That's right: birthing a breech baby naturally is possible, with the support of the right providers.
Mom was planning on having a home birth. During the last weeks of pregnancy, baby girl was still in a breech position so Mom decided to have an ECV (external cephalic version) to try to turn baby into optimal position and not having to rule out of home birth. Here in the state of Wisconsin, not many Certified Professional Midwives are trained to deliver breech babies at home. In fact, not a lot of hospital providers would support a breech vaginal birth either.
The day she was scheduled for the ECV, mom's bag of waters ruptured and labor kicked in almost immediately. Being her 3rd baby, it was expected for things to progress fairly quickly.
She knew there were a few OBGYNs trained in vaginal breech birth the particular hospital where she was getting the ECV done, so she decided to go in and hope for one of those providers to be attending at the time her baby decided to come.
Laboring unmedicated like a champ
I met them at the hospital and she was already deep into labor. I was serving only as a birth photographer/videographer, but offered my support as a doula if they'd needed it.
She labored beautifully. Her surges had a strange pattern, which it's common in breech births.
Her home birth midwife was texting and very close to any updates. Her care continued even though the home birth plan had to change drastically.
The Doctor attending was very kind and reassuring. She shared with Mom how excited she was to support her and asked for permission to record the birth, for teaching purposes. She also asked permission to have students in the room, to which Mom agreed.
A while after I got to the hospital (I don't remember how long), she started feeling the urge to push.
The Doctor entered the room, once again reassuring Mom that she could do the hard work. She instructed many other people who entered the room to be respectful, to watch and learn quietly.
Baby started making her appearance while Mom was in a hands and knees position (a very rare position in a hospital setting, but encouraged by the amazing OB). First came one foot, then the bottom, then the other foot and the rest of the baby's body followed. Everything while every one of the providers stayed calm and quiet, without even touching baby. She was here.
Providers sitting on their hands while baby makes her entrance
Baby took some time to transition, which is common in breech babies. While one of the nurses wanted to take baby to the warmer to help her clear her lungs, the OB told her to leave baby by her Mom's side on the bed while helping her out. Mom asked for the cord to be left alone for as long as possible, which they respected. Mom was talking to baby, calling her name, asking her to take that first big breath and cry.
Baby started pinking up and breathing. They took her briefly to the warmer to make sure everything was ok and then brought her back to Mom's bare chest, where she stayed for a long time, bonding and trying to understand that she had her breech baby unmedicated and naturally.
It was a beautiful day. It was a beautiful birth.
