Simon's Birth

I am praising the Coalition for Breech Birth and other groups that are keeping the skills alive to deliver breech babies vaginally.

Two years ago I had a planned breech vaginal birth. Among the health professionals, there were 2 students present to learn: a nurse and a midwife, sadly, no obstetrician. It was hospital policy that I book a C-section and many health professionals were working hard to discourage me and scare me into a C-section. I had researched everything I could on breech births and I knew that the study they were referring to was flawed, therefore they did not have me convinced.

I knew that I had all the good factors on my side (baby's weight, head flexed, Frank Breech...) and I had successfully delivered my fist baby at home with a midwife. I was truthfully more scared to have a knife through my skin, layers of stomach muscles and uterus - especially if it was not necessary. Of course I was a little stressed, but it was mostly because of the pressure of everyone trying various tactics to make me change my mind.

Well, I did try everything from acupuncture, to chiropractor, to homeopathy, walking on all fours and trying to lay head down on a plank (which gave me a kink in the neck...) When we tried to turn the baby without success, my midwife referred me to an obstetrician for the delivery. Supporting my wish, she referred me to the only 2 obstetricians of my hospital who had experience with breech births. One of them was retiring a few of months later and he fully supported me and respected my decision. He made me feel like I was making a reasonable decision and that I was not crazy. I felt a load off my shoulder after my visit with him.

Everything had to be carefully planned. My midwife agreed to be on call for me and assist me during the labour. When I got close to my due date, my midwife checked the OB's schedule and my 2 OBs were working back to back so we stretched my membranes the day before (The OBs were not on call for me). I went for one last acupuncture treatment to help with the labour and took my homeopathic remedy and lay the rest in nature's hands.

I went into hospital that night, since I was beginning my labour (which I slept through the first 4 cms). I was strongly encouraged to take an epidural but I declined. I just wanted to let nature do its course since all had been well so far. I had an U.S. during my labour to make sure that the baby's head was flexed and that he was still frank breech. I had the pick line in my arm. And I was comfortable with these measures, I was ready for anything. Towards the end I was in the OR to deliver with only 2 cms to go, all set up for an emergency C-section and the OB told me my body had about 15 minutes to fully dilate or else consider my options – I knew what that meant. He left the room and that's when my dear midwife had me stand up. I remember thinking that my legs would never hold me, but with the help of my husband and midwives (there were 3 of them!) I stood up, voided my bladder and then it happened. I felt the contraction and an uncontrollable urge to push. The OB's had me lie on my back and then I just pushed HARD. It was not any more painful than delivering a baby with its head down, I just found it a little challenging to push on my back when I felt much better pushing while standing. At that point, both OB's (one had finished his shift and decided to stay) were there to assist – not that they had to do much; I pushed and they let the baby come out on its own and then caught him at the last moment. I was pushing too hard to notice but my midwife took pictures which I was so grateful to see afterwards.

When Simon started coming out, I had to keep on pushing without that urge to push (although feeling him coming through gave me that extra strength I though I didn't have!). All in all, I had five and half hours of strong labour and pushed for a few minutes. I did not tear and baby and I were well and so, 3 hours later I was at home introducing my eldest son to his new little brother. I have to admit it was the biggest relief of my life and I think if more health professionals were adequately educated on the matter there would be a lot less stress and grief for the women who have normal and term breech babies and could deliver vaginally.

Some people still tell me I was just lucky. And I know that I was, because I had excellent midwives and obstetricians who supported my decision and were able to gracefully guide me through it all. I could not have done it alone.