breechmumma
04-07-2009, 23:10
I really want to share my story with all women out there so that they know what is possible and to stand up for what they want.
I was considered a low risk patient so was choosen to birth in the Brisbane Royal Womens Birth Centre. At 38 wks it was discovered that my bub was breech. We were booked in for an ECV and after only 30 seconds of trying to turn bub via pressure from the outside the lady gave up and said I would need a cesarian. I wasn't prepared to accept this and went straight to my 1 of my midwives to ask her opinion. She said that as long as the circumstances were right that I could still birth my girl naturally in a breech position. From that moment on I was on a mission. Being breech though I was not allowed to birth in the birth centre anymore but my midwives would still deliver bub in the birth suite. So I kept trying everything to turn bub in the last few weeks so I could maybe have the water birth that I had wanted. Accupuncture, visualisation, special exercises. But my stubborn cheeky monkey didn't want to budge. I had done sooooo much reading and asked many questions that I was so ready for it anyway and was happy to birth my breech.
I had to talk to the hospital professor to get his approval as they don't normally let women do this kind of thing. At the appointment I got my thoughts and wishes through to him. How I wanted to birth naturally and that I would be standing and he was really happy with my mindset and gave the greenlight. I had also prepared myself for anything that may of needed to happen so that I would not be disappointed either way. I told him a cesarian was the last resort but if I needed to have one that I would walk myself to theatre and cut myself open. He got my point of view rather quickly. This was going to be a positive memory no matter what.
At 10 days over due 1 of my midwives preformed a stretch and sweep as it is not advisable to induce a breech and this was the lesser of 2 evils. I was 4cm dialated but still nothing was happening and I hadn't felt any pre labour pains at all. So on day 12 I saw the professor again and we decided it would be best to break my waters "now" and see what happens.
As my beautiful midwife Marion was breaking my waters I had my first contraction. I remember saying "oh is this what it feels like" From then on my contractions were 5 minutes apart and quickly went down to 3 minutes apart. I had been told in the weeks previously that if a breech is going to go well it will go fast. The whole thing is a bit of a blur as you can imagine but I will try to get it right. Being breech I had to have a monitor on me the whole time but I was able to stand and move freely enough that it wasn't really a problem. Each time a contraction would come I would dance around to try and forget the pain and use a hot pack. Easier said then done but I managed to get through each one and enjoyed the rest between. I have to be honest here though. I was begging Marion for some gas the whole way through. Looking back I was asking in a way that lead Marion to believe that I didn't need it at all. I'm so glad she didn't give it to me and that she incouraged me through each contraction. I remember really needing to go to the bathroom and my partner taking me in. As I went to wash my hands I power chucked :barf:almost all over him but just missed. Then back to the suite and my position of leaning over the bed.
From this point on I felt I needed to push so Marion told me to just go with it and trust my body. I would squatt and push really hard 3 times and then relax over the bed. I was so relaxed between that I was almost asleep. It is amazing how the body releases its own type of drugs and you feel so out of it. Each time I pushed my baby would be squeezed more and empty her bowels. Im glad I couldn't see what was happening down there. I pushed for what didn't seem like that long and then the professor all of a sudden said to Marion that she had better get ready as my girl was almost here. A few more big pushes and her bum and legs were out. You don't touch a breech you just let them hang. Next push and her shoulder was out which was such a relief to me pain wise. Her head came even quicker and before I knew it I was a mum. She was passed through me legs and I was helped bacwards to sit on the floor on some comfy blankets to meet my girl. I remember saying to everyone that I really was happy even if I didn't look like it. I was just feeling so euphoric and out of it.
Our daughter was so small and beautiful. She was born at 9:03 after only 3 hours and 50 minutes of labour. 50cm long and 2890g. She didn't need resusitating which was awesome as a lot of breeches do from being squeezed in half. The placenta came 50 minutes later without the help of the injection and I had done it. My drug free, standing, active birth. I had 2nd degree tearing but I didn't need the cesarian that they wanted me to have.
All the hospital staff that attended to me in the hours after kept telling me I was the talk of the hospital as I wanted something and went out and got it. This never happens apparently. I was talked about in meetings the weeks after and people are very impressed. Not just because of what I physically did but because I stood up for what I wanted and didn't back down.
My advice is to be really informed and read as much as you can. Ask lots of questions and know your rights. Don't be scared and stay positive. Don't allow anyone to do anything to you that you don't want, don't understand or don't feel right about. Intervention isn't always nessecary, but it does have it's place. You must be open to anything that may need to happen to keep mum and bub safe. Just make sure you are well informed.
I'm sure I have forgotten some things but basically that is it. I am so happy and proud of my achievements. If you knew me then you would know its a big deal. I went from 9 months earlier saying that I would only have a cesarian to having a drug free birth. Crazy.... But it's what I wanted in the end.
