Re: [ozmidwifery] Breech birth question

[Abby and Toby]

Title: Re: [ozmidwifery] Breech birth question

>>I really love your interest in all the finer details of birth - your inquisitive nature will hold you well as you watch all your births unfold - all in their own manner, positions and time frame.   Thanks for the encouragement Sue. Sometimes my inquisitive, questioning mind gets me in trouble! lol! >>I have also not long returned from Maggie Banks Midwifery Intensive in New Zealand where we really bashed out breech births from all perspectives and positions.   I am so keen to get along to one of Maggies intensives. I am hoping to go sometime next year. Flights can be so cheap now and what a wonderful way to spend a weekend!! >>If you run a breech simulation through a plastic uterus, like we did many times in NZ, it appears that the most accommodating position ie the easiest 'sweep' of the baby's head through the bones and the perineum is with the pelvis tipped slightly forwards ie mum leaning slightly back, but upright not sitting on her pelvis ('bed dystocia' as Maggie calls it).   It is interesting that some `caregivers` can observe this and then some cannot see the ease different positions create, not just in birth. I have a very old obstetrics book and everything is shown on a plastic model. (I got the book to cut up for some artworks I am doing). Every pic is the model lying down or semi reclined, I just wonder how people don't notice the `obstructions`, generally created in those positions. >>However, 2 of my 3 homebirth breeches were standing leaning forward which does allow baby to drop through well, but with each of these, when the head was ready to be born ie after the nape of the neck was visible, when asked to 'let go',  both mothers spontaneously tipped their pelvises forward (into the better sweeping position).   It is amazing how women will follow their bodies cues and intuition if supported in that space. I love to hear these stories, they are so few and far between, where a woman is encouraged to `let go`. >>Cord cut immediately, off to the resus trolley, suctioned, aspirated, shown to another midwife out the door - all before mum even had a look!! Disgusting behaviour !!   That is disgusting! Women can be treated so badly, it is an outrage. It is incredibly sad too. Did you want to deck him one Sue??!! >>This makes senes to me anyway, as we all know the difficulties sometimes faced with severe dystocias which sometimes end in tragedy.   It makes sense to me too. I am sooo keen to get along to an intensive now!! Even though I am not a midwife, I just love learning from wise women about women. I think I would've loved to have grown up watching heaps of births and sitting in womens circles! lol! I think that in the attempt to stop tragedy in birth, the medical "professionals" have taken it too far and created many tragedies through interventions. I am amazed and thankful for the life saving interventions when they really are needed, but many cause more problems if used incorrectly etc. The more I learn and hear about women, pregnancy and birth, the more I see that there are tragedies that happen, and they sometimes are part of the `natural` process of life and birth. Not sure if I am explaining how to express what I am trying to say, or if this makes sense, it is hard to put into words. >>Birth is a dynamic process and we always have to be on out toes and expectant, rather than complacent. But as you say Abby, 'the best way to birth a breech baby is just like any other baby, her way in her time.'Sue Ahhh Sue, I wish I had listened to my heart and sought you for support at my birth when I lived in the Shire. Though, if it had been a wonderful waterbirth at home I may not be where I am now, supporting women.   Love Abby