Hi Tina,

 

It’s 2 years ago today that I caught my first baby as an RM, and it was that gorgeous baby girl with her two feet firstl…reading your account of this magnificent birth took me back to that day (a day I revisit often) and reaffirmed my strong faith in women and their abilities to birth.  It is such an amazing moment, watching that baby unfold, and ease out, with that absolute knowledge inside of you that this woman and this baby know exactly how to do this…

 

Congratulations, take it with you and let that wonderful experience give you strength and courage when times perhaps aren’t so good…

 

Tania

xxx 

 


From: owner-[email protected] [mailto:owner-[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tina Pettigrew
Sent: Wednesday, 19 October 2005 5:46 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: [ozmidwifery] 'Breech birth woman wise'

 

Hi everyone,
tis me again....just wanted to share with you that last Friday while I was working in our family birthing unit I had the most awesome of experiences...... being  midwife for a woman with an undiagnosed breech birth....Woo Hoo!!! Poor Janine and my fellow midwives at Geelong have had to put up with me walking around with a smile too big for my face....simply one of the most awesome births I have witnessed as this strong and powerful woman birthed her breech baby in the standing position.The baby, a frank breech, just birthed beautifully into my and the woman's third year B Mid follow thru students hands....It was truly and all BMid affair, with the birthing woman herself a 3rd year BMid student!!!

 

What also adds to the splendor of this birth was that unbeknown to the BMid student and I, the consultant obstetrican did make into the birth but just kept quiet and stood at the back of the room and watched as we facilitated the birth (well we did nothing really as 'hands off the breech' came flooding back from my midwifery education) we just supported/reassured and held the space for the woman who stood strong and powerful and breathed out her baby daughter.....I can't stop smiling as on reflection I can't believe that this OB got to witness 'breech birth woman wise'....a totally midwifery approach to breech birth!!

 

The baby was born in good condition, Apgars of 6 at 1 and 9 at 5...a quick check over by the paed and she was straight back into her mothers arms....the birth topped off with a wonderful physiological third stage!!

 

For those of you close to me, you know that I have had a rough trot the past few months with my midwifery....but such experiences as this help to restore one's faith in the 'power of woman' and reignite the spark that fuels the flame of my passion for midwifery and woman's innate knowlege and wisdom to birth. Trusting in the process of birth, women, and our skills as midwives has always been at the core of my midwifery philosophy...to truly work in partnership with women and trust in their innate abilities to birth safely and joyously is a totally empowering experience...not just for the woman but also for the midwife!!! Maggie Bank's book 'breech birth woman wise' has taken on a whole new meaning for me....I continue to be amazed at what woman teach us if we are just humble enough to watch and listen.

 

Yours in reforming midwifery,
Tina Pettigrew.

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