Born Breech - Baby Ben's Birth Story








61 comments

  1. Love every bit of this blessed story, Mary! Thank you for sharing it! And happy 1 month birthday, Ben!

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  2. What an amazing birth story to read. It left me in tears.

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  3. This is an amazing story - I'm glad you took the time to write it out and share it with us. Can't wait to meet this special blessing!

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  4. Wow, wow, and wow. You are amazing. And he is precious. And that was a long cord!!!

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  5. Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

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  6. several things-
    I giggled at the visual of the exercises in your house!
    I love your answer to 'this is why I would never'...
    I adore the name and I am kind of funny about names. So perfect.
    This is a pretty incredibly birth story and I am glad you told it all :) I mean, I was pretty amazed by the whole thing. And, of course, very curious to see what type of little guy Ben is gonna be.

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  7. This is beautiful and so are you all!!!! Blessings!

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  8. Wow, what a crazy, amazing birth. Praise God everything happened so perfectly. I'd never heard of an Agnus Dei. I'll have to keep that in mind for future pregnancies, God willing.

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  9. Wow. Just wow. I have never read a birth story like this. Amazing! What a miracle.

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  10. Congratulations! He looks so sweet and precious! God bless you and your family!

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  11. Thank you for sharing! I am so glad you weren't traumatized by his birth, as you very well could have been. I was crying because my last little guy had to be a stinker, too (transverse at 38 weeks), but my story didn't go as well as yours, sadly.

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    1. I'm so sorry. Transverse is the only breech presentation that most definitely HAS to be a cesarean but I'm so sorry that you were traumatized by it. That must be so hard. <3

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  12. Mary, that was an incredible story -- one for the ages! I'm sure your little man will enjoy hearing (most of) his birth story all his life! I have to thank you for your prayers. I asked you to pray for my son and his (at the time) future wife for their wedding. They were married Saturday (see my blog for a peek) and it was a glorious Mass and the most beautiful start to a beautiful life. Thank you for your prayers! The grace poured down (with a lot of rain!).

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    1. I'm so happy for them!! Isn't rain supposed to be a good sign? At least that's what they told me when it rained a bit on our day ;)

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  13. Wow, what an amazing story. He's beautiful and so are you!

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  14. Mary, you rock!! This birth story is so amazing!! Thank you so much for sharing. Blessing to you all!

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  15. Nice story! I agree with your opinions on what happened. I'm sure it all happened for a reason and it seems like having a midwife checking on you often helped. Ps. My name is Brigid Marie. Lol

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    1. I just love your name! Ben's Godmother (my sister) is also Bridget but spelled the anglicized way :) Such a beautiful name!

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  16. Beautiful birth story!!! Your hospital sounds a lot more 'friendly' than mine. I always have to stay two nights (which I hate) and the pediatricians will only examine the baby in the nursery, so the nurse comes and takes the baby for an hour or two until the doctor finishes his exam. I really do not like that part. I wish the pediatrician would come to the room like they did for you.

    I was also curious why you needed a catheter? Was it because they thought they would be doing a C-section?

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    1. Eh, not really. We had to be really really assertive to get all those things and part of it was because they knew I was a home birth transfer and wasn't going to be doing things the "normal" way ;) We consented to him going to the nursery for the hearing test (which in my opinion is one of the silliest tests they make you do at that precious time!) but they did the shorter one and Brian went with him. Taking them for an hour or two, though, is unacceptable. I wouldn't be afraid to fight on that one if you have to!

      The catheter was because I was being prepped for the cesarean and that's what everyone in the room (including myself) was preparing for until the doctor pulled that little foot out! Wish they had waited on that, though, because, ew. For some reason that feels particularly violating! (Obviously if it's necessary then okay but still not something you want to have done!)

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    2. I had to be hospitalized three different times for Lucia because labor started around 30 weeks. The first visit they gave me a catheter because I wasn't allowed to get out of bed, but it hurt so much (and about three nurses were present 'to watch' so yes very violating!) that the next time I had to be in the hospital I requested a bed pan. The nurses hated it and tried to fight me about it, but I refused that awful torture device again. Of course like you, I understand if it is necessary and for something like a cesarean I understand, but just bed rest? I don't think so! I wish I could fight against the nursery thing, but it's the hospital policy that the pediatrician goes to nursery for all the new babies. I really hate it, but I don't think it's something I could win. Usually John Paul is home with the kids when it happens, but maybe this time I could try to have him there, so he could go with the baby at least. Please pray he's able to be with me :)

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    3. I will. That is so messed up! I can barely let someone else hold them those first few days…even with the weighing and stuff, my arms are just aching to take them back! I hope they change that policy soon…keep asking because that's how things around here get changed. The more moms ask for something the more they realize that it might be an issue.

