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 you...
Jul 09, 2025•47 min•Season 6Ep. 324
Send us a text 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...
Jul 02, 2025•40 min•Season 6Ep. 323
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 ...
Jun 25, 2025•43 min•Season 6Ep. 322
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 ...
Jun 18, 2025•52 min•Season 6Ep. 321
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 b...
Jun 11, 2025•47 min•Season 6Ep. 320
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...
Jun 04, 2025•34 min•Season 6Ep. 319
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 ba...
May 28, 2025•45 min•Season 6Ep. 318
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 s...
May 21, 2025•55 min•Season 6Ep. 317
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 ...
May 14, 2025•48 min•Season 6Ep. 316
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 pr...
May 07, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 6Ep. 315
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 answer the following questions: Why do some women choose unmedicated, physiological births despite societal pressures and perceived difficulties?...
Apr 30, 2025•45 min•Season 6Ep. 314
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 present at birth, and if not, which considerations should be considered? Will they be scared? Will the mother be able to stay focused? What happens if ...
Apr 23, 2025•48 min•Season 6Ep. 313
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 many layers behind the rising cesarean rate and offer a grounded, evidence-based approach for avoiding surgery when it isn’t truly needed. From provide...
Apr 16, 2025•48 min•Season 6Ep. 312
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 women regardless of education, income, or resources. Kanika shares the heartbreaking story of losing her twin babies after a sudden onset of preeclamps...
Apr 09, 2025•43 min•Season 6Ep. 311
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 told to never sleep with their babies when every cell in their body wants to keep them close at night? Isadora breaks down what makes co-sleeping safe (a...
Apr 02, 2025•58 min•Season 6Ep. 310
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 these questions: Do I need to schedule a cesarean at 40 weeks if I’m planning a VBAC? My OB says I do. How do I know when it’s time to wean f...
Mar 26, 2025•40 min•Season 6Ep. 309
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 offers insight into safer, more effective alternatives like QT imaging, the ARIA test, and the importance of self-breast exams. This conversation is e...
Mar 19, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 6Ep. 308
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 and explore how intentional movement and positioning—both during pregnancy and labor—can promote a smoother, more efficient birth. Our discussion cover...
Mar 12, 2025•48 min•Season 6Ep. 307
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 to relieve engorgement and over-production of milk in the early days to be more comfortable? And Cynthia asks Trisha: Why is oversupply such a problem,...
Mar 05, 2025•43 min•Season 6Ep. 306
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 placenta detach in pregnancy? My OB told me I can't have sex because my placenta is low-lying and it could separate. 3. I have a diagnosis of ges...
Feb 26, 2025•47 min•Season 6Ep. 305
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 level during her workouts once she started taking spirulina each morning. So we've invited Catharine Arnston, founder of EnergyBits, to explain why t...
Feb 19, 2025•41 min•Season 6Ep. 304
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 water in the car to expedite the birth once they were parked in the hospital parking lot. In an inspiring twist, Megan reveals her decision to have h...
Feb 12, 2025•33 min•Season 6Ep. 303
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 throughout her pregnancy. Despite her fears, Allison pursued a home birth. Her labor was long and intense, complicated by an anterior cervical lip and an ...
Feb 05, 2025•45 min•Season 6Ep. 302
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 collection of listener questions, including one about a mom-to-be who wants a home birth but is feeling uneasy about having someone else in the ho...
Jan 29, 2025•41 min•Season 6Ep. 301
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 vaccines and other medical products to help parents make informed choices about what they will accept or decline for themselves and their children. This epi...
Jan 22, 2025•56 min•Season 6Ep. 300
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 potentially harmful cells. For the next 6-9 months sex was painful and she regularly bled with intercourse. As it turned out, her abnormal cells were not cancer...
Jan 15, 2025•43 min•Season 6Ep. 299
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 social media, with strong opinions on both sides. We discuss the unintended effects of setting women’s expectations about whether their births will—or wo...
Jan 08, 2025•55 min•Season 6Ep. 298
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. We've only removed a few of the highly personal questions from our participants and the voices of any women who spoke directly to us on screen du...
Jan 01, 2025•45 min•Season 6Ep. 297
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 concerning after 42 weeks gestation and what those actual risks are. One mother who has the flu in the third trimester wonders if this is harmful t...
Dec 18, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 5Ep. 296
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 joins us to discuss the controversial topic of tongue tie. The research indicates 5-10% of babies suffer from feeding difficulties that require a surgi...
Dec 11, 2024•46 min•Season 5Ep. 295