I was considered a low risk patient so was choosen to birth in the Brisbane Royal Womens Birth Centre. At 38 wks it was discovered that my bub was breech. We were booked in for an ECV and after only 30 seconds of trying to turn bub via pressure from the outside the lady gave up and said I would need a cesarian. I wasn't prepared to accept this and went straight to my 1 of my midwives to ask her opinion. She said that as long as the circumstances were right that I could still birth my girl naturally in a breech position. From that moment on I was on a mission. Being breech though I was not allowed to birth in the birth centre anymore but my midwives would still deliver bub in the birth suite. So I kept trying everything to turn bub in the last few weeks so I could maybe have the water birth that I had wanted. Accupuncture, visualisation, special exercises. But my stubborn cheeky monkey didn't want to budge. I had done sooooo much reading and asked many questions that I was so ready for it anyway and was happy to birth my breech.
I had to talk to the hospital professor to get his approval as they don't normally let women do this kind of thing. At the appointment I got my thoughts and wishes through to him. How I wanted to birth naturally and that I would be standing and he was really happy with my mindset and gave the greenlight. I had also prepared myself for anything that may of needed to happen so that I would not be disappointed either way. I told him a cesarian was the last resort but if I needed to have one that I would walk myself to theatre and cut myself open. He got my point of view rather quickly. This was going to be a positive memory no matter what.
At 10 days over due 1 of my midwives preformed a stretch and sweep as it is not advisable to induce a breech and this was the lesser of 2 evils. I was 4cm dialated but still nothing was happening and I hadn't felt any pre labour pains at all. So on day 12 I saw the professor again and we decided it would be best to break my waters "now" and see what happens.
As my beautiful midwife Marion was breaking my waters I had my first contraction. I remember saying "oh is this what it feels like" From then on my contractions were 5 minutes apart and quickly went down to 3 minutes apart. I had been told in the weeks previously that if a breech is going to go well it will go fast. The whole thing is a bit of a blur as you can imagine but I will try to get it right. Being breech I had to have a monitor on me the whole time but I was able to stand and move freely enough that it wasn't really a problem. Each time a contraction would come I would dance around to try and forget the pain and use a hot pack. Easier said then done but I managed to get through each one and enjoyed the rest between. I have to be honest here though. I was begging Marion for some gas the whole way through. Looking back I was asking in a way that lead Marion to believe that I didn't need it at all. I'm so glad she didn't give it to me and that she incouraged me through each contraction. I remember really needing to go to the bathroom and my partner taking me in. As I went to wash my hands I power chucked :barf:almost all over him but just missed. Then back to the suite and my position of leaning over the bed.
From this point on I felt I needed to push so Marion told me to just go with it and trust my body. I would squatt and push really hard 3 times and then relax over the bed. I was so relaxed between that I was almost asleep. It is amazing how the body releases its own type of drugs and you feel so out of it. Each time I pushed my baby would be squeezed more and empty her bowels. Im glad I couldn't see what was happening down there. I pushed for what didn't seem like that long and then the professor all of a sudden said to Marion that she had better get ready as my girl was almost here. A few more big pushes and her bum and legs were out. You don't touch a breech you just let them hang. Next push and her shoulder was out which was such a relief to me pain wise. Her head came even quicker and before I knew it I was a mum. She was passed through me legs and I was helped bacwards to sit on the floor on some comfy blankets to meet my girl. I remember saying to everyone that I really was happy even if I didn't look like it. I was just feeling so euphoric and out of it.
Our daughter was so small and beautiful. She was born at 9:03 after only 3 hours and 50 minutes of labour. 50cm long and 2890g. She didn't need resusitating which was awesome as a lot of breeches do from being squeezed in half. The placenta came 50 minutes later without the help of the injection and I had done it. My drug free, standing, active birth. I had 2nd degree tearing but I didn't need the cesarian that they wanted me to have.
All the hospital staff that attended to me in the hours after kept telling me I was the talk of the hospital as I wanted something and went out and got it. This never happens apparently. I was talked about in meetings the weeks after and people are very impressed. Not just because of what I physically did but because I stood up for what I wanted and didn't back down.
My advice is to be really informed and read as much as you can. Ask lots of questions and know your rights. Don't be scared and stay positive. Don't allow anyone to do anything to you that you don't want, don't understand or don't feel right about. Intervention isn't always nessecary, but it does have it's place. You must be open to anything that may need to happen to keep mum and bub safe. Just make sure you are well informed.
I'm sure I have forgotten some things but basically that is it. I am so happy and proud of my achievements. If you knew me then you would know its a big deal. I went from 9 months earlier saying that I would only have a cesarian to having a drug free birth. Crazy.... But it's what I wanted in the end.