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    4. Wow, I usually feel like I'm the "bad guy" working at a hospital, but it's nice to see that we are doing some things right here. We never separate Mom and baby except for health reasons. Hearing screen--in the room, lab tests--in the room, baby bath and exam---in the room, and yes, the pediatricians complained about that one but they have all come around. And times are changing--if a hospital would even try to put a catheter in for bed rest these days, they could lose their license, and we take them out less than 24 hours after a c-section. And Kari, I hope there isn't a next time, but you have a right to refuse having 3 people watch!! Sure hope your hospital catches up with the times soon!

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  17. Wow. Just wow! I am so glad everything worked out well, and you had the right doctor for a breech delivery!

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  18. This is so unbelievably epic!!! Question though - did they not inject a local anesthetic when they were stitching you up? Even when I had a natural birth they still gave me a local anesthetic when they stitched up the tear!

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    1. They do every time but it's usually 3-4 needle injections (ouch) of lidocaine but they never work to completely numb it. I wonder if there are different options because women I've been with doulaing also have the same pain during it. But even just the checking…*shudder* There really should be a better way to do it…I have no idea what but whew, that is rough.

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    2. That checked happened to me after a couple of my births, and it is horrific. I know I had a shot of painkiller and it didn't help much. So bad.

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    3. Same here. I have been stitched up 5 times and the lidocaine never takes completely. So painful!

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  19. WOW!! What an amazingly awesome birth story. It moved me to tears! Praise God! He is SO good! So happy both Mom and ben are okay. God bless, Sonia

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  20. This is probably my favorite birth story ever. What a gift. He is such a beautiful baby.

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  21. WOW!!! That is such an exciting birth story!

    Just for the record, there were no breech births out of my four, but there were two out of my mother's four.

    I was born breech (vaginally) 59 years ago.
    My sister was born breech (vaginally) 67 years ago.
    And I *think* my mother was born breech (vaginally) 95 years ago.

    So yes, it's certainly possible. And it is a darned shame that they don't train US OBs to do routine breech deliveries.

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    1. Exactly! Even if they don't want to do them for a known breech, they should at least know HOW to handle them for cases just like mine. It's so strange that birth practices and protocol is so very different between countries, especially first world countries where it is now so easy to get the information and share the best evidence-based practices.

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  22. What an amazing story Mary! I think it was a successful home birth too. Although it is a big shock to the system having so many people and so many things happen to you so quickly when you're used to a home birth. Things are so different at home! But I think you're amazing, what a birth story! He's a beautiful, precious baby - I'm so glad he's here!

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  23. Wow! It is a homebirth success story and I'm so glad it ended so well for you all. Congratulations!

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  24. Thank you for sharing your miraculous story. I, too, had an amazing, but not as eventful home birth the day before yours. To be brief (because it's your blog!): I never went into active labor but, after hours of light contractions, my waters broke and I had an unusually tough time pushing this one out (though I usually enjoy the pushing stage). It turns out his cord was wrapped around his body and had to be cut before he could come out fully. My midwife later told me that if I'd had strong contractions, he could have been seriously deprived of oxygen. I'm certain it was the daily prayers of the women at my church that made it happen!
    And, btw, I think Benedict Raphael is a beautiful name. Raphael was the name my girls were calling the baby before he was born, and I would have chosen Benedict but my American husband (I'm British) told me no one did that here because of Benedict Arnold - guess he was wrong! Anyway, we now have Alcuin Edward St John (the British pronounce that Sinjun), named for the 8th century scholar, the blessed Alcuin of York.

