Best Cynthia Overgard Podcasts (2025)

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#322 | June Q&A: VBAC Induction, Birth Plan Boundaries, Nuchal Hand Presentation, 36-Week Cervical Exams, Episiotomy, Newborn Transition 41:57

8h ago41:57

41:57

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 hom…

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#321 | Spoil Your Baby: The Neuroscience of Thriving Baby Brains with Dr. Greer Kirschenbaum, PhD 51:14

7d ago51:14

51:14

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 reg…

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#320 | Breastfeeding Q&A: Nipple Shields, Restricting Skin-to-Skin, Formula Marketing, Gentle Weaning, Nursing Strikes, Night Feeding 45:34

14d ago45:34

45:34

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 qu…

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#319 | Devon's Footling Breech Birth Story: Accepting the Necessary Cesarean 34:31

21d ago34:31

34:31

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 …

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#318 | May Q&A: Precipitous Births, Tearing Tips, Best Foods After Birth, Epidural Removal for Pushing, Induction & VBAC, Cord Clamping, Jaundice 44:17

28d ago44:17

44:17

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 befor…

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#317 | The Risk of Uterine Rupture: Breaking Down ACOG's VBAC Bulletin 54:07

1M ago54:07

54:07

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 la…

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#316 | The Body Ready Method for Optimizing Labor With Co-Founder Lindsay McCoy 46:54

1M ago46:54

46:54

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 supp…

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#315 | The Preeclampsia Puzzle: Misdiagnoses, Misconceptions and Prevention with Author Sarah Thompson 1:08:12

2M ago1:08:12

1:08:12

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 preec…

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#314 | April Q&A: Epidurals, Pushing Too Soon, Castor Oil Risks, Parental Coping, Gestational Diabetes & Big Babies; How Tall Is Arnold Schwarzenegger 43:34

2M ago43:34

43:34

Send us a text Welcome to the April Q&A episode! Today's episode begins with your answers to our question: How do you cope when you are at your breaking point in parenting? If you are looking for some creative ideas, you will find them here! And someone, please tell us where one Mississippi, two Mississippi came from? Next, we get down to birth and…

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#313 | Including Children at Birth: Should They Be There? with Dr. Morgan MacDermott 47:27

2M ago47:27

47:27

Send us a text What happens when we invite our children into the sacred space of birth? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Morgan MacDermott, a naturopathic doctor, perinatal health specialist, and mother of four, to talk about the transformative experience of having siblings present at birth. We tackle the key questions: Should all children be p…

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#312 | Avoiding the Unnecessary Cesarean: A Five-Step Evidence-Based Approach 47:24

2M ago47:24

47:24

Send us a text Today we’re talking about one of the most important—and misunderstood—topics in maternity care: the unnecessary cesarean. In the U.S., about one in three babies is born by C-section, but in physiologic birth settings, that number can be as low as 2–4%. So what’s driving the difference? In this episode, Cynthia and Trisha unpack the m…

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#311 | Listen to Me: Black Maternal Health, Tragedy, and the Fight for Change 41:45

3M ago41:45

41:45

Send us a text In honor of Black Maternal Health Week, we’re joined by Stephanie Etienne and Kanika Harris, creators of the documentary Listen to Me. The film follows the pregnancy and birth journeys of several black women. It reveals a devastating reality: Black mothers in the U.S. and U.K. are dying in childbirth at far higher rates than white wo…

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#310 | The Co-Sleeping Controversy: Overcoming Fear & Supporting Instincts with Isadora of Happy Co-Sleeper 56:59

3M ago56:59

56:59

Send us a text What if sleeping beside your baby isn’t dangerous—but actually protective? In this episode, we talk about one of the most instinctive things mothers do—and one of the most feared and judged: co-sleeping. Today's guest is Isadora Ambrose, founder of Happy Co-Sleeper and a certified holistic infant sleep specialist. Why are parents tol…

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#309 | March Q&A: Uterine Rupture Risk; Weaning without Guilt; Home Birth Laws; Timeframes for Placental Birth; Precipitous Birth; Botox and Nursing 39:14

