A Stunning Surprise: a Footling Breech Birth Story in images

a stunning surprise

A Footling Breech Birth Story in Images

Images by Annica Quakenbush, Written by Shay Gabriel

As a team of birth workers, we are all about preparing for birth. And, we fully acknowledge that part of that preparation includes an openness to embracing the unexpected, riding the waves, following your informed intuition as the events of the birth unfold… After all, birth is unpredictable, and in the words of Gentle Birth’s Tracey Donegan, we can only “control the controllables.”

This birth story epitomizes that very sentiment. The parents were prepared in all the ways one can be:

• making decisions from a place of informed choice

• embracing trust in physiology for this low-risk pregnancy

• practicing mindfulness

• choosing a birth team that supports their birth values and birth preferences

• setting up their environment in a way that was conducive to their calm (right at home!),

• and having comfort measures ready to go (e.g. hydrotherapy in the birth pool — a crowd favorite comfort measure!)

These sorts of preparations help us to support the hormones of physiological birth and to roll with any surprises up ahead.

lo and behold…

This labor was progressing wonderfully, when the mother announced she could suddenly feel something between her legs. Surprise! It was baby’s sweet little foot! No one was expecting baby to be born breech — but footling breech birth is indeed a variation of normal and can often be managed vaginally when given the opportunity. Here, the birthing person’s team supports her through this variation of normal with calm confidence. With shared wisdom from the midwife and internal wisdom from mama and baby, all unfolded beautifully, right at home sweet home.

Our own team here at Sprout and Blossom Birth is awe-struck by this rare opportunity to have witnessed, supported, and photographed a physiology-first approach to a breech birth. Annica, your images are incredible — what a gift to share them with the world and to inspire others who will experience or support breech birth in future.

And we applaud this birthing mama for her bravery, strength, and badassery as she brought her baby earthside, feet first! We are also so grateful for her permission to share these images with all of you. (Thank you!)

Enjoy this stunning footling breech birth story in images!

your birth story matters

however it unfolds…it is yours.

We can’t say enough about how impactful it is to document your birth story. Through professionally photographed images or film, you’ll have the ability to watch back the unfolding of life’s most transformative events…to see your incredible, unmatched power…to take in the sacred moments you weren’t quite aware of in your blurry labor state. Birth documentation offers an invaluable opportunity to process and preserve your birth story.

We would be honored to document your story. Learn more about birth photography and videography services here, and connect with us today!

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