, and clear communication.
#367 | Your VBAC Questions Answered by The First Woman to Have One, Nancy Wainer
Q: Hi. I saw a post on Instagram saying you were taking VBAC questions, and I had a question about going for a VBAC after having a delayed postpartum hemorrhage.
A postpartum hemorrhage does not automatically preclude a VBAC; it depends on the full clinical context, including the cause of the hemorrhage, overall uterine integrity, and the individual's healing and support plan.
#365 | April Q&A: Best Age to Have Children, Precipitous Labor, Pushing and Tearing, Pregnancy Weight Gain, Water Birth Myths
Q: How important is weight gain during pregnancy and should calories be counted?
Eat when hungry, focus on a balanced, nutritious diet, and avoid strict calorie counting; weight gain is influenced by overall diet and physiology, not just intake, and what matters most is quality foods and staying active where possible.
#363 | Breastfeeding Q&A: Chemical Pregnancy, Night Weaning, Oversupply, Mild Tongue Ties
Q: What does a chemical pregnancy mean, and should I consider hormone supplementation after weaning if I have lingering concerns about cycles?
A chemical pregnancy is an early miscarriage occurring around the time of implantation; most cycles normalize afterward, and there's no need for intervention unless irregular cycles or repeated losses occur, in which case a clinician can evaluate for endocrine support.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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?

The podcast emphasizes evidence-based discussions surrounding pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum experiences, aiming to provide listeners with insightful, practical knowledge beyond conventional narratives. Hosts draw on their combined experience of over 40 years in midwifery and childbirth education, focusing on empowering families to make informed choices while advocating for women's rights in childbirth. With a strong community ethos, it not only challenges traditional maternity care systems but also features personal birth stories from everyday families and notable figures, encouraging a shared dialogue that spans across cultural and systemic barriers affecting childbirth experiences.

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. Pain Free Birth
4. Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy
5. The Birth Hour - A Birth Story Podcast

How many episodes of Down to Birth are there?

Down to Birth launched 6 years ago and published 382 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?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Down to Birth from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Down to Birth?

Recent guests on Down to Birth include:

1. Nancy Wainer
2. Tiffany Belanger
3. Andrea from Instinctual Mothering
4. Sarah Buckley
5. Colleen Myatt
6. Barbara Harper
7. Louise Herbert
8. Sara Perelmuter

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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