3M ago39:14

39:14

Send us a text Cynthia and Trisha are back with the March Q&A episode! This one kicks off with a fun discussion on things that our Instagram followers think people should know but don’t—like how, when you say you’re eating a kiwi, you’re actually referring to either a kiwi bird or, worse, a person from New Zealand! In today’s Q&A episode, we answer…

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#308 | Mammogram Myths: Safer Ways to Screen for Breast Cancer with Dr. Jenn Simmons 1:02:31

3M ago1:02:31

1:02:31

Send us a text In today's episode, Dr. Jenn Simmons shares her powerful journey from a leading breast cancer surgeon to an advocate for functional medicine and holistic health. Drawing from her personal experience with illness and healing, Dr. Simmons discusses the dangers and limitations of traditional breast cancer screening with mammography and …

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#307 | When Labor Stalls: Recognizing and Resolving Dystocia with Midwife Molly O'Brien @biomechanics_for_birth 46:45

4M ago46:45

46:45

Send us a text Labor dystocia, often labeled as "failure to progress," is the leading reason for cesarean birth in the United States. At its core, prolonged labor is frequently influenced by suboptimal fetal positioning, as well as the mother’s biomechanics, anatomy, and physiology. In this episode, we delve into the true causes of labor dystocia a…

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#306 | Breastfeeding Q&A: Engorgement & Oversupply; Sleepy Feeders; Hands-Free Pumps; Foremilk/Hindmilk Imbalances; Cracked Nipples 42:25

4M ago42:25

42:25

Send us a text Do you know the "hi" joke? If not, you haven't been listening long enough or need to go back to our earliest episodes, lol! If you haven't been there you should. We have some amazing episodes from season one. Anyway, today is all about breastfeeding. Trisha answers our listeners' questions on the following: Are there any techniques t…

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#305 | February Q&A: Induction at 37 Weeks, "Lazy" Feeders, Low-Lying Placenta, PPD, Respiratory Distress in Newborns, Kick Counts 45:34

4M ago45:34

45:34

Send us a text Welcome to the February Q&A! Today, Cynthia & Trisha kick off the episode by discussing reasons why our community has lost friendships or relationships over their parenting choices. In our regular episode, we answer the following questions: 1. Is there such a thing as a lazy newborn, and if so, what can you do about it? 2. Can my pla…

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#304 | Why Algae is the Superfood for Fertility, Pregnancy & Postpartum Health 39:55

4M ago39:55

39:55

Send us a text In today’s episode, we explore the powerful benefits of spirulina and chlorella—two superfoods that boost energy, improve digestion, and alkalize your body, especially during pregnancy. Each tiny tablet is pure food with the nutritional equivalent of an entire plate of vegetables. Trisha noticed a significant difference in her energy…

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#303 | Car Birth to Premature Baby with Megan @wilsonfamilyhomestead 33:11

4M ago33:11

33:11

Send us a text Today we dive deep into an incredibly empowering and unique birth story. Megan Wilson of @wilsonfamilyhomestead shares her journey of unexpectedly giving birth to her 33-week baby in a car and the powerful decision she made to trust her instincts, rather than following the traditional hospital protocol. She purposefully broke her own…

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#302 | Facing PTSD with Shoulder Dystocia at Home Birth 43:38

5M ago43:38

43:38

Send us a text In this episode, Allison Angelini shares the profound and challenging story of her second pregnancy and birth. From the start, Allison had a premonition that her birth might not go as planned. Compounding her worries, she experienced a traumatic event while camping with her toddler, which left her grappling with PTSD and anxiety thro…

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#301 | January Q&A: Cervical Scarring, Shoulder Dystocia, Prenatal Vitamins, Birthing the Placenta in Water, Postpartum Aches & Pains 39:48

5M ago39:48

39:48

Send us a text Welcome to the first Q&A episode of Season 6 with Cynthia & Trisha! We’re kicking things off by discussing some lesser-known causes of cervical scar tissue that could impact labor progress. It’s a good reminder to consider how any procedure or reproductive intervention might affect future births. In this episode, we answer a new coll…

