Rogan's Birth

When we discovered we were pregnant for the first time, we seriously considered the option of having a home birth. We were unsure because we did not know how I was likely to labour, and as we had not experienced labour, birth, and the post-partum period before, we did not know what the disadvantages and advantages of home vs hospital were. Then at 32 weeks our OB examined me to check my waters weren't leaking, and discovered I was 2 cms dilated. And she felt a vigorous kick - our baby was footling breech. Too risky for a home birth!

Footling breech babies have their feet presenting first, very unusual. We were told that 3% of babies are breech, and only 1% of breech babies are footling breech: therefore 0.03% of all babies are footlings. We tried all the suggested natural methods for turning breech babies, and then resorted to an attempt at external version, all to no avail. The baby was very determined to stay just where he was, obviously he was nice and comfy. Everyone thought I would go into labour early, especially as the baby was kicking my uterus and cervix around, but we held in there.

Our OB was fully supportive of our wish to attempt a natural delivery, and she made sure we were well-informed of the expected progress of labour with a breech delivery, and the possible reasons for intervention. My Mother had a breech baby (3rd child) in 3 hours, and my Great Grandmother successfully delivered a breech baby too, so I was keen to give it a go.

I was 37 ½ weeks pregnant when one night I got up to go to the toilet at 11pm, and my waters broke. No mistaking it, the water just gushed out, there was no round head or rump to seal it off at all. We rung the midwife, Margaret, who said if nothing was happening by morning we'd consider what to do next. Then an hour later I noticed that, even though I couldn't feel any contractions, if I held my hand on my tummy I could feel the muscles tightening every 3 minutes. So we got Margaret out of bed again, and she said we'd better meet her at the hospital. At this point Tony rung his Mother to say we were heading into the hospital. I had a shower and mucked around, and we arrived at about 3 am.

I was convinced I wasn't really in labour, but my husband insisted on taking our packed bag, and again insisted on taking it into the hospital when I suggested leaving it in the car. Upon examination it turned out I was 6 cms, I couldn't believe it, I hadn't had any pain yet! I was convinced that we were going to be able to do this just fine! I walked a loop around our room, around and around and around, as the pains intensified. I would dearly loved to have had the freedom of our house, I felt too embarrassed to walk the corridors in the hospital as I was leaking fluids etc etc.

Suddenly I felt the urge to squat and push, and for the first time I heard from Margaret 'I think I'll just have a little feel to see how it's going, if that's alright with you.'. Rats, still at 6 cms. My OB, Karine, was called in, and she confirmed the 6 cms and the presence of feet where what was needed was a something a bit more substantial to aid dilation! The heartbeat etc was fine, so Karine agreed that she was happy to leave us for a couple of hours, but if no further progress was made a caesarian would be necessary. Oh, and I wasn't allowed to push - they had to be kidding! I spent 2 of the worse hours of my life trying hard Not to push, my body had lost the plot entirely. 2 hours later things were still the same, so a caesarian it was to be.

Next enter the anaesthetist. Lovely chap, carefully sat down to explain things, only to be told I didn't care just get on with it! Why on earth they spend time trying to explain the details to someone who is obviously totally out of their mind with pain I'll never know! The epidural was put in, and the relief was amazing. Tony's Mum arrived to take the photos, but when they tested me we realized I could still feel my tummy being tickled. So in went a spinal tap. As they had to put that in higher up I felt like I couldn't breath, but I could.

Before we knew it they were delivering our son, who had to be hauled out bodily by the legs and arrived howling, he was wonderful. I had a quick cuddle of him, then they checked him over in the same room while I was being stitched, and he was given to Tony a couple of minutes later while I was still being worked on. We were not separated at all. Rogan was 8 pounds 3 ounces, and perfect. Breastfeeding went like a dream, and we chose to go home after 48 hours. I returned to work at 4 months, with my husband full-time at home, and Rogan continued to breastfeed until 2 yrs old.

PS Rogan is now 5 years old, and he has 2 brothers. Kyle, 2 1/2 yrs old, whose birth we hoped would be a homebirth but we ended up transferring in to hospital (only 7 minutes away) as his head was presenting on the side and he was starting to show signs of distress. A successful forceps delivery was performed 2 hrs after arriving at hospital. And Casey, 3 1/2 months old, who was born at home after a whirlwind 1 hr 40 minute labour and only 3 pushes!