Why I’m Sharing My Positive Breech Birth Story

When I fell pregnant with my second baby, I knew this birth would be different because every birth is.

I had such a positive experience the first time that I was intentional about preparing again. Because I know how much it shapes how you feel during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I wanted to give myself the best chance to have another positive experience - no matter what birth looked like this time.

This isn’t a story of ease or perfection. Pregnancy and birth threw me more than a few curveballs. It’s not a story about everything going “to plan.”

It’s my honest, real and ultimately positive vaginal breech birth story.

I’m sharing this because I know how many women feel uncertain - even powerless - when plans change during pregnancy. If you’re navigating a breech presentation, facing unexpected decisions or simply feeling overwhelmed by the “what ifs,” I hope this story offers reassurance.

You are allowed to ask questions.
You are allowed to explore options.
You are allowed to find your own way.

Pregnancy and Preparing for Birth the Second Time Around

Pregnancy with a toddler was… next level.

I had hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) again and was sick almost the entire pregnancy. Managing that level of nausea, vomiting and exhaustion while caring for an almost two-year-old was physically and emotionally draining. There were moments I genuinely didn’t know how I would make it through.

I also had Anti-Dia antibodies again 

And then there was the mental load - always wondering how my toddler would adjust to becoming a big brother. How would he cope? How would the transition be? Would I have the capacity to meet both of their needs?

In many ways, my preparation mirrored my first pregnancy - but this time, I went deeper because I knew how much of a difference it made last time. I revisited my Empowered Birth Course (the same program I teach), refreshed my knowledge and adjusted my preferences.

Here’s what I focused on:

• Pelvic floor physiotherapy throughout the whole pregnancy (to reduce the risk of another 3rd degree tear)

• Practicing breathing and mindset work

• Visualisation and affirmations 

• Creating a postpartum plan that included support for our toddler

• Accepting that birth was going to be different this time and preparing for it to go differently this time

• Perineal massage from 35 weeks

• Antenatal Expressing from 37 weeks

I kept coming back to this: however my baby arrives, I want to meet them feeling calm, prepared and confident in my decisions.

A Breech Baby at 36 weeks

At 36 weeks, we discovered our baby was in a breech position.

That moment shook me - because it changed everything.

It wasn’t because I’m against caesarean birth - I’m not. As a midwife, I understand that birth doesn’t always unfold physiologically. Caesareans can save lives and are absolutely the right choice in many situations. I know caesareans can also be a positive birth experience. 

What I struggled with most was the loss of choice.

I had prepared intentionally for a physiological vaginal birth. Suddenly, it felt like that option was being removed. My hospital and obstetric consultant did not support vaginal breech birth.

And practically speaking, I worried about recovery. Recovering from a caesarean with a toddler at home felt daunting. I was concerned about how it would impact my postpartum experience and my son’s transition to big brother.

The uncertainty was mentally exhausting.

Trying to Help Baby Turn

Once we confirmed the breech position, I did everything I could to encourage baby to turn head down.

• Spinning Babies exercises

• Acupuncture and moxibustion

• Physiotherapy and bodywork

• Chiropractic care

• An External Cephalic Version (ECV)

Despite all of it, baby remained breech.

It was a challenging few weeks mentally - a rollercoaster of hoping, disappointment, trying, accepting and re-evaluating.

But through it all, I kept thinking: I wanted to make decisions from a place of informed choice, not fear or pressure.

Empowerment isn’t always about getting the outcome you hoped for. Sometimes it’s about how you move through uncertainty.

I was determined to make a plan that felt right for me.

Rewriting My Birth Plan

After my ECV at 37 weeks was unsuccessful, I had some big decisions to make.

My current hospital and obstetric consultant were not supportive of a vaginal breech birth. So I was left with two options:

• Schedule a caesarean at 39 weeks (as recommended), or

• Transfer hospitals to attempt a vaginal breech birth elsewhere

Neither felt quite right. So I gave myself time to think before making a choice.

After discussions with my partner, I consented to a caesarean at 41 weeks with my current Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) team. This gave baby time to turn spontaneously and allowed my body the chance to go into labour naturally.

This decision also gave me time to really explore my options and decide what felt right. 

After going home, I explored everything:

• Transferring hospitals to attempt a vaginal breech birth

• Planning a home birth with a private midwife that supported breech birth

• Staying with my current team and plan

There was a lot of research, difficult conversations and a few emotional breakdowns.

