Best Midwives in Nashville for Breech and Twin Home Birth | Nashville Birth Videographer & Photographer
Breech Birth Midwives for Home Birth in Nashville and Middle Tennessee
One of the biggest mistakes I see Home Birth Moms make, is not planning for a breech positioned baby. I thin it is important to research pros and cons of having a breech baby and pros and cons of turning baby before you get into the late pregnancy position of having a breech baby with a provider that doesn’t deliver breech babies.
Dad holds his new baby girl while his wife work to get her placenta out during a home birth with Haven Birth and Wellness.
After 5 years of attending births as a birth videographer and photographer in the Nashville area, here are my own personal opinions about breech birth. It isn’t as unsafe as mainstream OB’s claim. There are very real dangers to doing an external cephalic version (ECV) to change a baby’s position - even death. Babies are breech for a reason. They are wise and know something about what is happening in the womb to know that the best position is not head down. When we go against that, we force them into a position that might result in a more difficult birth or even worse outcomes during delivery because something about their cord or environment isn’t favorable for breech birth.
Statistics around Breech Births:
“Two large multi-center studies in France and Belgium found no difference in perinatal/neonatal mortality between planned CS and planned (breech) vaginal birth. These studies--one prospective, one retrospective--followed over 10,000 women and had 174 & 175 participating hospitals.” (Breech without Borders)
“Making a decision about how to birth a breech baby involves a complex risk calculus. Women have to weigh the short- and long-term benefits to themselves, their babies, and their future pregnancies. This graphic shows how planned CS for breech has affected women and their babies in the Netherlands.
A study by Verhoeven et al (2005) discusses the effects of the increase in planned CS since the Term Breech Trial. The results show a risk trade-off.”
"Between 2001-2005, 8,500 women in the Netherlands had a planned CS for breech. This increase in pCS saved an estimated 19 babies, but it also led to 4 direct maternal deaths, 9 additional babies dying in future pregnancies due to the uterine scar, and 140 additional life-threatening maternal complications in future pregnancies."
Source: Breech Without Borders
Chelsey Fischer, helping her doula client during her years as a doula. She is now a midwife.
At the end of the day, Breech is complex and needs a breech trained midwife to safely assess risks and benefits and give informed consent to the mother to decide what is safest for her and baby. But it isn’t something to fear, it isn’t automatically a difficult vaginal delivery. So taking a step back and evaluating all of the information and then making an informed decision is the wisest thing a pregnant mother can do.
Best Midwives for a Breech Home Birth:
WildFig Birth I have been in the birth space with Maggie and it was absolutely incredible.
If you want your own birth captured in video and photos professionally I would love to chat! Find more information here!
Laboring mother dilating on the toilet
Twin Birth Trained Home Birth Midwives in Nashville and Middle Tennessee
It Might seem crazy to many, but twins can safely be birthed at home. Most hospitals do not support any form of vaginal birth of twins. But studies show that over 90% of twin births can be born safely vaginally, keeping c-section as an option for rare circumstances. At the end of the day, giving birth where you feel is safest is the best option for you!
“This study, co-authored by Dr. Stuart Fischbein & Dr. Rixa Freeze, follows 100 sets of twins attended at home by an obstetrician, the first publication looking exclusively at twin home birth. Overall, 91.3% of women gave birth vaginally, compared a national average of 25.2% for twin pregnancies. Most women with twin pregnancies in a hospital setting have few options but cesarean section, even though the evidence shows no benefit to surgery for the majority of cases. This study demonstrates that a home setting that supports physiological birth can yield excellent outcomes and a high vaginal birth rate.” (source: Breech Without Borders)
Sarah Ford, midwife of August Birth, helping a client in labor during her years as a doula.
Middle Tennessee and Nashville Twin Trained Home Birth Midwives:
Shannon Smajda (notoriously known for keeping twins in until 40 weeks. She is highly trained and skilled in breech and triplet birth as well). I love Shannon. She is a calm but strong human. So warm and kind.
Sarah Ford (also highly trained in breech and mutiple birth). I love Sarah. Sarah has been around the birth space for a long time, taking many years to get her license. I have been friends with Sarah for 10 years.
Taylore Estep(highly trained in nutrition, twins, breech. Amazing human and midwife). I have seen her in the birth space and talk with her regularly. She is strong and warm and so good in the birth space.
Gaylea McDougalI haven’t personally met Gaylea, but she has been around for many years and I have heard such good things!
Sheryl ShaferAnother sweet midwife I haven’t yet met but I have heard so many good things about. She has been around a long time!
