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Hello Friends! It is time for the September Q&A episode! Today, we open with two listener emails sharing their experiences on declining circumcision and accepting a necessary emergency cesarean birth. Next, we dive into your questions beginning with:

Can I still labor and birth in the tub even if my membranes have ruptured before labor begins? Lucky for ya'll, we have Barbara Harper of Waterbirth International pop on the show to answer this question.

Next up, we address whether experiencing a 3rd or 4th-degree tear during your first birth should deter you from pursuing a subsequent vaginal birth. Does it categorize you as high risk? We'll explore this important topic.

Seeking more comprehensive solutions for infant reflux beyond the basics? We've got you covered.

Then, we tackle the dilemma of giving birth at home when it feels safest, despite not feeling the most relaxed due to working from home. We'll share valuable perspectives on making the right choice for you.

Curious about the accuracy of ultrasounds in diagnosing esophageal atresia?  Liz Eidelman, a mother of a baby born with EA, joins us to answer this question.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg! In our extended version of this episode, available exclusively on Patreon and Apple subscriptions (ad-free, of course), we delve into a treasure trove of topics, including ABO incompatibility and jaundice, alternatives to ibuprofen for postpartum cramping, the newborn transition, nuchal cords at birth, and much more!

As always, we close with quickies and a personal question about the best advice each of us has ever received.

PS: Don't miss the outtake at the end of every episode.
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Jo Young is a "heart mom" from the U.K. Being a heart mom indicates belonging to a community of parents whose children are born with congenital heart defects. 

The pivotal moment in Jo's story began at her twenty-week anatomy scan with her husband. It was here that they received the life-altering revelation that their baby girl bore a congenital heart defect requiring immediate postpartum surgery. This condition, known as "transposition of the great arteries" (TGA), unveils a complex anomaly where the aorta attaches to the right side of the heart while the pulmonary artery attaches to the left. This incongruity disrupts the circulation of oxygenated blood within the body. Notably, TGA affects only one in every four thousand live births and often eludes detection during pregnancy.

Jo's narrative unfolds as she recounts the poignant moment when her plans for a home birth dissolved into the stark reality of laboring within the confines of an ambulance. She describes her postpartum moments of cradling her newborn daughter before relinquishing her to the surgical team, and delves into the trials and tribulations of the breastfeeding journey, underscoring the indomitable spirit that she, her partner, and their resilient baby summoned to surmount these challenges.

Jo's story is a beacon of encouragement and a wellspring of inspiration for families navigating the turbulent waters of heart parenthood. Through her compelling narrative, she extends a comforting hand to reassure others of the unwavering support within the heart community. Furthermore, she highlights the remarkable strength and resilience that reside within the spirit and character of these special infants. Join us for a stirring conversation that sheds light on the power of love, hope, and strength in the face of adversity.

**********
Down to Birth is sponsored by:
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Needed <-- this link for 20% off your whole subscription order
DrinkLMNT <-- this link for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure: ingredients good for you and the earth. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Organic herbal padsicles for healing. Promo code DOWNTOBIRTH
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Sara Rosser is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). While she has not had a free birth herself, she has supported women in her community who have chosen to do so.  Free birth (or "wild birth") is a controversial practice in which a woman chooses to give birth in the absence of a trained birth professional, whether that be a midwife or obstetrician. In today's discussion, we dig into why a woman might choose free birth, whether or not free birth is "safe" for a mother and baby, how those women who require medical support are treated if they transfer from a free birth, the role of the doula in free birth, and a general discussion around how and why the free birth movement has taken hold. Ultimately, we seek to answer the question: Are those who support free birth enabling the movement or simply supporting a woman's right to choose what she believes is best for herself and her baby?
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Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancy
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DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.
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Dr. Sara Wickham, PhD, MA, PGCert, BA, is a best-selling author, speaker, and researcher who works independently. She has more than twenty years' experience as a midwife; she's lectured in more than 30 countries; and, she is a researcher and author of seventeen books, and has edited three midwifery journals. She is considered a leading expert on the research and evidence around many of the most controversial topics and most difficult decisions in childbirth: Induction, newborn interventions, GBS infection, RhoGAM or Anti-D prophylaxis for Rh-negative mothers, and plus-size pregnancy.

Today, she joins us to talk about risk and risk reduction. In focusing on risk factors or lack thereof in any individual woman, we are generalizing and categorizing her care not based on her individual and holistic assessment, but rather on a risk category that may not actually be the best fit for her and her baby. Sara explains five ways in which we should consider risk and risk assessment in childbirth. For example, are we considering the impact of a risk-centered approach on the long-term health of the mother and baby or how it may undermine a woman's confidence? Ultimately, she questions the conviction that, in childbirth, more action, more tests, and more intervention lead to safer outcomes. And as a bonus, she answers the top-three questions from our community.

Sara Wickham
Sara Wickham on Instagram
**********
Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancy
Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.

