Send us a text

Drawing from our their personal experiences, your words, and our intimate birth story processing sessions, Cynthia & Trisha delve into the neuroscience around beliefs and birth. Our brain constantly wants to make sense of things, but it often lands on unhelpful conclusions. This episode is about recognizing those negative beliefs and actively replacing them with empowering ones. It's about taking charge of your internal narrative to foster healing and confidence, no matter your  story. Join us as we explore the conscious and unconscious stories we tell ourselves about birth – "my body failed me", "my births are cursed" – beliefs that, whether objectively true or untrue, can deeply affect us and our future experiences. 

Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube!

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Primally Pure: From soil to skin, Primally Pure products are made with down-to-earth ingredients that feel and smell like heaven for the skin. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 10% off.

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Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

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Emily Woodward is a mother of two who planned a home birth for each of her babies. Her first labor began with confidence and joy—and stretched across multiple days, testing her endurance, her trust in her birth team, and her ability to surrender when the path ahead took an unexpected turn. She transferred from home to hospital with a crowning baby. Her second pregnancy was smooth and uneventful—until 31 weeks, when she awoke in the middle of the night to a pool of bright red blood, and everything changed in an instant.

A former nurse and longtime believer in physiologic birth, Emily brought deep conviction to both experiences—but found herself making two very different choices, each for necessary reasons. In this episode, she shares how she navigated fear, advocated for herself, and came to find peace and even beauty in how each of her births unfolded, despite neither being at home. Her story is a moving reminder that sometimes the plan can change—twice—and still be exactly right.

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Our sponsors:

Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy. Use this link to save 20%
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and get a FREE sample pack

Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.

Primally Pure: From soil to skin, Primally Pure products are made with down-to-earth ingredients that feel and smell like heaven for the skin. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 10% off.

ENERGYBits: Get the superfood Algae every mother needs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 20% off.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWN

Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube!

Work with Cynthia:
HypnoBirthingCT.com

Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Send us a text

Welcome to the June Q&A with Cynthia & Trisha. This month we kick things off with a conversation about a midwife who dropped her client in early labor because her HBAC labor was taking too long to get going--as you can imagine, we have a lot to say about this! Next we take your questions:

One mom writes about her 3rd attempt at a homebirth after two hospital transfers and wonders if it is ok to keep her birth plans from her family with whom she is very close with. 

We also answer:

My midwife told me I should do a cervical check at 36 weeks to help understand the baby's position and offer recommendations based on the findings. Is this really necessary? And, if a baby isn't breathing after a minute of being born and is still attached to the placenta, do babies need to be stimulated or is intervention required?

In the extended episode, available on Patreon, we discuss vaginal birth with a nuchal hand, scheduling C-sections for planned VBAC at 40 week, and vaginal birth after a shoulder dystocia.

Finally in quickies, we touch on spray tans while breastfeeding, induction vs cesarean, elastic nipples & pumping, third labors, length of umbilical cords, and our favorite seasons and candy (except Cynthia doesn't eat candy).

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Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy. Use this link to save 20%
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and get a FREE sample pack

ENERGYbits--the superfood every mother needs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding

Primally Pure: From soil to skin, primally pure products are made with down-to-earth ingredients that feel and smell like heaven for the skin

Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.

Primally Pure: From soil to skin, Primally Pure products are made with down-to-earth ingredients that feel and smell like heaven for the skin. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 10% off.

ENERGYBits: Get the superfood Algae every mother needs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 20% off.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWN

Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube!

Work with Cynthia:
HypnoBirthingCT.com

Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Send us a text

Neuroscientist and author of The Nurture Revolution, Dr. Greer Kirschenbaum, PhD, joins us today to discuss the profound impact of nurturing care in the first three years of life. Drawing from decades of brain research, Greer explains how responsive, connected parenting in early life lays the neurological foundation for emotional regulation, mental health, and lifelong resilience—and why this critical window is so often misunderstood, underestimated, or dismissed.

We also explore the neurobiology of fatherhood: how the dad's brain transforms during the postpartum period, how these changes depend on direct contact with the baby, and why emotional and hormonal shifts in men—though delayed in comparison to those in mothers—are no less critical. Greer shares research on baby-wearing, skin-to-skin, and how even daily rituals like bathing or making a habit of smelling the baby cause a rapid and necessary rewiring of the paternal brain toward deeper connection and long-term involvement. 

We also discussed trends in parenting, from the "be home by dinnertime" style of the 80s to the scheduled, anxious, overbearing parents who followed that generation. We considered the impact of parents who place excessive emphasis on a school-age child's emotions day in and day out, at the risk of foregoing important opportunities for teaching resilience.

