Elise's second daughter was in the breech
(head-up)
position in the last few weeks of pregnancy. Elise
and Ragnar had decided that if Mia did not turn, they would proceed with
a vaginal breech birth. After trying several
other methods, Elise asked her doctor to
perform external cephalic version to try to turn the baby, and
Mia finally moved to a head-down position,
right on her due date.
One month before the birth of Mia she was lying in breech. We were at
the birthing class at Nikki's home and she asked us to draw a picture of
how we expected our birth to be. I had the baby's head up smiling at me,
and Ragnar's was very much surrounded by nature. This indicated to me I
had a lot of mind work to do. I first worked on my drawing, did another
meditation and turned our baby by redrawing the picture.
By Monday the 16th of July, and knowing that Nikki was in town and not
going anywhere I decided that I would go ahead with a turning of our
baby. I did another meditation where I wrote to myself a letter. The
response was that the baby needed a little encouragement. The message to
me was that TC Chang, our doctor,
was there to help me. TC Chang managed the turn the baby after the first
try. Ragnar, my husband, said it was like seeing bread being kneaded. I
felt a little discomfort but thought I could handle anything if I could
handle childbirth. TC appeared very pleased. What a great doctor, with
the patience of a god. Need to be with me around. That afternoon I felt
a lot of discomfort thinking it was only braxton hicks. I had a friend
visiting with her kids who tells me now that she could see I was in
labour. I was feeling very happy and spoke briefly to Nikki who also
told me that she could hear in my voice that labour had begun.
By 11pm that night I had a 'show' and by 1.30am labour was in force. By
2.30am Ragnar had rung Nikki for a second time, please come now we need
you. Nikki walked into our bedroom and immediately supported me and
Ragnar with encouragement. She asked me some questions and said to
Ragnar "let's go". I was cold and shaking. I ended up lying flat on the
back seat, the only position comfortable. Prior to leaving home Nikki
had to suggest that I put some clothes on. I was prepared to go as I
was, knickers only. Not such a pretty sight
for the locals.
We walked into the hospital. Everything was so clear - up the lift past
a man waiting for his wife to deliver. Quite the opposite experience to
what we were going through - heh. Nikki guided me to the no. 6 suite
where I immediately was monitored for 20 minutes and 7cm dilated and
then straight into the birthing pool for 1 hour. Nikki sat by one side
and Ragnar the other. We progressed together through those contractions.
I love water and boy did that warm bath help me along. At one point I
wanted to submerge myself, but no, deep groans were all I could muster.
I felt like I was getting nowhere when suddenly my waters broke with a
gush so out of the pool for a little more monitoring. I didn't like the
midwifes hands touching me. The poor ladies had the hands slapped a few
times as I sat on the birthing stool with them trying to get a heart
beat.
TC then entered and very quietly asked me if he could take a look which
I agreed to. He was so gentle and quiet that there was a gentle calm
atmosphere. You could hear a pin drop with lights down low. He said to
me that there was still some time. Ragnar sat behind me and held me
under the arms and with every contraction allowed me to bear down on
him. Still no progress. Nikki suggested another position so I leant up
against the bed on my knees and then moved again up onto the bed. The
vocals were now taking over. The F---- word was coming into play. Ragnar
asked me to use different words and Nikki leant over and said well
that's what got her
into this predicament. We all laughed.
I also felt as if I was not progressing and kept asking Nikki to help me
- "please get this baby out - I can't do this anymore", and on it went
until finally I felt as if I was going to split into two. Nikki
suggested I visualise the baby coming down the canal which relaxed my
body and my mind. She then gave me drops of homeopathy for energy.
Something gave and the baby moved on down. I felt that burning sensation
and felt her plop out. Everybody yelled stop and pant and I felt her
shoulders come out. TC then passed her through my legs to me. I searched
through the cord to see if we had a boy or girl - a girl beaming up at
Ragnar. He wanted a girl. Mia was born. 3.48 kg and 49 long. I then did
this flip onto my bottom, while holding Mia in one arm and nestled her
in my arms. A truly amazing experience.
That night my breasts became engorged and for the next 2 weeks I was wet
from my neck down. No bra would fit so I had to buy a 38E to take these
mega boobs.
Nikki was supportive from beginning to end and even more. Even though
she was exhausted from a birth the day before it was as if her adrenalin
kicked in to be there for us. Hell of a women. She visited us in
hospital and at home and is still at the end of a telephone if she is
needed. We are all going well and are enjoying our new addition to the
family.
What's going on
here?
Most babies spend time in a breech (head-up)
position in early- or mid-pregnancy, and it's quite common for many to
still be breech up until term (37 weeks). There is so much room in the
womb, that babies freely float about and any position they are in isn't
really relevant to where they will be when labour rolls around.
If a baby is still breech at term (after 37 weeks), parents have many
options. Some will try "natural" methods of turning a baby to a
head-down position. Some will ask their doctor to perform an "external
cephalic version" where the doctor presses firmly on the mother's tummy
to move the baby. Some will plan a caesarean. Some will plan a vaginal
breech birth.
Different parents will have different perspectives on what is
"safe" and what they feel comfortable with Different doctors will also
have different perspectives. Some will automatically recommend a
caesarean, while others are comfortable and skilled at supporting
vaginal breech birth. How can you decide what's
right for you?
A consultation with a labour supporter can help. This is a
private, personalized session held in your own home where you have the
chance to talk over your priorities and learn about the options that are
open to you on anything from general care in labour to specific
situations such as options for a breech baby. A doula can help you sort
through the confusion so you have a clear sense of what your options are
and you feel confident you are making informed choices. For more on
birth consultations,
click
here.
ParentLink's childbirth classes reinforce the knowledge you've
gained in a consultation by focusing further on simple yet effective
tools to enable you to feel in control during all aspects of your
pregnancy and birth, no matter what unexpected events might pop up.
Click here to learn more
about how classes can make a difference for your birth.
To talk over your particular needs or concerns, you can:
call Tania at +65 9671-8428
or