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#300 | Vaccine Rights, Research and Consent with Just the Inserts 55:11

5M ago55:11

55:11

Send us a text As an active member of the military, Alexandra was required to take various medical products. After experiencing multiple adverse reactions, she started researching the benefits, safety and risks of each, leading her to create the platform, "Just the Inserts." Just the Inserts provides all the publicly available information on vaccin…

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#299 | Vaginal Birth After Unnecessary LEEP Procedure 42:25

5M ago42:25

42:25

Send us a text In her early 20s, Kelsey of Soul Shine Birth went to her OBGYN for a routine Pap smear. Her results came back with HPV and abnormal cells. Having been led to believe she had impending cervical cancer, she did exactly what her OB advised: Get a LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure) as soon as possible to remove any potentiall…

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#298 | Is Childbirth Painful? 53:48

6M ago53:48

53:48

Send us a text Is childbirth truly one of the most painful experiences—even, as one person claims, comparable to being burned alive? In this episode, we bust this widespread myth after first diving into Elon Musk’s provocative claim that C-sections might lead to larger brains over generations. The debate about pain-free birth has been raging on soc…

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#297 | A Patreon Q&A Special Episode to Ring in 2025 44:21

6M ago44:21

44:21

Send us a text In this special New Year's Day episode, we’re giving you an exclusive peek into one of our private Patreon Q&A gatherings. Originally recorded in October, this off-the-record session features 18 thoughtful questions from our Patreon community, covering a wide range of topics related to birth, breastfeeding, pregnancy, and postpartum.…

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#296 | Extended Q&A: RhoGAM; Premature Rupture of Membranes; Meconium; Fevers Cord Traction; Vitamin D; Waterbirth & Cold Plunges [Season 3 Reprise] 1:08:17

6M ago1:08:17

1:08:17

Send us a text For this December Q&A, we kick it off, with a follow-up conversation based on one listener's response to episode #188 on RhoGAM. Next, we jump into our questions discussing the actual risks of going past 24 hours or ruptured membranes without contractions and how you can mitigate those risks. We break down why meconium becomes more c…

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#295 | Is My Baby Tongue-Tied? with Author Cathy Watson Genna, IBCLC 45:03

7M ago45:03

45:03

Send us a text Catherine Watson Genna is a renowned International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in private practice in New York City and author of Supporting Sucking Skills in Breastfeeding Infants. She specializes in teaching professionals around the world how treat to babies with anatomical, genetic and/or neurological issues. Today, she j…

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#294 | Physiologic Birth of the Placenta in Water, Optimal Cord Clamping and Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage with Barbara Harper [Season 4 Reprise] 52:27

7M ago52:27

52:27

Send us a text In this episode, we have Barbara Harper on the podcast with us. Barbara is a midwife, author, and the founder of WaterBirth International, which she founded exactly 40 years ago. She is a world-expert in birthing and to this day travels the globe educating obstetricians, nurses and midwives on physiologic birth. Few mothers are given…

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#293 | Extended Q&A [Season 3 Reprise]: Miscarriage; Evening Primrose Oil; Safe Bed-Sharing; Failure to Descend; Pushing; High Blood Pressure 1:03:22

7M ago1:03:22

1:03:22

Send us a text For this November Q&A, please enjoy the full, extended version of one of our top Q&As from season 3, where we discuss: Weight loss after having a baby--can you lose too much too fast? What tests should be done if you've had multiple miscarriages? Can you give us the scoop on Evening Primrose oil for getting labor started--is it helpf…

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#292 | The Wisdom of Our Menstrual Cycles with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack 55:30

7M ago55:30

55:30

Send us a text Lisa Hendrickson-Jack is the author of The Fith Vital Sign, a book detailing normal and abnormal parameters around menstruation and fertility and what your menstrual cycle reveals about your health. She refers to her period as "her secretary", who once per month brings her all the unfinished business in her life and plops it down on …

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#291 | Discovering Down Syndrome at Birth: Lacey's Story and Her Greatest Gift 36:41