Needed <-- this link for 20% off your whole subscription order
DrinkLMNT <-- this link for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure: ingredients good for you and the earth. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Organic herbal padsicles for healing. Promo code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits: <--this link for 20% off

Join Patreon for our exclusive content
IG @downtobirthshow

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It's time for the August Q&A episode with Cynthia & Trisha! We kick off today's episode with the crazy and unsupportive comments most often heard by our listeners. Grab a cup of coffee or tea, and get ready for some laughs. Next, we get into our questions, including:

Is routine Pitocin postpartum necessary?
What can you tell me about insufficient glandular tissue and breastfeeding?
What to do about family members who use sweets as a way to get children's attention?
Is aggressive fundal massage really necessary?
Is too much fore-milk in breastfeeding causing problems for my baby?
and more.

And in the extended version of today's episode found on Apple subscriptions and Patreon we discuss: Experiencing nausea in labor and what can be done about it; manual dilation of the cervix and whether it's effective; how a nuchal hand at birth impacts tearing and whether a cesarean section necessary; and, what is normal weight gain in pregnancy, and what if I have already gained the recommended amount too soon?

Finally, we have our quickie segment in which we answer another ten questions or so, including how period cramps influence labor experiences, heart rate in labor, boy versus girl pregnancies, and more!

Thank you for all your great questions and please keep them coming at 802-438-3696 or 802-GET-DOWN.

**********
Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit. Stay salty.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply with nourishing protein powder, hydration boosters and lactation bites.
Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.
Postpart

Needed <-- this link for 20% off your whole subscription order
DrinkLMNT <-- this link for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure: ingredients good for you and the earth. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Organic herbal padsicles for healing. Promo code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits: <--this link for 20% off

Join Patreon for our exclusive content
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Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality around the world. When considering home birth, preventing and/or effectively treating PPH is an essential part of safe care.

Allie Woods of Almost Holistic Allie is here today to share her three home birth stories, the first two of which resulted in significant postpartum hemorrhaging, including a hospital transfer. In the first case, she and her midwife presumed it was a fluke when she had an unknown retained placental lobe with a fully intact placenta (a very rare occurrence). Knowing that scenario was highly unlikely to recur, she planned her second home birth, and had a second PPH, this time staying home to manage it. Allie realized she may have a genetic predisposition to hemorrhaging, supported by the fact that her own sister also hemorrhaged during her births as well. When Allie decided to have a third baby, she remained fully committed to giving birth at home despite her past bleeding experiences and spent her pregnancy researching everything she could to prevent PPH. In this episode, Allie provides all the specifics on exactly how she successfully prevented postpartum hemorrhage the third time around.

Almost Holistic Allie
The Power of Placenta for Hemorrhage Control

**********
Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancy
Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply.

Needed <-- this link for 20% off your whole subscription order
DrinkLMNT <-- this link for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure: ingredients good for you and the earth. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Organic herbal padsicles for healing. Promo code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits: <--this link for 20% off

Join Patreon for our exclusive content
IG @downtobirthshow

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Every mammal in nature sleeps with their offspring, but these days, many mothers are cautioned against co-sleeping by pediatricians and well-meaning friends and family. This guilt or fear keeps parents distant from their sleeping babies even when it goes against their own inclination. Then, the cycle continues with a baby whose nervous system wakes them often in search of physical comfort, while parents frantically seek the latest and greatest sleep product on the market (Snoo, anyone?).

What is the right approach for mothers who feels conflicted? Today we've brought back Jenny and Carrie, the occupational therapist sisters of OnTrack Baby to discuss sleep and how it relates to newborn development. 

Our discussion starts by debunking the myth that sleep is a problem for babies. The real issue, according to OnTrack Baby, is parents' general lack of understanding of a baby's needs. They stress there is nothing wrong with a baby who struggles with sleep because their nervous systems have them wired to awaken easily, and that many of today's sleep products are unnecessary, if not counterproductive toward long-term development. Their professional opinion is what many parents believe instinctually: that babies who sleep with or in close proximity to their parents are actually calmer, safer and better able to sleep.

Jenny and Carrie don't prescribe any particular sleep method even to their own clients, nor do they insist co-sleeping is the only way for every family. They are, however, proponents of sleeping in close proximity however best serves the family, as a means of creating a nurturing and supportive environment that promotes healthy sleep patterns and overall well-being for both themselves and their children.

OnTrack Baby

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Sponsors:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancy
Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear

Needed <-- this link for 20% off your whole subscription order
DrinkLMNT <-- this link for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure: ingredients good for you and the earth. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Organic herbal padsicles for healing. Promo code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits: <--this link for 20% off

Join Patreon for our exclusive content
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Maternal mortality for black women is three times higher in the United States, at almost 70 deaths per 100,000.  As a woman of color, Nichollette Jones was motivated to protect herself and her daughter from the risks and protocols associated with hospitals, especially during Covid, which showed a sky-rocketing of maternal mortality statistics across the board in the U.S. Unable to cover the cost of a home birth midwife, she determined her next-safest option was to have her baby at home with her mother and partner.  Nichollette spent her pregnancy learning the most common childbirth emergencies and how to handle them, but mostly, she nurtured a deep trust in her body and her ancestral wisdom to give birth with ease and without complication.  And that she did! As you'll hear, Nichollette has a hard time not laughing through the joyful memories of her empowering home water birth story.