This conversation challenges outdated notions of independence, debunks harmful myths around bonding and separation, and makes a strong, evidence-based case for what Greer calls the "nurture revolution”. 

Dr. Greer on Instagram

Nurture Neuroscience

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Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy. Use this link to save 20%
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and get a FREE sample pack

ENERGYbits--the superfood every

Primally Pure: From soil to skin, Primally Pure products are made with down-to-earth ingredients that feel and smell like heaven for the skin. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 10% off.

ENERGYBits: Get the superfood Algae every mother needs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 20% off.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWN

Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube!

Work with Cynthia:
HypnoBirthingCT.com

Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Send us a text

Welcome to the June Breastfeeding Q&A episode with Trisha & Cynthia. Today, we open with a follow-up discussion to our recent Patreon discussion on the predatory marketing of formula companies followed by a listener's comment about a hospital who forbade a mother and baby from doing skin-to-skin. Next, Trisha answers the following questions:

• Does a baby need to feed in the first 24 hours?
• What are your tips for gently weaning a 20-month old?
• Did I sabotage my milk supply by using a nipple shield for 5 months?
• How often do I need to wake my baby at night to breastfeed?
• What is a nursing strike, and what can I do about it?

Quickies: Piercings, gas in babies, pumping to establish supply, breastmilk butter, normal sucking sounds, colic, and each of our most difficult breastfeeding experiences.

For more information on getting started with breastfeeding, you might enjoy our mini-episodes:

 #33| Breastfeeding Mini: Out with the Rules, In with Your Instincts

#44| Breastfeeding Mini: The First Week of Breastfeeding & Why it Matters Most

#56 | Breastfeeding Mini: The Importance of Establishing Your Milk Supply in the First Month

Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube!

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Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy. Use this link to save 20%
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and get a FREE sample pack

ENERGYbits--the superfood every mother needs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding

Primally Pure: From soil to skin, primally pure

Primally Pure: From soil to skin, Primally Pure products are made with down-to-earth ingredients that feel and smell like heaven for the skin. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 10% off.

ENERGYBits: Get the superfood Algae every mother needs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 20% off.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWN

Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube!

Work with Cynthia:
HypnoBirthingCT.com

Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Send us a text

Devon Stockton was deeply rooted in health and wellness and armed with years of medical experience. She had only ever envisioned a natural, low-intervention birth and took all of the necessary steps to prepare herself. But her birth took an unexpected turn upon arrival at the hospital when she discovered her baby was footling breech and a cesarean would be necessary. Devon recounts the emotional shift, the support of her husband, and the unexpected calm of her labor before surgery. She shares the relief of a healthy baby girl, the kindness of her medical team, and the surprising positivity of her C-section experience, including immediate skin-to-skin and clear drapes. Devon also reflects on the lingering "what ifs" and her hopes and plans for a VBAC in the future. This story demonstrates how a mother can feel at peace with her birth knowing it was a necessary cesarean, and yet also can feel the sadness and longing for the vaginal birth she dreamed of. 

Devon's Instagram: @nourishandbloom.wellness

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Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy. Use this link to save 20%
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and get a FREE sample pack

ENERGYbits--the superfood every mother needs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding

Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWN

Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube!

Primally Pure: From soil to skin, Primally Pure products are made with down-to-earth ingredients that feel and smell like heaven for the skin. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 10% off.

ENERGYBits: Get the superfood Algae every mother needs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 20% off.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWN

Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube!

Work with Cynthia:
HypnoBirthingCT.com

Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Send us a text

Welcome to the May Q&A with Cynthia & Trisha. If you have been wondering what you should plan to eat after giving birth, we've got the answers in today's episode, and we think they'll surprise you! For today's regular episode, we answer the following:

• Can you remove an epidural for pushing?
• Can the cervix swell shut if you push before it is fully dilated?
• Can you prevent a tear in a precipitous birth when the baby comes flying out?
• Can I still have a VBAC if I had a big baby and didn't dilate in my first birth? Is it possible that my body doesn't go into labor?
• Does delayed cord clamping cause jaundice?
• Is there anything that can be done to prevent tearing in a precipitous birth

In the extended version, available on Apple subscriptions and Patreon, we further discuss:

• Anxiety around the anticipation of your second birth;
• current evidence on stillbirth rates after age 35 (all the data!); and
• breastfeeding through pregnancy and into tandem nursing.

Finally, in quickies, we touch on sushi in pregnancy, bleeding too much and cord clamping, when a baby can first have water, how to lower fasting blood sugars, and so much more plus...how Cynthia and Trisha met.

Oh, and one more thing: Are you a folder or a squisher with your TP habits?

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Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy. Use this link to save 20%
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and get a FREE sample pack

ENERGYbits--the superfood every mother needs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding

Primally Pure: From soil to skin, primally pure products are made with down-to-earth ingredients that feel and smell like heaven for the skin

Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.