7M ago36:41

36:41

Send us a text At twenty-one years old, Lacey was pregnant with her first child. She was young and healthy and expected everything to go perfectly in her labor and birth. As a result of high blood pressure, she was induced for labor. When her son was born blue and unresponsive with an APGAR score of one, she knew something was off. She held her son…

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#290 | Another Off-The-Record Birth Rant with Midwife Lindsey Meehleis 48:26

8M ago48:26

48:26

Send us a text You may remember midwife Lindsey Meehleis from episode #187 in our first off-the-record-style conversation. When we decide to interview Lindsay, we do so without a plan, knowing that whatever is on our minds will be a worthwhile and impactful conversation. In today's conversation, we chat about the problems with modern medicine, how …

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#289 | October Q&A: Placenta Previa, Nipple Sensitivity, Home Birth Transfers, Uterine Rupture Risk, Cholestasis, Gentle Sleep Support, Caffeine 53:46

8M ago53:46

53:46

Send us a text Welcome to the October Q&A with Cynthia & Trisha. What's the most absurd thing that you've ever heard said to a woman in labor or to you? Today, we kick it off by sharing your anecdotes and our responses. In our regular episode, we answer: If I am planning a free birth how do I know if I have a placenta previa and what should I do? I…

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#288 | Roundtable: Postpartum Grief and Rage 47:49

8M ago47:49

47:49

Send us a text Postpartum rage is a form of emotional upheaval that many mothers experience but seldom feel comfortable discussing. Today's episode aims to break the silence and offer a compassionate and supportive look into the real lives of two mothers living with these intense emotions. Corrine lost her own mother the day after her son was born.…

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#287 | Lily Nichols on Fertility, Folate and Food 45:39

8M ago45:39

45:39

Send us a text If there is one best place to begin when it comes to optimizing our fertility, it is with food, and who better to bring us the lowdown on what we do and don't need for fertility optimization than Lily Nichols, RDN, the modern-day-author and guru of all things related to food and pregnancy. In today's episode, she delivers crucial inf…

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#286 | Facing Childhood Trauma Through Birth: Courtney's Story 57:11

9M ago57:11

57:11

Send us a text Emotional trauma is stored in the body and can lead to a host of health issues if left unresolved. In this episode, Courtney shares her deeply personal journey of navigating the effects of a controlling and emotionally abusive her mother -- so controlling, in fact, that her demanding mother caused early marital issues for Courtney an…

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#285 | The Mother's Mind: Harnessing Peace and Calm with a Simple Meditation Practice with Kelly Smith 49:45

9M ago49:45

49:45

Send us a text There are few things a mother can do with such a profound impact as meditation, yet it remains one of the hardest habits to incorporate into one's life, let alone the life of an exhausted, busy mother with a new baby in her arms. In today's episode, Kelly Smith, yoga/meditation instructor and podcast host of Mindful in Minutes, expla…

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#284 | September Q&A: The Midwife-Client Relationship; Ghosting Your Induction; 2-Step Delivery; Postpartum Resentment; Platypelloid Pelvis; No FER 52:50

9M ago52:50

52:50

Send us a text Welcome to the September Q&A episode with Cynthia & Trisha. Today, we begin with discussing the problem of increased reliance on Google searches and googling our way to answers that require deep introspection and self-trust rather than an automated and potentially biased and generalized result. In our first question, Cynthia & Trisha…

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#283 | Breastfeeding Q&A: A 5-month Old Baby Starts to Breastfeed, Low Milk Supply, How Often To Feed in First 24-hours, Plugged Ducts & Pumping 39:51

9M ago39:51

39:51

Send us a text Welcome to our second 'Breastfeeding Q&A' episode with Trisha & Cynthia. We open with an inspiring success story of a mother whose baby did not start breastfeeding for the first time until around five months of age. Additionally, we answer the following questions: I tried everything to increase my supply and stumped every lactation c…

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#282 | Escaping a Doctor Just Before His Arrest: Olivia's Story 48:24

10M ago48:24

48:24

Send us a text "Hi I’m Olivia. I was a patient of Dr. Javaid Perwaiz, so, I don’t trust you." Each time Olivia met with a new medical provider, she prefaced her introduction with the above statement. Olivia was a patient of Dr. Perwaiz for many years before he was sentenced to 59 years in prison after a jury convicted him on 52 counts of health car…

