The calm and breech birth of Milo Jordan

Story by Nicky

As pure luck happened there was 2 doctors on staff for the long weekend who had experience in delivering breech babies and were willing to help me out. This meant that I could give birth to my baby boy the way I wanted. It was an amazing experience and one held in wonder by many of the hospital staff having not had a planned breech birth occur at their hospital in over 20 years. I had so many of my midwives and nurses explain how blessed they felt to be a part of the labour.

At our 32 week scan we were told our baby was breech. At this time, I was still feeling positive as the doctors were not too concerned saying he still had plenty of time to turn. As time went on however, bubs still hadn’t turned and I had started to really do my own research. This was when I started to get really nervous that I was going to be pushed into only one option, which I didn’t want. Even though through doing the research and exploring the statistics I knew that giving birth vaginally was still possible and safe for me to do, with a frank breech presentation.

It was around this time (34 weeks), that we attended our calm birth course. Attending the course gave me the tools and confidence to advocate for myself and make informed choices for myself and baby going forward. My husband and I came away from the weekend feeling less stressed, reassured and with a positive mindset. Karen the wonderful human she is also advised I reach out to the Royal Womens Hospital where they specialise in Breech births.

At 38 weeks, we were told we wouldn’t be able to get an ECV performed due to a ligament in my uterus so our options were further reduced.  We had a consult to see the specialist doctor of breech births where he reassured me that at his hospital I could give birth naturally and have the birth I wanted. But was warned that if I went into Labour over the Easter long weekend, no doctor would be available to deliver my baby and I would need to get a C-section. At this time I was feeling fine and thought I had a week or more left in me. Of course luck of events happen and my waters spontaneously broke the Thursday night before Good Friday. This left me in a not so ideal situation, we went to our local hospital to be checked and figure out our game plan as giving birth vaginally for a breech was against their hospital policy. I was told I would need a C-section, I made sure to be open and honest with what I wanted and how I felt. Stating I wanted to have some of the experiences of labour and not to jump straight to the C section.

The doctors and midwives were great and willing to work with me. As pure luck happened there was 2 doctors on staff for the long weekend who had experience in delivering breech babies and were willing to help me out. This meant that I could give birth to my baby boy the way I wanted. It was an amazing experience and one held in wonder by many of the hospital staff having not had a planned breech birth occur at their hospital in over 20 years. I had so many of my midwives and nurses explain how blessed they felt to be a part of the labour.

18 hours of Labour, 3 hours active we gave birth to Milo vaginally with no complications and walking away feeling really happy, in control  and positive about how everything played out.

Just shows the power of positive thinking.