Footling Breech Birth

Today is a very special day. It's my daughter Emmas first birthday and also the day she died and was revived.

I had Emma at a birthing center with a midwife and doula, my water broke the night before at 11pm, we rushed off to the birthing centre and waited it out.

The midwife checked and all was fine, she'd dropped and was in the correct position (to come out head first) but things changed without us actually knowing.

Apparently Ems was swimming around in "the biggest placenta" my midwife or doula had ever seen, which was filled with tons of ambionic fluid. Which is great except this meant that over the course of the night she flipped around.

All of a sudden I was in active labour and I kept saying it felt as though she was kicking her way out. Everyone just assumed that she was hitting or punching.

Anyway as I start to push, I look down (I was sort of standing/squatting) and I see feet coming out of me, not a head.

It was terrifying, she had turned and was coming out feet first! This is called a footling breech birth. I kept pushing but was so exhausted. Eventually I heard the midwife yell, she can't breathe you have to push her out now.

I pushed as hard as I could and she popped out, the midwife caught her, then there was an awful silence. No crying. All I can remember is lying on the floor, watching as Shandores eyes were filling with tears, the midwife giving Emma CPR and my doula had started comforting me, preparing for the worst. Emma's heart had stopped and she wasn't breathing.

After what felt like an eternity, but was only actually a minute or so, Emma took her first breath. That was at 11:15 on the 1st of August 2020.

So many things could've gone differently that day, the midwife nor our doula had ever done a footling breech birth so we could've been spending today and the last year in mourning but instead we've had a year full of laughter and love.

Happy birthday to our miracle. You are so funny, smart, sweet, sassy and the best dancer and baby sister in the whole world.

Love you my baby, happy first birthday 💞

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It’s day 18 of what can only be described as a hostage situation…. Also known as “school holidays”. Day 1: This is wonderful! Almost a whole month with my two kids under 3. Day 2: Ok so the house has been destroyed by mini versions of myself but it’s ok, I’ll do a clean up twice a day. Day 3: TV time rules are now out the window. Day 4: Give out a few Christmas gifts early in exchange for 5 minutes of silence. Day 5: What the hell is that smell? Oh wait, that’s me…. Day 6: What day is it? Can I have a nap please. Day 7: Check in with fellow moms, I am not alone, everyone’s over the holidays now…. Day 8: I now understand why my mom used to send me to my aunts for school holidays. Day 9: Christmas Eve, try to go for a last minute shop before Christmas Day…. Buy each kiddo another toy to avoid shop meltdown. Day 10: Christmas Day, granny exhausted kids, Granny for the win! Day 11: Toys EVERYWHERE Day 12: Cake for breakfast? Day 13: I’ve forgotten what it’s like to go to the toi...

Beauty on a budget tip.....

Coconut oil! Uses : - Body moisturizer - Add sugar = luxurious body scrub - Pour straight into bath (time saving tip here too, as you won't need to spend time moisturizing after your bath.) - Great for your hair, leave in over night and wash out the next day. - Can be used for cooking - If your significant other is acting up, throw the tub at him. (This one's a joke, don't do this....) - Helps with stretch marks. Really there's so much that you can do with coconut oil. And the great news is, it's not expensive and a 1 litre container lasts me about a year.

Tips for First Time Moms....

******UPDATES IN PINK****** Labour pain : feels like the worst period pain you've ever had, lasts a while then goes away, comes back for a while goes away. Start timing the duration of the pain experienced and the time between when there's no pain. Water Breaking : Literally feels like a "pop", then instant release of pressure, followed by TONS of liquid, sit on the toilet and once you're ready to go to the hospital put a thick sanitary pad in your underwear. After birth : bath with salt in the water, it will burn but it will help the healing process. Also in case you don't already know, you'll continue bleeding for at least a month after birth. So stock up on pads. Don't worry about stocking up on size1,2 & 3 diapers, you'll quickly move to size 4 and then 5, stock up on size 5.... believe me. Breastfeeding : I could only breastfeed both of my kids for 5 days. There's absolutely no shame in not being able to breastfeed. Some of us can...

Mom on a Budget

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