Say the words “breech birth” to a pregnant woman, and you can expect the color to drain from her face (right before she disappears to beg her midwife for a C-section).
Breech births can be tricky, but they don’t have to be dangerous — and that’s the message photographer Karyn Loftesness wants to get across with her recent photo shoot.
Mom Raychel had planned to give birth to Silas, her fourth child, at home, but a few days before her due date she discovered he was frank breech. Because her midwives were skilled and experienced in breech birth, Raychel felt comfortable going ahead with a home birth, and Loftesness was there to capture every stage.
Warning: the images you are about to see are graphic, but they are also beautiful and educational. “We feel strongly that they need to be shared to help spread knowledge and awareness about the normalcy and safety of breech birth with a skilled, knowledgeable and experienced provider,” said Loftesness.
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Crowning
Image Credit: Karyn Loftesness The baby’s bum is “crowning,” and the meconium present is normal in a breech birth, not due to the baby being in distress.
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Stopping the urine
Image Credit: Karyn Loftesness Silas’ bum is fully out, and the midwife’s hand is blocking his urine from hitting her face.
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Legs!
Image Credit: Karyn Loftesness The baby boy’s torso emerges, and his legs start to appear.
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Purple power
Legs appear, one at a time. FYI, the purple skin is normal for all babies, not just breech ones.
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Glimpse of the cord
Image Credit: Karyn Loftesness One leg at a time! Can you spot the umbilical cord?
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First foot
Image Credit: Karyn Loftesness One foot drops down, as baby gets into position to work his shoulders through his mom’s pelvis.
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Second foot
Image Credit: Karyn Loftesness Two legs down! Check out that amazing umbilical cord. And he still hasn’t been touched by anyone.
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Arms are on the way
Image Credit: Karyn Loftesness With both elbows down, Silas is working on getting those arms out of the birth canal.
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Easing it out
Image Credit: Karyn Loftesness Come on, left arm…
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Umbilical cord arrives
Image Credit: Karyn Loftesness When the left arm is completely down, it pulls the umbilical cord underneath it, looping around the baby’s shoulder and back up on the left side of his neck, but leaving his nose and mouth unobstructed. He is now completely out, and as he leans forward the midwives catch him and pass him through Raychel’s legs.
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Welcome, Silas!
Image Credit: Karyn Loftesness Silas is now completely out of the womb, and he leans forward to be caught by the midwives, who pass him through Raychel’s legs.
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Making his entrance
Image Credit: Karyn Loftesness The eyes open — and the cries begin.
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Time to meet Mom
Image Credit: Karyn Loftesness Silas is on his way to his mom.
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The family
Image Credit: Karyn Loftesness The time elapsed from the first photo to the last is two minutes and 28 seconds. Incredible.
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