Mother&Baby March Issue

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Birth stories My baby was breech but I chose the birth I wanted Breech births hit the headlines last December when Kim Kardashian’s baby was turned before birth. Here three mums share their stories Allegra and Atticus at five hours old Ihad always wanted a home AMY BAILEY, waterbirth. But when I found out 40, AN ACTRESS, I was having twins, the doctors LIVES IN LONDON pushed me to book a c-section. WITH HER HUSBAND I thought that was crazy – they were ANTHONY AND TWINS treating my normal, healthy pregnancy ATTICUS AND like an emergency. My twins were ALLEGRA, 13 fraternal, so didn’t share a placenta, and WEEKS. the placentas were high up in my womb. Even at 35 weeks, when a scan showed the top twin was breech, I saw no reason not to have a home birth. I did research and found two independent midwives who specialised in breech babies. They had a good relationship with the local hospital, which was only seven minutes away should we need a transfer. After several days of Braxton Hicks, I woke in the middle of the night one Sunday with regular contractions. I was convinced full-on labour was starting, and called my midwife, Andy, to the house. But she knew I wasn’t close to birth. Sure enough, the contractions died down. They came back thick and fast three nights later, and I couldn’t sleep. Andy examined me, finding I was 5cm dilated. As part of her care, she stayed overnight in the spare room. I lay in the bath for hours, practising hypnobirth breathing, while my husband Anthony slept. Andy checked on me every hour . Having her there was reassuring, and I felt positive. By 5am the contractions were 32 | <strong>March</strong> 2016 | motherandbaby.co.uk
Bump&Birth every few minutes. I lowered myself into the birth pool that Anthony had filled in the lounge. Andy called the team and soon there were four midwives: one for me, one for each twin, and one to oversee. They were there when I needed them but also gave me space. By 10am I was checked again. I’d reached 8cm. I was in active labour and it was overwhelming. Just when I thought I’d no strength left to push, I reached down and felt my daughter's head. It gave me a tremendous boost to keep going. I continued pushing in the water for two hours, but eventually had to get out, as the midwives felt gravity would help. For the next hour I sat on a special birth stool. It was such hard work. I managed to get half of the baby’s head out, right up to her eyebrows, where she got stuck. Climbing onto the fold-out couch, I lay on my side while Anthony held one of my legs up. At 12.30pm, the reason for the obstruction became clear. ‘I can see the baby’s hand in the way,’ Andy said, explaining I might need an episiotomy. I didn’t want that, so I mustered all my strength and pushed. The baby slid out. She was perfect. I breastfed her for the next hour and the pain seemed a distant memory. In my happiness, I almost forgot about the second labour. The midwives were anxious to deliver the other twin so encouraged me to stand up. My waters broke with a loud pop and a new wave of contractions hit me. I gathered every last bit of energy and followed instructions to get onto all fours. My bump was manipulated to try to turn the baby, but he didn’t budge. After I’d been pushing for about 10 minutes, the midwives wanted to call an ambulance to wait outside the house as a precaution. I didn’t want to go to hospital but knew my exhaustion was serious. I thought to myself, ‘I have about two more pushes left in me, and that’s it.’ With one mighty surge, my breech boy came out, bottom first. But his hand was also by his head. Andy reached inside me and pulled out his arm. With the last big contraction, she manipulated his head to ease the passage, and Atticus was born. The midwives immediately slid him next to me, telling me to talk to him and hold him close. It scared me to see how pale and fragile he was, but I kissed his tiny face and whispered, ‘Hey, little guy, I love you and I’m so glad to see you.’ A glow of colour spread from where his heart was until the rest of his body flushed pink and healthy. It was incredible. As a precaution, the midwife placed an oxygen mask over his face for a few seconds then lay him on my chest to feed while Anthony held our girl, Allegra. The entire experience was intense and very difficult, but I’d made an informed decision about the birth I wanted. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Three things I’d tell my friends Don’t listen to negativity from inexperienced, uninformed people who talk about how dangerous home birth is. Research local breech birth specialist midwives and read positive breech home birth stories. If your baby’s in the breech position, look up ‘rebozo sifting’ online. It’s a technique which uses long pieces of material to relax tight ligaments in the abdomen and may even help a baby rotate. Remember that fear about breech births is unfounded. It is possible to have a safe, natural, positive breech delivery. Amy and Anthony with Allegra at just a few minutes old motherandbaby.co.uk | <strong>March</strong> 2016 | 33
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