Sharing my breech home birth story for #BREECHWEEK 😉 * On March 1st, when I was 39 weeks along in my pregnancy, we learned that the baby was breech (head up, feet down). Because of my then limited knowledge and exposure to breech births, I honestly feared that my choices would be taken from me and I’d be left with no power over my birth experience. While I was given tools to try flipping the baby first, my midwife Maeve also sat down with me and we considered all birth options along with my physical background in case the baby didn’t turn in time. She did not take my choice away from me. Even better, she reassured me that it was still possible for me to have the birth I wanted. * I dug through information and resources, learning as much as I could, and mentally prepared myself for what is only a different kind of birth (vaginal breech births are really normal and a disappearing art!). At 41 weeks and 3 days, I finally went into labor, around noon time on a Saturday. It started out slow, I spent time walking around the house, swaying and dancing through each contraction. I even took the time to clean out toys and clutter from the bedroom knowing I’d give birth there. After some cuddling and kissing with Jeff, the baby’s dad, things started to speed up. The more we kissed and connected, the longer and stronger the next contraction was! Whenever he left the room, my contractions slowed down. For a minute I was relieved that they slowed down, I needed a time-out and be able to recollect myself. Yet I knew longer and stronger waves meant I was opening up, and we didn’t want my body to stop progressing along. So we cuddled and kissed some more, bringing on intense waves. When the contractions became so strong I felt like I couldn’t leave the bed and walk anymore, it was almost time. * Candles lit, glass of water filled, texts sent. Within the hour, my midwife and the rest of the birth team were there in the room with me. Including my mom, and my firstborn Logan who was hugging, kissing and caressing me in between his prances around the bedroom. Soon I was in transition, and I found myself on all fours on the bed. {continued in comments}