Primally Pure: From soil to skin, Primally Pure products are made with down-to-earth ingredients that feel and smell like heaven for the skin. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 10% off.

ENERGYBits: Get the superfood Algae every mother needs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 20% off.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWN

Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube!

Work with Cynthia:
HypnoBirthingCT.com

Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Send us a text

What's the one question every woman wants to answer when considering a VBAC? Is it safe for me and my baby? In today's episode, Cynthia & Trisha break down the available data on VBAC, why we should discard the term TOLAC, the actual risks of uterine rupture, whether induced with Pitocon versus a prostaglandin or having spontaneous labor versus expectant management. We present the few cases in which a woman should not choose to VBAC and help mothers understand their decisions should not be driven by statistics alone. If you are considering a VBAC, get a pen and paper and arm yourself with all the stats from this data-rich dialogue. 

Also: Let's get HavBAC to take! (Inside Joke -- you'll get it when you listen!)

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Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube!

**********
Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy. Use this link to save 20%
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and get a FREE sample pack

ENERGYbits--the superfood every mother needs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding

Primally Pure: From soil to skin, primally pure products are made with down-to-earth ingredients that feel and smell like heaven for the skin

Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.

Primally Pure: From soil to skin, Primally Pure products are made with down-to-earth ingredients that feel and smell like heaven for the skin. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 10% off.

ENERGYBits: Get the superfood Algae every mother needs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 20% off.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWN

Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube!

Work with Cynthia:
HypnoBirthingCT.com

Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Send us a text

Did you know that how you breathe on a daily basis can influence how your birth goes? Yes, your rib cage impacts your pelvic tension! On today's episode, we have Lindsay McCoy, a birth doula, exercise physiologist, and co-founder of the Body Ready Method. She explains how breath, mobility, and pelvic balance all come together to support a smoother, more efficient labor—and how a few simple daily practices in pregnancy can reduce the need for interventions in birth. She reminds us that our job is not to get stuck in our heads trying to “do it all right," and that "There's only room for one head in the pelvis, and that is your baby's!" 

You’ll learn how to identify common imbalances, what to do when labor stalls, and how to avoid unnecessary interventions by proactively supporting your body in pregnancy. This conversation is for the woman who wants to feel confident, aligned, and body-aware—not obsessive. It’s also essential listening for birth professionals who want to support laboring women with more precision and less guesswork. The "Flow, Balance, Space" framework is all about optimizing your labor for your best birth. 

Body Ready Method

Body Ready Method on Instagram

Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube!

**********
Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy. Use this link to save 20%
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and get a FREE sample pack
ENERGYbits--the superfood every mother needs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding

Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.

Primally Pure: From soil to skin, Primally Pure products are made with down-to-earth ingredients that feel and smell like heaven for the skin. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 10% off.

ENERGYBits: Get the superfood Algae every mother needs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 20% off.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWN

Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube!

Work with Cynthia:
HypnoBirthingCT.com

Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Send us a text

Preeclampsia is an increasingly common diagnosis, but are we getting it right? This episode tackles the alarming reality of misdiagnosis and the rush to intervene prematurely with induction. Join us and functional medicine expert Sarah Thompson, researcher and author of Functional Maternity, as we dive into the deeper nature of preeclampsia, beyond simple blood pressure readings. Learn about the crucial roles of sleep, stress, and your body's detox pathways in the prevention of preeclampsia. Did you know 80% of cases are said to be preventable? 

You’ll learn:

• What preeclampsia is and why it happens;
• Why so many women are misdiagnosed—or treated too early “just in case”;
• The role of sleep, stress, inflammation, and nutrient overload - even from high-quality, water-soluble supplements;
• How your thyroid, detox pathways, and even microbiome play a role;
• Which labs to ask for to get a clearer understanding of your own body; and
• Whether or not a baby aspirin in pregnancy prevents preeclampsia.

Sarah Thompson

Sarah on Instagram

Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube!

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Our sponsors:
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.
Needed -- Our favorite nutritional products for before, during, and after pregnancy. Use this link to save 20%
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT with this unique link and get a FREE sample pack

ENERGYbits--the superfood every mother needs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding

Use promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for all sponsors.

Primally Pure: From soil to skin, Primally Pure products are made with down-to-earth ingredients that feel and smell like heaven for the skin. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 10% off.

ENERGYBits: Get the superfood Algae every mother needs for pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH for 20% off.

Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.
Email [email protected]
Instagram @downtobirthshow
Call us at 802-GET-DOWN

Watch the full videos of all our episodes on YouTube!

Work with Cynthia:
HypnoBirthingCT.com

Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.