Positive Breech Caesarean Birth Story Using Hypnobirthing | South West London Doula
When many people think about hypnobirthing, they often imagine a calm home birth or an unmedicated water birth.
But hypnobirthing is not about achieving one specific type of birth.
It’s about understanding your options, feeling informed in your decisions and approaching birth feeling calm, prepared and empowered, whatever direction your journey takes.
This beautiful birth story is such a powerful reminder of that.
Discovering Baby Was Breech at 36 Weeks
After completing a hypnobirthing course with me, Alice & Jack felt much more informed about pregnancy, birth and the choices available to them.
However, at a 36 week scan, they discovered their baby was breech.
Like many women in this situation, Alice was advised about their options, including planned caesarean birth which was recommended by the healthcare professionals.
Together, we explored all of their choices, including:
Specialist vaginal breech birth support available locally at Kingston Hospital
Spinning Babies techniques to encourage optimal fetal positioning
Evidence-based information around breech birth and caesarean birth
Using the B.R.A.I.N decision-making tool (Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intuition and Nothing), they took time to weigh up what felt right for them and ultimately chose a planned caesarean birth. And importantly it felt like their decision.
Labour Starting Before the Planned Caesarean
In a twist they hadn’t expected, labour actually began naturally before the planned caesarean date. When Alice’s waters broke and contractions started, she headed into hospital earlier than originally planned. While waiting for theatre, Hypnobirthing techniques became incredibly valuable.
Breathing exercises, understanding the physiology of labour and knowing what was happening within the body helped create a sense of calm during those hours of waiting. Rather than feeling frightened by contractions, they felt prepared and informed.
Preparing for a Positive Caesarean Birth
One of the things we discuss during my hypnobirthing courses is that birth preferences still matter during a caesarean birth.
Many women are surprised to learn that they can often still request things such as:
Immediate skin-to-skin
Delayed cord clamping
Their own music playlist
Gentle or “natural” caesarean elements where possible
Going into theatre, Alice shared that she felt prepared because we had already discussed:
Who would likely be in the operating theatre
What the environment might feel like
What to expect during surgery
Ways to stay calm and connected throughout the experience
During the birth, Alice continued using her breathing techniques while chatting with her husband Jack and the theatre staff.
Shortly afterwards, their baby was born and placed straight onto her chest for skin-to-skin contact. Her husband cut the cord and she was able to hold her baby throughout the remainder of the procedure.
Despite the unexpected twists along the way, she described the experience as calm, connected and magical.
An Unexpected NICU and SCBU Stay
After birth, their baby unexpectedly required additional support with breathing and was admitted to NICU and SCBU. Their first week as a family was spent in hospital navigating those early challenges together.
While this was understandably emotional and difficult, this family shared that the preparation and support they had received beforehand helped them feel more grounded and informed during such an uncertain time.
Birth and postpartum do not always unfold exactly how we imagine. But feeling supported, listened to and prepared can make a huge difference in how families experience those unexpected moments.
Hypnobirthing Is for Every Type of Birth
One of the biggest misconceptions about hypnobirthing is that it is only helpful for “natural births”.
In reality, hypnobirthing can support women through:
Vaginal birth
Induction
Assisted birth
Planned caesarean birth
Emergency caesarean birth
NICU journeys and unexpected changes to plans
Birth preparation is not about controlling birth. It’s about helping women feel informed, confident and emotionally supported whatever path their birth takes.
Looking for Hypnobirthing or Doula Support in South West London?
I support families across South West London and Surrey through pregnancy, birth and postpartum with evidence-based, kind and compassionate support.
Whether you’re planning a home birth, hospital birth, induction or caesarean birth, you deserve to feel informed, respected and supported throughout your experience.
You can find out more about my:
Hypnobirthing courses
Birth doula support
Postnatal doula support