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    1. Congratulations!! So glad he's here and healthy! So funny, I didn't even *think* of Benedict Arnold until a couple people said it! #catholicproblems My first well known Benedict I thought of after the saint/popes was Benedict Cumberbatch…British! ;)

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  25. This is an amazing birth story, I feel like I went through it with you!! I think it's so cool that as a doula, you have a hospital birth plus a breech birth under your belt. How reassuring for your future clients!! Ben is adorable, and I'm so glad he's here and you are all happy and healthy.

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  26. Wow, what a story! Praise God for a beautiful healthy little boy! The whole story is amazing, but I was particularly struck by the fact that you had the doctor you needed at the right time. I thought it would be such a blessing to have a doctor you knew and trusted, but to be even more blessed to have a doctor you'd never met before, but was uniquely qualified for your situation! God is good.

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  27. Hooray! I've been waiting to hear Benedict's story:)
    Oh my! oh my!! All the amazing moment along the way and your incredible sense of Peace, and the right doctor, and a wonderful outcome!
    I was particularly struck by Brian's reasoning, it hadn't occurred to me but yes, with the cord so long it could have been around B's neck or any number of reasons as to why turning was actually perhaps good. Still..well you had that blessing of Peace:) xxx

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  28. Congrats! What an exciting birth story, I love how you guys can see God's hand clearly throughout. I especially relate to the fear you struggled with before his birth. Maybe it's a 5th child thing? I struggled with fear of labor for my 5th, which I found strange because I had given birth multiple times without pain meds. I thought that maybe it was because my 4th had been born so quickly and we were rushed to get to the hospital. But the mental battle was very real. Thanks for the info on Angus Dei.

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    1. It definitely is real! It was really comforting to me when I talked with other moms of more than a few children who experienced the same. We women are strong :)

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  29. Still amazed by the story of Ben's birth and how God's hand directed every detail. How good and merciful you are, Lord! I wanted to mention that at probably the exact time you were arriving at the hospital, your 4 little boys and their grandma were kneeling in your front room saying the rosary for you and baby- a very profound, blessed moment and I believe, totally spiritually connected to you and baby Ben. Awesome...beyond words

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  30. I am sitting here with my 6th baby born last week in tears from this amazing story. This was my 5th birth (we've had twins) and this time I also spent a large part of the pregnancy in dread of labor. All natural births but this time I just knew all too well what was coming! And yet I didn't really...labor was so quick I barely had time to register that it was happening. I also ate the dates--and I might not eat so many next time around!

    But this was so beautiful--thank you for sharing it. And I love the names. I have a Benedict and a Marie Therese.

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    1. Congratulations!!! Yeah, those dates definitely work, I think! Good for most labors but women who have a history of quicker/more intense labors anyway may need to be careful!

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  31. This is just about the most exciting birth story I've ever read. All the wonderful things. The first time I read it I thought it was the midwife who pulled out the foot and I was just floored in disbelief at her...assertiveness...to do that in front of the doctor haha. Anyway that made me smile, but it's a good story the other way too.

    I know you're enjoying your baby snuggles. It's such a fleeting time.

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  32. I FINALLY got to this and it was well worth the wait! I'm crying, of course. What a beautiful account. I can see how your awareness of your body and of birth brought you to that blessed delivery. Most others would have had a cesarean well before that day. Your innate trust of the process combined with your attentiveness to the well being of your baby both led to that miraculous delivery. And of course, all the details that were so much grace and blessing from God's providence. He is beautiful. Praise God!!! :)

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  33. Thank you Mary for sharing this most beautiful story! I've been pondering it for a few days and the same two scriptures keep coming to mind: Luke 1:38 "...let it be to me according to your word." and Luke 2:51 "...and his mother kept all these things in her heart." Thank you for imaging the Blessed Mother for us, it is such a beautiful image of trust.

    The person that first comes to mind for me is our beloved Pope Emeritus Benedict (-:

    And on a human (nurse) level, I hope you have the opportunity to write a note of thanks to that OB. I'm thinking that at some hospitals she could lose her job and in some states she could lose her license---I truly believe that she was being open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit at that moment.

    May God continue to richly bless you and your family and thank you again for sharing your story with us.

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    1. You know, that word "fiat" was on my heart for most of the pregnancy (and continues to be) so I love that you said that! And yes, I keep thinking I should write her a note and let her know how much it meant and how thankful I am. Thank you for the push!

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  34. Such a great birth story! Beautiful mom beautiful baby!!

