Reteach the breech

I don’t think I can adequately put into words how spending two days with Dr Stuart Fischbein learning to deliver breech babies has impacted me. Understanding that we’re robbing people of a physiological birth experiences simply because their baby presents as one of the 3% of all babies who are breech was really saddening. The deskilling of midwives and other maternity professionals to confidently and successfully deliver breech babies is an absolute travesty of modern maternity provision.

However, it was an incredible weekend for so many reasons …

Firstly, there is something quite incredibly about being in a space with others who are equally obsessed with a subject matter as you are. Being around people who live and breathe physiological birth and supporting families really helped re-ignite my fire for being in the birth space. Knowing that I’m not shouting into the wind alone about the need for Western medicine and society to support physiological birth, not only because of the benefits to the mother and child, but also because of the long term consequences for society and how we as human beings exist.

Secondly the joy of learning a new skill from someone with many years of experience and births under their belt was truly inspiring. Whilst every birth is as unique as the person giving birth there are so many intricate mechanisms at play that can be learnt and understood. It really did feel like a piece of the puzzle for me in terms of my understanding of birth physiology.

And finally I thinks it’s wonderful that we as birth practioners are such avid learners and absorbers of knowlege. I love being in a space with people who are as keen to question and understand as I am. I love facilitating learning (not sure I’d call myself a teacher) but I really enjoyed being the student this time!

I really feel we offer these things within The Original Birth Connection training. The space and time to facilitate learning, to discuss and learn from each other, to share stories and information about birth. It’s alway an honour to be able to hold a space for people who are passionate about supporting birth in all its forms but who understand the innate desire in so many of us for a physiological experience. I love watching a new group of people tentatively take steps towards supporting their communities to reclaim their births.

As my 11 year old would say … this weekend left me “buzzing” and I hope we can provide a similar experience for everyone who chooses to do their doula training with The Original Birth Connection. For more information about our doula training programme click here.