This is my birth story for my 2nd child, Pendleton. I’ve always wanted to do a home birth, but mostly a natural birth — even before I was ready to have children this was a dream. After having a less-than-satisfactory hospital birth with my firstborn, nothing was going to stop me with my 2nd – not even a breech baby – or so I thought..
If you’d like to know about my past birth/pregnancy you can read about it here:
My Birth Experience of an Unmedicated Natural Birth Turned C-Section
My Birth Experience of an Unmedicated Natural Birth Turned C-Section. Part Two
Here is my little breech baby birth story:
At 36 weeks, we discovered she was breech. This is booty first as opposed to the most common head-down position. Breech babies can still be born vaginally so after trying to turn her with inversions, chiro care, acupuncture, moxibustion, and two failed EVCs I decided to accept her position and continue with my original plan, a vaginal home birth.
These next weeks were long, including my baby shower, visit with friends and family, and continued chiro care. I tried to stay busy with frequent moments of rest to prepare for my potentially very long labor, due to a breech baby position.
By 40 weeks, I tried not to stress about the time, but knowing by week 42 I’d have to have a C-section I was becoming unsettled. I continued with Miles Circuts, curb walking, Chiro care, and acupressure massages. I tried to remain calm and happy by rewatching Shrinking and Ted Lasso in between all the exercises.
What’s happening?
Week 40 day 6, I began having random gushes of water. My waters did not break with my first so I didn’t know what this was. At first, I thought I was peeing on myself or having increased discharge, but it was random, even after I went to the restroom. As time went by, the fluid came more often and the amount increased, so I notified my midwife.
We agreed to meet the next morning.
Upon our meeting, we did discover my water was leaking or had broke and there was meconium, the baby’s poop, in the water.
Since she was booty down, more than likely the meconium was coming out and not filling up the sac. However, I needed to go into labor to avoid this becoming an issue.
I wasn’t having any contractions at the time, therefore she suggested I go home and take castor oil.
My castor oil experience
Castor oil causes contractions of your intestines. For most people, this causes you to have diarrhea and vomit. Then go into labor if you are pregnant.
I took a dose mixed with OJ and ice cream, at 1 pm. Then the second dose at 2 pm.
By 3 pm, my mother had arrived in case I did go into labor.
The next 6 hours were a blur. I had low stomach and back contractions so fierce and so quick together all I could do was try to find a comfortable position and cope.
My mom and husband retold this part to me as if I didn’t live it. I hardly remember getting in the shower or rolling on my ball. I remember my mom softly rubbing my back and reminding me to make low tones. I remember my son making low tones with me and making me laugh.
My cervix isn’t broken!
Around 7 pm, my midwife came to check the baby’s heart rate, because I was unable to tell her if I felt movement or not, due to the constant contractions. She verified the baby was okay and checked my dilation. I never dilated with my son, so I hollered for joy when she told me I was 2 centimeters!
She left and gave us orders to check my fever every 30 minutes. At 9 pm, I had a temp of 99.9. I grabbed my phone to update her and noticed she asked about my discharge.
When I checked, I, along with my mom gasped. At this point, I was wearing a depends because the water and meconium had increased. There was so much meconium. I text my midwife “It’s a lot. Do you want a picture?”.
Once she received the photo she responded, “This is concerning”.
Time for a transfer
She called and calmly explained her concerns going to the hospital would result in a C-section. I was well aware because my baby was breached that this would be the case.
My midwife proceeded to tell my mom the next steps we were to take; Where to arrive at the hospital etc.
My mom called Logan, who was downstairs on a much-needed dinner break, and told him he was taking me to the hospital. Later he explained how shocked he was because he legit thought I was going to have this baby at home.
While Logan brought the car around to the front, my mom helped me out. She told me it was cold out and I needed more clothes. I was currently wearing a zipper front sports bra, for easy skin-to-skin access, a thin black gown, pink fuzzy slippers and of course my handy dandy depends. Clothes and weather were furthest from my brain so I grabbed a furry blanket from my sofa and proceeded outside.
The car ride is a blur.
Vaginal home birth turned Hospital C-section
My midwife met us in triage and my treatment with the hospital staff began.
Luckily my midwife was able to send all my information and update them on my labor thus far.
She helped me to decline my cervix being checked. I felt it was unnecessary if I were going to have a c-section.
Every person that was working with/on me introduced themselves. Even someone who came to ask for my information took the time to introduce herself to me and explain what she was there for.
I was asked what kind of music I’d like played. I requested Stevie Nicks.
My temperature had declined but me and my baby’s heart rates were high. Most likely from dehydration.
I received two IVs since my chances of hemorrhaging were higher, being my second c-section.
C-section Round 2
Once I and the room were prepped they wheeled me in for surgery. To my pleasure, Stevie’s Gypsy was playing. I called myself out on my butt tattoo for some comic relief. They had Logan sit in front of me for a hug while they gave me the epidural. I was very happy to feel my feet get warm and tingly, after 8 hours of cramps.
They lay me down on the bed and the nurse explained what would happen next.
The Dr arrives and tells me she too had a breech baby. They put up the little surgery wall and began to count the tools.
I remember Logan kissing and touching my face. I remember bobbing my head to Stevie Nicks.
The moment every mother waits for
When they finally got her out they said she was in shock. I wasn’t able to see her right away, but I knew even vaginally delivered breech babies take time to cry so I wasn’t too alarmed. They took her to the side where they suctioned her and rubbed her down. It did seem like forever, but my midwife reassured me she was very pink and just fine.
Logan watched as they were working on making her cry and kept saying, “She’s so pretty!”
She finally cried.
With help from my midwife, the nurses delayed weighing and measuring her so I could hold her quickly.
They brought her to me and I said “She looks just like her brother” and “She’s so small”.
I held her the whole time they put me back together.
and my little family was complete.
She latched very quickly and without any issues. She weighed 8lbs 3oz. We, including the baby nurse, were all shocked because she looked small, but she was a very tall 22 inches. The same size and gestation as big brother!
Though this breech baby birth story wasn’t the one I wished to tell, I had a far better experience knowing I did everything I absolutely could to have my baby the way I wished. I felt advocated for and in charge of my body, thanks to Swiss Ave Birth. I am sad I will never experience birth the way I dreamed and have been mourning this loss, but am overjoyed to have two beautiful healthy babies and health of my own.
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