I was a midwife prior to falling pregnant with my first child. I believed this would benefit me and would make it more likely for me to achieve the birth I desired. Everything had been going smoothly and I was low-risk during my pregnancy. That was right up until 36 weeks when my baby decided to remain in the breech position. The previous month I had practiced Spinning Babies techniques, had massages, acupuncture, and regular chiropractic care; all in an attempt to create more space for him to move. At 36 weeks, I booked in for an External Cephalic Version (ECV), but it was unsuccessful. Over the next fortnight, I doubled down on everything I’d been trying, as I wasn’t supported by the obstetric team at my hospital to have a vaginal breech birth. They preferred an elective caesarean section which was the complete opposite of the birth I was planning. I believed in my body’s abilities and at least wanted the opportunity to experience labour. That meant I either had to go against their wishes and present in labour with a breech baby, or transfer care to a tertiary hospital (1.5hrs away from home). Both options made me anxious. After continuing my alternative therapies, I requested another ECV at 38 weeks, and this time it was a success!

Oliver’s Birth Story

I woke up feeling good and went to my regular appointment with my midwife at 39+1 weeks. No signs of labour as of yet, everything measuring well and baby was happy. I went on about my day doing some shopping. My mother in law called and we made a plan to go to the public pool to cool down that afternoon. I drove with her and my sister in law to the pool. We arrived at the pool at 3pm. They got straight into the pool, while I went to the changing room. When I started to undress I had an uncomfortable cramping/tightening sensation, I continued to change and went to get in the pool. As we swam around I noticed the cramping sensation was coming regularly. I didn’t say anything, but after a while my sister in law, a fellow midwife, notice I was quiet and focused on something. She asked if I was getting surges. I wasn’t sure it was anything to get excited about, but we decided to head home when we realised they were regular in timing.

The sensations remained 5 minutes apart throughout the drive back to my sister in laws house. My family wished me well and I left to organise everything at home incase labour progressed. Once home I checked my bags, walked, and used breathing techniques. After a while I received a text message from my husband asking what we should do for dinner. I replied with “I think we’ll be having a baby”. He promptly called to see if I was serious. He asked if he should come home, but I told him he may as well finish the day because I was coping fine. My husband came home around 5.45pm. I was still having regular surges 4-5 minutely, progressively increasing in intensity. I kept mobile, used my birth ball, and continued breathwork throughout the sensations. Labour continued like this for a number of hours, until around 9pm I started to become tired and attempted to rest on the couch. I laid down on my side and a very strong surge began and continued for 4 minutes. I believe this was the point that my baby turned into a more favourable position because labour ramped up from that point. No more laying on the couch! Surges became 2-3 minutes apart. It was at this point I put my Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) on. With the TENS on the surges were so much easier to cope with, and I liked being able to control the intensity of the stimulation. My husband stayed up with me and provided me with words of encouragement as I did not want any physical touch.