Eventually, I decided to stay with my team and prepare for a caesarean at 41 weeks if baby remained breech.

I rewrote my birth preferences for a caesarean and created a clear postpartum recovery plan.

My “if/then” plan looked like this:

• If baby turned head down → revert to my original vaginal birth plan

• If I remained pregnant at 41 weeks with a breech baby → proceed with the elective caesarean

• If labour started spontaneously and baby remained breech →  have an emergency caesarean (knowing that baby was prepared and ready to be born)

• If labour progressed quickly → stay open to the possibility of a vaginal breech birth

Preparation and flexibility can coexist.

The Birth Story 

Once I mentally relaxed and felt confident in the plan, my body began preparing.  I had two nights of irregular contractions. They weren’t intense but they felt different like they were trying to help baby turn. My body was working with my baby to make space and try to move their position. One night, I even thought baby may have flipped.

But by morning, I could tell bub was still breech.

The contractions settled and I continued with my normal routine, trusting the process.

That night I did the usual bedtime routine with my toddler, watched one of my favourite movies with my husband and tucked myself into bed.

The Day I Met My Baby

Then at 2:30am (at 38+3 weeks) I was woken by three little taps followed by a big gush - my waters had broken. It was completely different to my first birth, where my waters broke in the birth pool during transition. 

I quickly woke my husband to help clean up while I had a shower. I felt calm, movements were normal, the fluid was clear and I knew we would meet our baby that day.

I told my husband we didn’t need to rush - his mum was already coming over to look after our toddler during the day as I had an appointment. I said we could wait a few hours until a more reasonable time before calling her to come earlier and then head to hospital for a caesarean.

I settled back into bed with some fresh sheets and an adult nappy on, when the contractions began. At first they were mild, lasting about 30 seconds. But they quickly ramped up. By 4am, I was needing to focus and breathe through each one.

I realised things were moving faster than I anticipated and we wouldn’t be able to wait until morning to head to hospital.

We called my mother-in-law, gathered last-minute things for hospital and got everything ready for our toddler. At 4:30am, I put on my TENS machine and started walking around the house, swaying and breathing through each contraction.

My husband called our MGP midwife to let her know what was happening. As soon as my mother-in-law arrived, we jumped in the car and arrived at the hospital at 6am.

My midwife had the room prepared beautifully: low lighting, fairy lights, affirmations, aromatherapy and the bath filled (just in case Bub was head down). It was the same room where I birthed my first baby.  I felt calm and safe.

But in the corner, I noticed the ultrasound machine.

The obstetric team needed to confirm baby’s position to decide our next steps - and as I expected, bub was still breech. The obstetrician asked if I understood what that meant and I said, “Yes, it means a caesarean as this hospital doesn’t support vaginal breech.” 

My midwife offered a vaginal examination to assess progress and help us form a plan, I agreed - I was 8cm.

The contractions were feeling really intense and I was still using my TENS, constantly moving, standing, swaying and tuning into my body.

I was surprised that I was 8cm and I remember thinking: “I’m close… but not close enough for a vaginal birth.”

My consent form had gone missing, so we started another one while they began prepping me for surgery.

The Moment Everything Shifted

At this point, the team were still preparing me for theatre. My husband was in his paper jumpsuit, my TEDS were on and the anaesthetist had introduced himself while putting in a cannula and talking about spinal anaesthetic.

I tried to stay standing and remain in the zone as everyone moved around me - taking it one contraction at a time.

I was asked to get on the bed as I was about to be transferred to theatre, the ward staff were ready and we were just waiting for the call that theatre was ready for me. 

Being on the bed made the contractions so intense and much harder to cope with. My midwife offered to check me again. I was now 9cm.

She encouraged me to get off the bed and keep moving while we waited for the on call obstetric consultant to arrive. I went into the bathroom, my husband holding the fan and encouraging me through each contraction.

At 7am - shift change happened and this changed everything for me.

The new midwifery team leader came in. She spoke to my MGP midwife, asked about the situation, my preferences and asked, “Would she prefer a vaginal breech birth or a caesarean?”

My midwife shared that a vaginal breech birth would be my preference - if supported. As we had spoken about this in depth during my appointments leading up to birth.

