Breech Birth is Evidence-based

S. Tenuta, 9-9-25

Breech presentation

Breech birth is evidence based.  A group called Breech without Borders has been doing extensive research and data collecting for the past several years.  The group was small when I first met the researchers in Madison, WI in 2019.  The information was detailed and well explained.  Presentors were from various areas, with the same goal of “Let’s let people know breech birth is a normal way to birth.”  This conference was small but had some important birth workers present.  Rixa Freeze is the solid breech researcher.  Dr. David Hayes was the physician who experienced enough breech births to know they worked. He explained medical terminology and the process of breech birth.  Chris Roberts, and Billie Jo Staveness from the Dalton community of birth work, were present.  Midwife Betty Ann Davis, and Midwife Cynthia Caillagh were present to share their expertise.  Dr. Dennis Hartung shared his story in serving a Wisconsin small community as a breech skilled physician.

Since that time, more research has been done and women, midwives, nurses, doulas, doctors and birth workers from many walks of life are learning how to resolve breech births that stall.  They are experiencing birth in its normal realm and learning appropriate maneuvers that help when help is needed.

Breech without Borders has on-line information.  It is an international organization now and has classes available for professionals and classes available for parents to educate themselves on this natural process of life.  For parents who are not close to hospital systems, parents and providers can learn what signs and movements are normal in the breech birth.  They can learn what to do to avoid complications and they can learn what to do in case of complications.

For the majority of births, mother needs to move or change positions to help baby move to a position that helps navigate forward towards birth.  When position changes don’t work, then there are maneuvers that help baby disimpact and then resume its journey to earthside.  Paying attention to baby’s heartbeat and flexion lets us know of baby’s wellbeing. 

When people become interested in this breech birth possibility, there are available on-line classes and then hands on conferences.  These are made available for people to gain the muscle memory and feel the amount of strength that is needed to resolve complications when they occur.  Also, the group times grow the breech birth community.  If we want breech back in the hospital system, we need parents to insist on this from the community level.  If we study the process and study the literature available, and we insist on evidence-based outcomes for any surgery or lack of surgery, then the system can again be rooted in serving humanity rather than falling prey to insurance company pressures, or regulator pressures.  The evidence needs to be not just for baby, but also for the health of mother.  Without traumas, women’s bodies were made to birth babies.  When there is no stress and moms anticipate the process of birth as trustworthy, while trusting baby’s wisdom as well, birth can become a journey to experience, a power to be gained and a rebirth of womanhood.  Past experiences of birth fear, unknown pressures and hospital stressors can be replaced with birth wisdom, education, personal intuition and confidence.  That seems to be an empowering way for a new mother to start her motherhood.  Each birth brings into play a new and special aspect of womanhood, unique for each woman.

I just completed my On-Line training for Breech without Borders.  It was well worth the money and the journey.  There is continuous learning taking place with monthly birth meetings and discussions.  There are questions answered.  There are brainstorming that help others become confident. There are detailed explanations of the evidence for breech birth to be an option for women in and outside of the hospital setting.  There are birth stories and videos that help people understand the natural process of breech birth.

Since I have been so impressed by this on-line class, I can’t help but encourage those interested to become a Breech without Borders student.  If you want to further discuss birth education, I offer those services to those interested.  Learning about birth, even in my later years has opened my eyes to how much we really don’t learn in the mainstream of education.  We learn a lot, but never all that is needed.  However, I realize, each person has a special journey in life.  Mine was to study birth.  Learning to trust my intuition more, I have discovered that in Chinese Medicine, that part of the brain is the same as the musical part of the brain.  Prior to studying birth, I was a music teacher.  So, that tells me I really continued to further my music or frequency education.  Believe me, these studies have been helpful for me.  A published book displays the many aspects of breech birth, even for those who do not use internet. The book is called ‘A Guide to Physiological Breech Birth’ by Rixa Freeze, David Hayes and Kristine Lauria.

Here is a link to Breech without Borders. 

Online breech courses