With the right knowledge and education about the intricacies of our own health, we have the potential to influence how our body gives birth. Did you know that by twenty-eight weeks of pregnancy your body is already making physiological and functional shifts to prepare for labor? Or that your baby's adrenal glands are the biggest factor in the initiation of labor? Have you ever heard that sub-clincal hypothyroidism is associated with a significantly higher rate of postpartum hemorrhage or that if you are magnesium deficient, your oxytocin receptors may not be as readily available?  Are you curious about the role of CoQ-10 in the prevention of pre-eclampsia or how hylauronic acid influences cervical readiness for labor?  Author Sarah Thompson of @functionalmaternity gets into all the fascinating details of the functional birth process and gives us practical tips on what we can do to optimize our bodies for birth.  We're sure you've never heard physiologic details like this before. Grab a pen, a pad of paper, and your thinking cap for this one!Functional Maternity on InstagramFunctional Maternity********** DrinkLMNTLove Majka Products Silverette Nursing Cups Postpartum Soothe Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.Email [email protected] @downtobirthshowCall us at 802-GET-DOWN Work with Cynthia: 203-952-7299 HypnoBirthingCT.com Work with Trisha: 734-649-6294 Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Hello! We are back with the May Q&A.  This month we kick things off with a short conversation on obstetrical rhetoric around the risks of cesarean birth and induction, followed by your excellent  questions on:Short cords and small placentasSetting boundaries with well-meaning parenting advice-giversThe necessity or not of Non-stress tests (NST) in late pregnancyTrue medical indications for artificial rupture of membranes (AROM)VBAC labor contractions and an interesting tidbit on the impact of eating dairy in pregnancy Supporting the fetal ejection reflex (FER)Can coffee (yep, you read that right) prevent tearing in labor?And in our extended version of this episode, we dive into:Ultrasounds in late pregnancyPap smear recommendationsFetal heart rate decelerations in laborPostpartum doulas and how they can best support breastfeedingUmbilical cords as bungee cords or not?And of course, everyone's favorite, a round of quickies!Pitocin Episode #134 here.Join us over on Patreon or subscribe on Apple podcasts for the extended version of this episode.  DrinkLMNTLove Majka Products Silverette Nursing Cups Postpartum Soothe Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.Email [email protected] @downtobirthshowCall us at 802-GET-DOWN Work with Cynthia: 203-952-7299 HypnoBirthingCT.com Work with Trisha: 734-649-6294 Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Lisa Marie and Richard Oxenham are a water-birthing midwifery duo extraordinaire in addition to being husband and wife and protégés of Barbara Harper of Waterbirth International. Lisa has attended over six hundred water births and has never, not once, induced a woman's labor.  Through their years of experience, they have come to believe that giving birth in water improves birth outcomes over giving birth out of the water. In this episode, we cover the ways in which water birth increases the safety of home birth by reducing complications associated with cord evulsion, shoulder dystocia, deep tearing, postpartum hemorrhage, and newborn transition. Lisa also touches on how water birth may be the most effective tool for easing the birth experience for those with a history of trauma or abuse. We also learn the real meaning of the word "vagina."  Don't miss this incredibly important and highly informative episode on the benefits of home water birth.   BarefootMidwifeBeardedmidwife********** DrinkLMNTLove Majka Products Silverette Nursing Cups Postpartum Soothe Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.Email [email protected] @downtobirthshowCall us at 802-GET-DOWN Work with Cynthia: 203-952-7299 HypnoBirthingCT.com Work with Trisha: 734-649-6294 Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

When your hospital birth plan repeatedly includes the word  "No", considering home birth becomes extremely enticing. In this episode, Colleen of @uncomplicatedfamily shares with us how she left her OB and chose home birth not only the first time but six more thereafter! Many mothers fear the idea of home birth because they only imagine what might go wrong. And while there are certain risks to consider before home birthing and it isn't the preference of every woman, we review how it can be a safe and smart choice for many, even the first time around.In this conversation we discuss the top reason for home-to-hospital transfer, the data from the largest study ever conducted on home birth (and what information was "conveniently" kept out of the study), and why home birth can be a reasonable choice for 99% of women, yet only 1% are pursuing them.Perinatal mortality and morbidity in a nationwide cohort of 529,688 low-risk planned home and hospital birth.Down to Birth is sponsored by: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.Postpartum Soothe -- Organic herbal padsicles to support healing after vaginal birth.  DrinkLMNTLove Majka Products Silverette Nursing Cups Postpartum Soothe Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.Email [email protected] @downtobirthshowCall us at 802-GET-DOWN Work with Cynthia: 203-952-7299 HypnoBirthingCT.com Work with Trisha: 734-649-6294 Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.

Chanie of @yoledetacademy is an experienced labor and delivery nurse and expert witness in cases which the appropriate use of Pitocin is in question.  Today, she joins us to give us an insider's perspective on the use of Pitocin in hospital birth. Pitocin, now known as the narcotic of modern obstetrics, is increasingly overused and the harms of its use are significantly under represented.  Join us in this discerning conversation around the use and abuse of Pitocin in hospital birth.  DrinkLMNTLove Majka Products Silverette Nursing Cups Postpartum Soothe Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.Email [email protected] @downtobirthshowCall us at 802-GET-DOWN Work with Cynthia: 203-952-7299 HypnoBirthingCT.com Work with Trisha: 734-649-6294 Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.