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:Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancyModern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gearDrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply.Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.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.

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?**********Down to Birth is sponsored by:Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancyModern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gearDrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply.Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.Email [email protected] @downtobirthshowCall us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia: 203-952-7299 HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha: 734-649-6294Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. 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.

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 WickhamSara Wickham on Instagram**********Down to Birth is sponsored by:Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancyModern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gearDrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply.Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort. 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.

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.Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort after vaginal birth. Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.Email [email protected] @downtobirthshowCall us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia: 203-952-7299 HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha: 734-649-6294Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters. 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.

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 AllieThe Power of Placenta for Hemorrhage Control**********Down to Birth is sponsored by:Needed -- Optimal nutritional products for before, during and after pregnancyModern Nursery--Your one-stop shop for eco-friendly, stylish baby gearDrinkLMNT -- Purchase LMNT today and receive a free sample kit.Love Majka Products -- Support your milk supply.Silverette Nursing Cups -- Soothe and heal sore nipples with 925 silver nursing cups.Postpartum Soothe -- Herbs and padsicles to heal and comfort.Connect with us on Patreon for our exclusive content.Email [email protected] @downtobirthshowCall us at 802-GET-DOWNWork with Cynthia: 203-952-7299 HypnoBirthingCT.comWork with Trisha: 734-649-6294Please remember we don’t provide medical advice. Speak to your licensed medical provider for all your healthcare matters.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.