My how times change …
It’s been 50 years since I gave birth in 1970 and so much has changed.
Let’s do a little history about breech births. In 1970, the c-section rate was 4.5% … done primarily to save a woman’s life. Breech pregnancy, baby and birth was considered normal, natural and physiological. In fact, the ‘risks’ of breech birth were accepted as normal, natural and physiological as did the vast majority of other issues/risks.
Risks were accepted.
Childbirth risks are normal, natural and physiological. There are many yet specific risks. Some of those risks do become problems but there are many more risks and far fewer problems. Thankfully!
Thankfully there are infinitely fewer ‘tragedies’ that result from the ‘problems’ that come from the ‘risks’.
Then we have to compare breech risk to risks in life! You and your breech baby are at a much higher risk just living. That’s important to know. Yet, if you or your breech baby have a ‘problem’ that becomes a ‘tragedy’ then that happened to you!
We’re all trying to prevent ‘risks’ and reduce or prevent them from becoming ‘problems’ or ‘tragedies’.
Presently, the focus of mothers pregnant with a breech baby is to do everything to ‘turn’ the baby using different techniques and methods.
Yet, there is NO Societal expectation that 100% of pregnant women should normally and naturally self-learn birth and birth-coaching skills then use those skills to work through the activity of birthing their baby.
Birth skills including preparing your body (a container) to open up, be soft inside and mobile so you/your body/ container can OPEN up so your baby/an object can move down, through and out. This body preparation includes doing Internal Work so the soft tissue does not impede the last passage.