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  35. Oh my WORD! I read this with my jaw dropped half the time and tears in my eyes at certain moments.
    My main takeaway is that Khristeena is THE WOMAN! How just absolutely awesome that she did that. Just went for it. So awesome.
    And awesome that you had the proper state of mind, it seems, through all those crazy stages!
    Congratulations! He is beautiful - super cute! - and that is an awesome story.
    Have I mentioned awesome?

    The biggest thing I related to here is the checking afterwards/tending to the tears. With my first, the checking/stitching went on for a full 1.5 hours I think, and I *didn't* have my baby in my arms, as she'd been whisked to the NICU (somewhat unncessarily, in my opinion). Yes, I too let it rip and yelled and screamed like never in my adult life. Whereas with my home birth (with significantly larger baby) I barely tore and my skilled midwife had me stitched up in just a matter of minutes.

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    1. Oh my. An hour and a half?!? I am so so sorry! For that and that your baby went to the NICU. That must've been so hard.

      Thank you so much for your kind words. The story is pretty awesome, I agree :)

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  36. Thank you for sharing your birth story! Just last week I had my surprise footling breech baby born at home! He is Benedict Joseph and was my 5th too! Great name choice by the way! An ultrasound at 38 weeks showed him head down but the whole pregnancy was different kicks and bumps than the other 4 and his heartbeat was always difficult to obtain, and I always measured 2 weeks ahead via fundal height measurements. He came at 41 weeks with a foot first. His other foot ended up stuck. I had to turn to all fours and was really glad then that we hadn't been able to fill the birth pool up even half way because I was ready to get in before I knew it. My midwife had to help get his other foot out and I had to push as she had to help manuever each arm out as they were stuck as well. And the the head which was crazy hard to deliver as I pushed through no contractions as advised to make sure he made it out in time. I pushed for 3 minutes total and after a few pushes his head was finally out. He had no pulse and was limp. I had to breathe deep to help him get oxygen via his cord as my midwife resuscitated him on my back and my husband emergency baptized him and got the homeopathic remedy for revival to home. All the while I was praying to St. Benedict, St. Joseph and God and Our Lady and talking to our baby too. One minute after he was born he was breathing. His cry was pure joy to my ears! After that the paramedics arrived. My husband had called them after the first foot came out and my midwife thought we may need to transfer to the hospital. But all was well by then and after I delivered the placenta we had them leave. I am very grateful to my midwife for believing in my body and her skills, though have it she had never delivered a breech before. And I am thankful to her backup midwife who was to assist the birth and was on her way(who was my midwife in the past but closed ger practice to be a nurse practicioner and who has delivered 8 breech babies) as she was on the phone reassuring and guiding my midwife as needed. We were all in shock but now feel so blessed to have our Benedict and that God saw to every detail that could have potentially changed the outcomes drastically. Benedict was 9lb. 5oz. and 22.5 inches long. I am glad that your birth went so smoothly. Thanks again for sharing your inspirational birth story.

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    1. Oh wow!!! That is amazing. I'm so glad for the skill of your midwives and for Benedict's birth. That must have been very scary in the moment but God clearly was taking care of all of you! And another breech Benedict! What is up with these boys?? ;) That is so awesome! Thank you so much for sharing your story, Amy! Congratulations!

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  37. I just remembered that I never commented on this post - I think this is my favorite birth story ever, and ...well...I've read a lot of birth stories :) I had a surprise frank breech delivery and these breech stories are near and dear to my heart!! I'm loving all the comments - it's crazy that there are so many breech babies, and awesome that so many people were able to deliver them without having to do the section! Also loved that Canada is now recommending the vaginal deliveries for breech babies....very cool!

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    1. And also completely forgot to include...congratulations!!! He is a beautiful!!!

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    2. Thank you! It's funny how I feel a sort of 'bond' with other breech moms now! Like there's just something different about those babies :)

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  38. Wow! And I thought my sunny-side-up birth was hard! You take the cake - in all the best ways :) I got to this page by reading your birth annoucement - so, also, Congratulations on #6! Prayers for a healthy and safe pregnancy and delivery.

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    1. Ha, not a cake I want to eat again but definitely - weirdly - the way it was supposed to be, I think! But I'd be thrilled to have a much more normal birth this time around! Thank you for the prayers!

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