pregnancy, birth & babies For me, learning that my baby was in breech position (breech being feet first) was all about acceptance. Being open to accepting her the way she was. People told me about different ways to turn the baby and also the complications related to breech birth. I never felt that I wanted to control my baby because ultimately she is her own spirit and just wanted to be born in a different way. I talked to her every day and asked her if she was going to put her head down, but always let her know that I was open to whatever she wanted to do, because I felt so strong and confident that I could have a safe and gentle birth, regardless of the fears and negativity associated with breech birth at home. Breech babies are unique spirits, who need to be accepted for being different. Amber, my daughter, had gone to her 3rd day at school and George, my partner, suggested that maybe we should go for a drive with Jarrah out to the Cascades, to help the baby come. I felt upset with him for thinking that we needed to help the baby come. I wanted Lotus to come when she was ready and I knew that she would. We decided to take the back road to the Cascades and found ourselves really lost. This was strange, as we had taken this route hundreds of times; we took many wrong turns and had to choose from many different directions. The drive was quite metaphorical, reflective of all the decisions we had made during the pregnancy and the different directions we would choose from. We talked along the way home and reached clarity and understanding in all our decisions and both felt really good. After we picked up Amber from school, we went to visit Morissa so that Amber, Jazz and Zaria could play. We talked while the kids played and I was feeling very high. I went in to see the kids, as there had been a disagreement. While I was explaining the importance of including Jazzy in the game my waters broke. There was a huge gush; it was an amazing feeling. I was in shock and said, ‘Hey look at this!’ ‘What’s happened — has the baby done a wee?’ the kids asked curiously. ‘No, my waters have broken and that means the baby is coming!’ I said. I wanted to be with George, so I had a cup of tea with Marissa and Lisa and went home leaving the kids to play some more. On the walk home the water just kept on coming, it was a wonderful <strong>byronchild</strong> 32 feeling. The water felt sacred, it was a beautiful way to begin the process of birth. When I got home, George asked me, ‘How long have we got?’ Strange question, I thought. ‘As long as it takes,’ I replied. I felt so confident and I wasn’t worried by anything. I was extremely tired and hungry, so I listened to my body and ate tofu roll ups with fresh juice. Then I went to bed. I was very excited but knew l needed to sleep. I was up and down all night with strong rushes. I had been woken to a huge gushing of water as I felt my little baby coming closer to meeting me. At about 5 am I couldn’t sleep any longer. I gave George a cuddle and suggested we go for a walk along the beach, then I called Marissa over to look after my sleeping children. When we got to the beach the rushes came on with a greater intensity It was amazing, I felt so in control, I knew what I needed and my support people acted on everything I asked for. They had as much trust in me as I did in them. than I had felt before, one after another, after another. I didn’t even think that I was going to make it onto the sand. I told George that the baby was going to come fast and that I wanted to go home. When we arrived home I burst into tears, overwhelmed by how quickly it came on; the contractions never lost their rhythm or momentum from that time. George, Brenna and Marissa just kept those hot towels coming. In between the rushes, I focused my energy into talking to the baby, imagining myself opening up, sending all the energy down into my uterus. It was amazing, I felt so in control, I knew what I needed and my support people acted on everything I asked for. They had as much trust in me as I did in them. I knew that I needed my support people to keep those hot towels coming, so I got Marissa to call Kate to look after the kids. Not long after Kate arrived Amber and Jarrah woke up. I will never forget, following a really strong rush where I could have roared the loudest ever in my life, Jarrah came up to me and said, ‘Hey, mum, you got some scissors?’ ‘Yes, on the fridge,’ replied Robyn. Both Amber and Jarrah were so comfortable with what was happening, that I never felt distressed by their presence and believed that they knew I was in control and felt positive about the process. It was just a delight having the children in the birth space with me. I knew Lotus was going to come soon, so I decided to stand for a few rushes. I felt too tired to move but I knew it would help her come. I had some really good rushes standing and I felt Lotus come right down. My legs started to go like jelly and George, who fully supported my weight, needed a rest. I went back down on all fours and talked to my baby. I went into a meditative state between rushes, being with my baby. My support people would give me drinks and cool my face down, but my energy was with Lotus, telling her that I was excited to be meeting her soon and was ready for her to be born. After a rest I decided to stand again, I knew that she would be born if I stood once more. The kids were sitting on the lounge very excited because we all knew she was about to come. George supported my weight and I let my body relax, with a strong rush I gently pushed her to start the flow, then she guided herself. I breathed deeply and felt her manoeuvre her little body, moving her legs and bringing them down, her body, then her little arms and finally her head. Everybody was telling me what was happening, and I was in awe of the sensation of her birthing herself. It was beautiful. Before she landed in the pool, I saw her little body between my legs, as she was being caught by Robyn. She was passed through my legs and I sat down, her little face looking straight up at me; her eyes were so curious, she was divine. Immediately Jarrah and Amber were standing there next to me, stripping off and getting into the pool, excited to meet their sister for the first time. ‘What is her name?’ Amber asked. I think her name is Lotus, I questioned George, being open to what he felt about her name. ‘Yes, her name is Lotus,’ George replied. She named herself during my pregnancy, so it felt right to name her at birth. We spent a long time together in the pool, just being in the moment, enjoying this most precious time with our beautiful little Lotus.
A Breech Birth at Home By Tania A Katrina Folkwell excerpt Photograph by Katrina Folkwell <strong>byronchild</strong> 33
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