As I was pushing my baby out, the two doctors were talking to each other about their weekend plans.

My doctor then proceeded to give me an episiotomy without my consent or knowledge after I told her not to do it at prenatal visits.

So the nurses continue to refer to my husband as the baby daddy.

I felt that was incredibly disrespectful

given he is not a guy who knocked me up. He's my husband and father of my first baby.

I basically was told that if I don't force feed my baby as much formula as possible until

he throws up, that the jaundice may be causing him brain damage. So the chaplain turned to me

and said we could actually commit you and just do the surgery anyway. And that's when I

text my husband and I said, you need to get here now. They're trying to operate without my consent.

Why? Why is it so difficult to just respect a mother's choices? Why does there have to be so much resistance? Why? Why is it so difficult to just respect a mother's choices? Why does there have to be so much resistance?

Why is there so much retaliation?

I'm Cynthia Overgard, owner of hypniburthing of Connecticut, childbirth advocate, and postpartum support specialist.

And I'm Trescia Ludwig, certified nurse midwife and international board certified lactation consultant.

And this is the down-to-birth podcast.

Childbirth is something we're made to do, but how do we have our safest and most satisfying experience in today's medical culture?

Let's dispel the myths and get down to birth.

We have a little something different for you all today.

Because you guys are frequently sending in your birth

stories, we get so many fabulous ones and we unfortunately can't get everybody on the show,

but we have compiled a series of birth stories for you here today and we are going to share

components of them with you in today's episode.

We want to listen to these along with you.

...