My name is Jesi and I live in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, USA. I am so very happy to share my breech delivery story with you. I feel so strongly about getting the word out to other mamas that they DO have options for breech deliveries.
I am 27 and had a fantastic pregnancy. My boyfriend and I run an organic farm, so needless to say we have a very healthy diet and active lifestyle. My pregnancy was quite healthy and low-risk, run of the mill, really. At 38 weeks I had an ultra-sound where it was determined that my son was in a frank breech position.
My midwife immediately scheduled me to meet with a high-risk specialist and to have an ECV. When the attempted ECV failed, in my opinion due to lack of trying, they told me my only option was to have a C-section. As is to be expected I was quite upset by this. They wanted to schedule it for a few days later, even though I wasn’t even due for another week or more. The doctor tried to sway me by telling me I’d be able to pick my baby’s birthday. Or I’d be able to plan my holiday season better. Things that didn’t matter in the least to me.
When I asked if I could wait and safely go into labor naturally, I was told that was okay. However, if I did this and went into labor late at night, the night staff at the hospital would be groggy and probably crabby. That a doctor would discredit the night staff of his facility as a scare tactic, shocked me, perhaps as much as the breech discovery itself. They also told me that because I was so upset by this, they were afraid I was going to suffer from post-partum depression.
Throughout my pregnancy I had planned to deliver naturally with no medication and to have all of that suddenly taken away was simply unimaginable to me. As someone who has never liked to have my choices limited, I began doing extensive research. I’d already researched baby flipping techniques, such as those mentioned on spinningbabies.com. Unfortunately, those had no affect. After much reading, I found that a breech position does not necessarily require a C-section, especially in healthy low-risk pregnancies.
Through my research I was able to find a fabulous mid-wife in my area. Cynthia Caillagh was a god send! She not only reassured me that my baby was fine, but that I could do this. I could deliver my baby naturally. She had so much knowledge and experience my fears were instantly put to rest. As this was my first pregnancy I was obviously still nervous, but I had a renewed sense of calm.
Approximately two weeks later on the evening of Thursday, December 10th, I went into labor. At about 9:00 pm, we arrived at my midwife’s farm. I was having strong contractions by this point, with little regularity. I walked in to find the lights turned low, fire place burning, and soft low music in the background. I immediately got into the tub where Cynthia practiced the “hand’s of the breech” technique where the baby does the cardinal movements. My mom and boyfriend helped me through labor. My boyfriend even got in the tub with me, which proved incredibly rewarding for both of us.
Six and a half hours after my first contraction, at 12:54 pm on Friday, December 11th we welcomed our beautiful son. Leo was a healthy 8lbs. 4 oz. and 21 1/4″ long. I also came through the labor perfectly healthy. A little tired yes, but no stitches were needed. It was an experience I never could have predicted at the beginning of my pregnancy, but I couldn’t have asked for a better one.
My disappointment in the medical facility I’d be using was huge. They made me feel backed into a corner and without any choices. The more women I’ve heard from the more I find that this is quite common. I feel very strongly about getting involved in changing this. The word needs to be spread that breech positioning is not necessarily a sentence for a C-section. Nor is it a birth-defect. I’m so glad there are women out there involved in educating others. I have found such a welcoming, helpful community in the other breech mamas I’ve talked to.
Sincerely, Jesi – a fellow breech mama!
Leave a Reply