My Surprise Breech Homebirth; with Incredible Breech Photos and video

 This was my 5th time birthing at home. Baby was head down the day prior, in fact, I felt her initiate labour hours before she was born by nuzzling her head in to my cervix at regular intervals, triggering sensations to start. I was 39 weeks and she was ready! 

The warm morning sun rolled in with consistent and gentle surges happening every five to seven minutes. After experiencing persistent prodromal labour during the weeks leading up to this, I was not convinced it was the real deal. Having regular surges was not unusual for my body, especially being my 5th baby. I was in denial and still expecting them to fizzle out, in spite of her being the one to initiate them in the first place...  

After a trip to the bathroom, a bloody show appeared. A tell tale sign from my previous births that my baby would be born within the next 24 hours. My mind quickly shifted in to ‘knowing’. 

Every feeling rushed in and a small melt down was had in my husband’s arms. He grounded me so beautifully with the reassurance I needed. Having given birth to four children in our home already, I was well aware of what lay in the hours ahead, but this still didn’t stop that little rush of adrenaline. After some love talk, I was back on track and ready to allow this birth to unfold as it needed to. 

I was tired on this day in particular - who isn’t at the end of pregnancy? My youngest at the time was 18 month old, still waking through the night and needing me, rightly so. Despite the feeling of exhaustion, I knew I was capable of tapping in to my power to bring this baby earthside, and Isla became a beautiful distraction from any discomfort. 

As I always did during my previous pregnancies, I set up a birth space in the weeks prior filled with things that deeply inspire and reminded me of my strength. This space was strung with affirmation flags sewed by hand, a collection of painted musings with wise words of encouragement. A chain of vibrant birthing beads I cherish deeply, each one sent to me from beautiful women across the country. Fairy lights, handcrafted gifts from the children and fresh clay sculptures I had created in the days leading up to her birth. (Read: Tips for creating your most sacred birth space)

We updated our primary midwife Melanie to let her know that I had my show and that we would keep her in the loop if things continued to progress. Having supported us through the homebirths of all our children, she knew exactly what to do when it came to honouring our birth space.

Knowing what might be ahead, my husband went down for a rest as he had come home off a night shift that morning. I continued the morning routine with our older children, all of whom were wriggling with excitement and anticipation for their siblings arrival.
 

By mid afternoon surges were still gentle, remaining regular and still around 5 minutes apart. I was unphased by them and could easily distracted myself. Tim was now up again so we decided to spend some time together in hopes of moving things in the right direction. After swaying through surges together, a full body massage and eating fresh fruit platers my mother and sister had prepared for us, the oxytocin was flowing and so were my surges!  

As they grew stronger and closer together, I laid down on our bed to rest between each of them. Melting in to every sensation as it rolled through my body, growing in intensity. I found myself entering deeper in to the birth realm, my senses more heightened, our environment even more beautiful and sacred… 


We were surrounded by the midst of summer in the home we birthed all of our children in. Lush golden light spilling through the windows. The faint sounds of them playing in the garden as they periodically checked in for a cuddle or update. My glance drawn to the dust particles dancing in the light in a moment of rest. My grandmother, mother and sister tending the home as I laboured. My husband by my side. The weather made tolerable by a gentle breeze. 

I rose to use the bathroom and was quickly met with a powerful surge that washed over my womb with such force, taking hold of my body as I roared through its intensity.

I instinctively rushed back to our bed, I knew this was where she was calling to be born. My surges quickly increased with such intensity, length and little rest. I knew it wouldn’t be much longer. I leaned over the birth ball with such relief and comfort. (Read: My favourite positions to use during Labour and Birth: from a mum who has birthed 6 babies at home)

Baby continued to be very active during labour, nothing out of our normal. Roughly 20 minutes had passed since my powerful surge and my body was feeling the instinctive urge to push. Something felt different as she started to descend through my cervix. I wasn’t feeling the intense pressure I was familiar with during my previous cephalic (head down) births, all of which descended very quickly, with a forceful pressure and intensity. What I was feeling could only best be described as; mouldable! A lighter, more tolerable pressure. 



I felt completely present in my body, using my voice to release tension and remain fully open as I guided her down. The internal thought of her being breech had come and gone. Once I felt the flick of her legs exit me and the harder part of her tunnelling through last, I knew my intuition was right and I went with it! Everyone remained calm and present, only gentle words of encouragement were spoken. No one broke my focus. The whole room held trust and allowed my body to do what it needed. 

Within seconds she slipped out in to waiting hands, the same hands that caught her siblings before her, where she was then unwrapped of her nuchal cord and passed through to me. My midwife Mel confirming my intuition of her being breech. Everyone had a good cry as she let out hers and time stood still with elation for all of us…


















I was on cloud nine and in total disbelief that I had just birthed a breech baby on my bed. It was all too simple and perfect. Intuitive. Still to this day I would say it was my favourite birth, on close par to the one hour birth of my daughter. But really, all of my homebirths are my favourite!

It felt incredible to birth a breech baby naturally. Not just the elation of having done so, but physically, in the moment. It was an experience I would gladly do again. I personally might even prefer the feeling of birthing a breech baby over a cephalic baby… (bum first vs head first!)

As we do after every homebirth, we tucked ourselves in to bed for a snuggle. My mother served me a bowl of pumpkin soup with sourdough, and a much needed cup of tea. Our children severed the cord and curiously examined the placenta with our midwives.









Mel completed some gentle newborn checks with the kids and made some placenta prints on canvas for us. Our home was humming with love as we all soaked in the newest member and chatted in complete awe on what just unfolded.





Our two midwives, who have been with us since the very beginning, when I was 18 and birthed my first baby at home, gathered their things and left us all with a heartfelt hug.

Lolahs breech birth was nothing short from incredible. Life-altering. And as I did with my previous homebirths, I stepped away feeling transformed, held and empowered as a woman. I am still to this day riding her birth high, I will forever…

Watch my surprise breech homebirth:

Midwives: Mel from @melaniethemidwife @thgreatbirthrebellionpodcast
& Emma from @hawkesburymidwife
Birth Photographer: Kate Randall Photography

*Images cannot be re-used without written consent by Alanah and Kate.

Read next: Natural pain relief tools that helped me birth 6 babies at home!
Or: How to get the most out of your birth space
Or: How to create a birth space that actually helps your labour