During the second part of our discussion, we get into the psychology/mindset Nichollette practiced, which likely contributed to her positive outcome beyond luck, which is always a factor in any birth. Nichollette demonstrates the degree of responsibility it takes to birth without professional labor support. We also explore the heaviness of the free-birth option: What "drives" some women to free birth when it wasn't their first choice upon becoming pregnant? What was Nichollette's 'Plan B' if a complication had occurred? Are most women reasonable candidates for free birth? And, did our ancestors really birth alone, free-birth style, or what did their support actually look like? The United States medical system is already lacking in its support for midwife-attended home-birth transfers; it's nonexistent with free birth.

Today's episode gives us a joyful scope into one woman's birth, while raising more serious considerations around the lack of safe birthing options for American mothers, and especially women of color.
**********
Sponsors:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancy
Modern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gear

Needed <-- this link for 20% off your whole subscription order
DrinkLMNT <-- this link for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure: ingredients good for you and the earth. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Organic herbal padsicles for healing. Promo code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits: <--this link for 20% off

Join Patreon for our exclusive content
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Katie Ferraro of @babyledweanteam is a mother of seven, registered dietician and baby led weaning proponent. Baby-led weaning is a method of introducing solid foods to babies where purees and spoon-feeding are skipped in favor of finger foods,  allowing the baby to self-feed. When Katie found out she was pregnant with quadruplets, she knew she needed the easiest, most effective way to feed her babies, and has developed a digital community support program on baby-led weaning and founded her "100 First Foods" program.  The idea is to introduce 100 foods to your baby before the age of one! Can you believe that? Do you even have 100 different foods in your house right now?  

In this episode, Katie explains what baby-led weaning really means (yes, the name is confusing) and answers everything you need to know about introducing solid foods such as:

• When is the right time to do begin baby-led weaning?
• How can you reduce parental anxiety around introducing foods?
• What can be done about picky eaters and how to prevent them?
• Are pureed foods ever necessary?
• What constitutes a food allergy and is there a way to avoid them from the start? What foods should be avoided, if any?
• Are there any foods babies can’t eat? 
• Do babies need teeth to start solid foods?
• What is the difference between gagging and choking and how can it be prevented?

Don't miss this insightful and helpful episode that will set you and your baby up for happy tummies and happy hearts.
**********
Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy

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Postpartum Soothe™ is 100% organic. An herbal tincture for pads toward a safer, easier recovery.

Silverette USA
Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Needed <-- this link for 20% off your whole subscription order
DrinkLMNT <-- this link for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure: ingredients good for you and the earth. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Organic herbal padsicles for healing. Promo code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits: <--this link for 20% off

Join Patreon for our exclusive content
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Welcome to the July Q&A episode with Cynthia & Trisha.  Today, we kick off the conversation with a story of an OB commenting on the "tightness" of a woman's perineum. Next, we jump into our questions on when sutures are or are not needed after a tear; placenta previa and a prolapsed cord; the risk of infection after rupture of membranes when GBS negative; how to get oxytocin flowing when your spouse is not present at birth; are there risks in pregnancy and postpartum if you have Irish twins; could I have birthed my frank breech baby vaginally even though the hospital said I could not, followed by Trisha's story of her one and only breech birth experience as a midwife.

In the extended Q&A, we discuss the difficult decision one mother faces when the only available midwives don't align with her birth choices; a woman whose toddler developed significant tooth decay and questions teething oil over breast milk as the culprit; another mother who is told her baby is not gaining weight well because her breastmilk has an insufficient amount of calories, and a woman who is struggling with appetite due to her stress and anxiety and worries how it will impact her pregnancy. 

Finally, we close with a round of quickies including Cynthia's and Trisha's biggest pet peeves in life. 
**********
Down to Birth is sponsored by:
Needed -- Optimal nutritional products to nourish yourself before, during, and after pregnancy
DrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit. Stay salty.
Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply with nourishing 

Needed <-- this link for 20% off your whole subscription order
DrinkLMNT <-- this link for FREE 8-day supply
Primally Pure: ingredients good for you and the earth. Promo code: DOWNTOBIRTH
Postpartum Soothe: Organic herbal padsicles for healing. Promo code DOWNTOBIRTH
ENERGYBits: <--this link for 20% off

Join Patreon for our exclusive content
IG @downtobirthshow

HypnoBirthingCT.com

Down to Birth Show

Call 802-GET-DOWN

Watch full videos of all episodes on YouTube! Please note we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed provider for all healthcare matters.