The team leader left the room and many discussion occurred outside the room while I remained in the zone in the bathroom, undisturbed, using my breathing and TENs machine to move through contractions. I kept saying to myself and my baby ‘You can do this, just a little bit longer, one contraction at a time’

Not long after, the consultant obstetrician arrived for my caesarean. Outside the room the obstetric team had a discussion with the midwifery team leader, clinical midwifery consultant and my MGP midwife - about my preferences and what could be done to support me. The obstetric consultant then came into the room and we had a chat about my preferences and what I wanted to do. He calmly said he had supported many breech vaginal births in other countries and would support me if that’s what I wanted.

I was shocked.

He explained the benefits vs risks and said he believed I could do it if it was what I wanted. I signed a form to acknowledge that I was declining recommended medical care. The team leader midwife told me she was in my corner, believed in me and would be there to advocate for me if needed.

The energy in the room completely changed.

The caesarean was stood down and I was supported fully to birth vaginally.

My contractions slowed for a while during all of these discussions, giving me a chance to regroup. Then, as things intensified again, I felt baby move deeper into my pelvis.

I moved back into the room wanting to set up the affirmation cards I had packed. My husband was massaging my back and holding the fan while I used the TENs and breathed through contractions.

Before I could even unpack anything, I felt the urge to push. 

I told my midwife and instinctively moved to the side of the bed where I stood on a mat (the exact place and position I birthed my first baby)

I followed my body’s lead.

Because it was a vaginal breech birth, more staff entered the room to provide additional support if needed - in the room I had my MGP midwife, the midwifery team leader, the clinical midwifery consultant and three obstetricians.

My legs were shaking from all the hormones. I thought about moving to all fours, but my midwife encouraged me to stay standing if I could as things were progressing well with gravity assisting.

I was standing, leaning on the bed, head down and mid-push, when I called out, “We don’t know the gender - no one say anything!”
I was so aware that everyone else could see before I could.

Meeting Our Baby + The Golden Hours

Within two minutes of their bottom becoming visible, my baby was born at 7:46am - less than two hours after arriving at hospital.

Baby was passed through my legs and I brought them straight to my chest for skin to skin (they didn’t make it all the way due to a very short cord!). Bub needed quite a bit of stimulation to help initiate the first breath but didn’t require any resuscitation.

I hadn't even thought to check the gender until one of my colleagues asked and I looked, I said, “It’s a girl!” I was so sure I was having another boy. I was completely shocked and just so happy to meet my baby.

I chose to delay cord clamping until the placenta was born physiologically and my husband cut the cord.

I had a small first-degree tear that didn’t require suturing. I was able to enjoy two hours of uninterrupted skin-to-skin and that first breastfeed before my husband had his turn while I showered.

We were discharged six hours after birth, going home as a family of four - ready to introduce our little girl to her big brother.

What This Breech Birth Taught Me

This birth honestly couldn’t have gone better. It was everything I hoped for and more.

Not because it was easy.
Not because it was risk-free.
But because I felt informed, supported and heard.

I was incredibly fortunate to have a team who respected my preferences, supported me and were willing to advocate for me. I truly feel like the stars aligned that morning - with the right midwives, the right consultant and my body and baby working perfectly together.

I know not everyone has this experience and that’s exactly why sharing positive breech birth stories matters (to show you that it can happen).

My recovery has been smooth. I feel so proud of myself and empowered by how everything unfolded.

Most of all, I’m grateful that I made my preferences known, trusted myself, kept asking questions and made decisions that felt right for me and my family - even when they weren’t the standard option.

Birth education doesn’t guarantee a specific outcome. But it changes how you move through pregnancy, labour and unexpected decisions.

It builds confidence.
It supports informed choice.
It allows you to ask questions.
It helps you remain grounded - even when plans change.

Most of all, this birth reminded me that preparation and surrender are not opposites.

You can prepare deeply.
You can research thoroughly.
You can create multiple plans.
And you can still surrender to the process and allow birth to unfold naturally.

A Gentle Disclaimer

This story shares my personal experience and decisions, made based on my values, circumstances, preferences and professional background.

It is not shared to suggest that you should make the same decisions I did.

Every birth is different. Every woman deserves to feel informed, respected and supported in her choices.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to birth.

If you’re preparing for your own birth, know this: education matters. Support matters. Your voice matters.

You deserve to feel empowered in your decisions - whatever they may be.

You’ve got this. 💕