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#281 | Co-sleeping with a NICU Premie: Taylor's Birth Story at 33 weeks with an Unconsented Episiotomy 40:04

10M ago40:04

40:04

Send us a text Taylor Westenberger celebrated her baby shower at 33 weeks pregnant with her first baby. Little did she know, two days later she would go into labor and give birth to a 4.5 pound baby boy. Her birth experience, while generally smooth, involved the absence of her husband due to Covid protocols and an unconsented episiotomy. She was en…

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#280 | August Q&A: Crossing Boundaries, Signs of Ovulation, Navigating Finances as a SAHM, Marginal Cords, Fundal Massage, "Anorexic" Pelvis, Libido 50:46

10M ago50:46

50:46

Send us a text Welcome to the August Q&A episode with Cynthia and Trisha. Today, we start by discussing various experiences in which mothers feel a visceral response to a family member, friend, or provider crossing a boundary with their baby--think kissing your baby without permission. In our first question of the episode, we invite Carly Hartwig f…

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#279 | Leveling The Playing Field in Parenthood with Dan Doty of Fatherhood Ready 45:27

10M ago45:27

45:27

Send us a text If you've ever felt that your husband is falling short or if you are a dad looking to be more available to your wife, this episode is for you. Today, we chat with Dan Doty, the co-founder of Fatherhood Ready and a passionate advocate for expectant dads. As a father of three, Dan brings his unique perspective on building a men's organ…

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#278 | Inside Medical Billing: The Complexities, Ethical Concerns and Tips for Reducing Your Bill 45:43

11M ago45:43

45:43

Send us a text Were you billed erroneously for your birth, or charged for something frivolous like "skin to skin contact" or "out of hospital birth"? Did you receive an exorbitant hospital bill for services you may not have asked for or even incurred? Are you worried that your hospital bills are going to go unpaid? Did you want to leave Against Med…

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#277 | Hyperemesis Gravidarum with HER Foundation: A Matter of Life and Death 48:18

11M ago48:18

48:18

Send us a text Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is not morning sickness, but rather a potentially life-threatening complication of pregnancy that may cause weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration, disability due to severe nausea and/or vomiting and can cause long-term health issues for mother and baby, including death. Today, we are joined by Kimber W. M…

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#276 | July Q&A: Twins & Induction, Faith-Based Midwives, Weight Gain, Low Progesterone, TDAP, Botox, Hemorrhoids, Weight Gain 42:05

11M ago42:05

42:05

Send us a text Welcome back to the July Q&A with Cynthia & Trisha. Today we kick off the episode with one mother's story of her transition from OB to midwife to an unintentional free birth her 9 pound, 4 oz baby born at home in her bathroom and then the premium medical bill she received from her OB for "extra counseling time." Next, we jump into ou…

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#275 | How to Interview Your Pediatrician with Dr. Joel Gator Warsh 50:05

11M ago50:05

50:05

Send us a text Dr. Joel Gator Warsh is a classically trained integrative pediatrician with a holistic health practice in California. His approach to care puts parents at the center of the decision-making process. In today's episode, we discuss the key questions parents should ask when interviewing a pediatrician (and yes, you should interview numer…

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#274 | Myofunctional Therapy: How To Assess and Help Your Baby 39:36

11M ago39:36

39:36

Send us a text The importance of healthy oral function is essential not only for infant feeding but also for a person's entire life. Poorly shaped palates, low resting tongue posture, restricted tongues, and mouth breathing are all common signs of oral restrictions or tension that can begin in the womb and influence one's health from infancy throug…

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#273 | Special Q&A Featuring Nancy Wainer on VBAC and More 35:35

12M ago35:35

35:35

Send us a text In last week's episode (#272) you met legendary midwife-author Nancy Wainer. Well she's back today for Part II, where she joins us in a Q&A-style episode to answer our listeners' questions. Nancy experienced the first planned VBAC in the United States and she coined the acronym itself in her first book, Silent Knife, published in 198…

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