Rephonic
Artwork for Down to Birth
HPV
Home Birth
Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Cervical Cancer
Childbirth Advocacy
Childbirth
HPV Vaccine
Midwifery
Pregnancy
Informed Consent
Intimacy
Natural Health
Hypnobirthing
Postpartum Challenges
Sexual Health
Women's Sexual Anatomy
Lifestyle Modification
Twins
Natural Birth
Circumcision

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes370Founded6 years ago
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Kids & FamilyHealth & FitnessParentingAlternative Health

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Artwork for Down to Birth

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Abby shares her VBAC birth story following an emergency cesarean. Determined to experience a vaginal birth, she prepared carefully while navigating limited provider options in Alabama. What unfolded during labor and delivery undersco... more

When Trisha was pregnant with her second baby, she read Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering — a book that completely reframed how she understood labor, and to this day remains her favorite book on pregnancy. Trisha's second birth unfolded in just three ho... more

Six seasons later, we are revisiting one of our first episodes of this podcast: Using evidence-based care to plan your birth. 

Much of what happens in labor is presented as standard, routine, or unavoidable—but that doesn’t mean it’s evidence-based.... more

Welcome to the February Q&A!  We begin with a brief reflection on a mother's need to find time for play (not with her children but for herself) and creativity during early parenthood, before diving into your questions. Today’s episode addresses a com... more

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Recent Guests

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
Michelle Emanuel
Occupational therapist and lactation therapist from Cincinnati, Ohio
Tongue-Tied Davies and Tummy-Tied Method
Episode: #336 | How Tongue Tie Impacts Vaginal Birth, Breastfeeding & Infant Development
Toni Harman
Filmmaker and content creator passionate about the infant microbiome
Episode: #332 | The Hidden Power of the Infant Microbiome: Optimizing Exposure in Birth & Breastfeeding
Megan Rizika
Owner of Mindful Faces Doula Support
Episode: #329 | Doula Confessions: Bearing Witness to Birth and Broken Systems

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 983 ratings
  • 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 States2 months ago
  • The best podcast for pregnancy, birth & postpartum hands-down!!

    As a doula and mama to two beautiful babies both born at home, I can confidently say the information, wisdom and conversations shared on DTB are the best of the very best. Trisha and Cynthia are so insightful, well-spoken, positive, thoughtful, entertaining and compassionate. They are the women you want to be learning from when it comes to anything pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I’ve been listening for years, and I still look forward to their weekly episode drops! They’re not only fun to liste... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kelseytscott
    United States2 months ago
  • Fantastic Information

    I love this podcast! I discovered it in 2022 when planning my 3rd birth (1st home birth). I’ve gone on to have a 4th baby in 2024 (also a home birth) and am one week away from my EDD with baby #5 and hopefully another home birth. I find the positive, physiologically-based approach to birth encouraging and grounding each time I prepare to journey through childbirth and postpartum. I so appreciate the work Cynthia and Trisha put into each podcast episode. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    danielle-louise
    United States3 months ago
  • Obsessed is an understatement!

    We at Dynamic Doulas LOVE the DTB podcast! We recommend it to all our birth clients as a great way to prepare for birth. It’s informative, real, and always interesting to listen!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lara-MC
    Canada4 months ago
  • Good! But also a mixed bag.

    I’ve learned a lot! I’ve binged many and it’s been a good tool for me as I prepare for birth. That being said Cynthia and Trisha have clear biases that I feel decreases their credibility. They often ask very leading questions. It gets a little annoying after a while - they’re just as dogmatic as the medical field they criticize so much.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Steffanyyyie
    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.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#356 | February Q&A: Tearing vs. Episiotomy, Decels, Posterior Babies, Pitocin, Premature Rupture of Membranes, High Palates, Oversupply
Q: Should the patient consent to prophylactic pitocin after a first hemorrhagic birth, and when is it appropriate to consider delaying or avoiding it in subsequent births?
The guests argue against rote prophylactic pitocin after the first birth when there is no current hemorrhage and stress that decisions should be personalized; the standard practice of giving pitocin postpartum is common, but not mandatory, and patients should be informed and consented rather than conditioned by past events.
#356 | February Q&A: Tearing vs. Episiotomy, Decels, Posterior Babies, Pitocin, Premature Rupture of Membranes, High Palates, Oversupply
Q: Is it standard practice to remove a laboring person from the tub due to fetal heart rate decelerations, and should she have been encouraged to get out of the tub to facilitate delivery?
The hosts explain that while decelerations can occur with rapid passage through the pelvis, the key is whether the heart rate recovers after the pressure is relieved; water immersion is not inherently unsafe, but providers may push for position changes or transfer if they perceive a problem, and it should be evaluated case-by-case rather than as a blanket rule.
#354 | From Trauma to Trust: Moran's (@2lifedoula) Journey to Birth Work and Motherhood
Q: Why did you write your book?
Moran wrote her book to help other women who may not have access to private education or the support of a doula, aiming to empower them with choices, power, autonomy and a direction forward.
#354 | From Trauma to Trust: Moran's (@2lifedoula) Journey to Birth Work and Motherhood
Q: Moran, can I ask you a question before you continue?
Moran shares that she's never publicly spoken about her trauma and feels open to discussing it now after doing a lot of processing and healing.
#353 | No Stitches Required: Preventing & Healing Perineal Tears in Birth
Q: Should a midwife or surgeon treat third or fourth degree tears?
Only a surgeon should typically handle third or fourth degree tears, as these require more specialized treatment.

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?

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.

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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?

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How many episodes of Down to Birth are there?

Down to Birth launched 6 years ago and published 370 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. Sarah Buckley
2. Colleen Myatt
3. Barbara Harper
4. Louise Herbert
5. Sara Perelmuter
6. Devon Kuntzman
7. Michelle Emanuel
8. Toni Harman

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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