Breech Birth Woman-Wise by Maggie Banks

Price: NZ$39.00 (add to order)

First published 1998 - Second printing 2001; Third printing 2004; Published by Birthspirit Ltd.; 109 gloss pages; 34 black & white photographs; 41 diagrams; 24cm x 20cm; ISBN: 0-473-04991-0

Index to this page:

Table of Contents; About the Author; Book Reviews;

Table of Contents:

Acknowledgements (p.4); Author's Note (p.5); Foreword (p.6); Introduction (p.7 )

Chapter 1 Incidence & Types of Breech Presentation (p.11):
Incidence; types & references
Chapter 2 Reasons for Breech Presentation (p.13):
Prematurity; uterine septum; fetal congenital abnormality; tumours and fibroids; placenta previa; the shape of the woman's pelvis; multiple pregnancy; olyhydramnios; muscle tone; emotional factors & references
Chapter 3 Diagnosing a Breech Presentation (p.16):
The woman's observations; palpation or Leopald's manouvres; heart, placental & umbilical cord tones; second opinion; vaginal examination; ultrasound scanning & references
Chapter 4 Common Concerns with Breech Presentation (p.21):
Perinatal mortality rate; etiologies for mortality & morbidity; head and neck trauma; preterm birth; entrapment of the aftercoming head; hyperextention of the fetal head; umbilical cord prolapse & references
Chapter 5 Considering the Evidence for Medicalised Breech Birth (p.25):
Routine cesarian section; recommendations; pelvimetry; epidural anaesthesia; augmentation of labour; obstetric forceps; episiotomy; references & bibliography
Chapter 6 Encouraging a Breech Baby to Turn (p.38):
Explaining the "usual" cephalic presentation; visualisation; talking to her baby; music & light; diet; use of water; breech tilt exercises; massage; homeopathy; hypnosis; acupuncture; acupressure; moxibustion; chiropractic; external cephalic version & references
Chapter 7 Considerations for Birth Planning (p.48):
Advocacy for the baby; the woman & baby relationship; protecting the pregnant woman's rights; guidelines for referral; policies & protocols; limiting of options; decision making; impact of fear on labour & birth; home birth; emergencies; supporting the woman; supporting the midwife; references & bibliography
Chapter 8 Positions for Labour & Birth (p.59):
The uterus; pain; pelvic joint movement; maintaining power & control; postural hypotension; the baby's power; standing/squatting; lying down/reclining & references
Chapter 9 Giving birth (p.64):
The midwife's role; birth planning; the starting of labour; timing going to hospital; established labour; birth & references
Chapter 10 Assisting the Birth (p.88):
Bringing down flexed arms; Lovset manouvre; Mauriceau-Smellie-Veit grip; slow birth of the baby's head; moulding of the head; posterior position & references
Chapter 11 Following the Birth (p.93):
Checking the baby's hips; congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH); incidence of CDH; factors influencing the incidence of CDH; examining the baby's hips - fat folds, Galiazzi's sign, Ortolani's manouvre, Barlowe's manouvre; breech babies & references

Glossary (p.98)
Index (p.108)

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About the Author:

Maggie has been involved in childbirth and women's health since 1972 and has worked in a variety of settings. She registered as a midwife in 1987 commencing home birth practice in the Waikato (New Zealand) in 1989.

She has written this book Breech Birth Woman-Wise and Home Birth Bound - Mending the broken weave (click here to read about this book) and articles in various publications.

She has run a number of seminars in New Zealand including ones on water birth and breech birth. She has toured twice with Birth International's lecture tour of Australia - in 2001 and 2004. In 2002 she was invited to speak at the Midwives of North America conference in Boston.

In 2004 she concentrates her midwifery activities in:

- midwifery eduction
- writing
- completing her doctrate through Victoria University

She lives in Tamahere, New Zealand with her husband Tony.

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Book Reviews:

'This is a gift to women and midwives. It is an invaluable contribution to our understanding of women and birth and the role midwifery plays in facilitating women's birth processes and improving outcomes for both mother and baby. It is a distillation of knowledge gathered from women and their families, midwifery experience and research. It is a wonderful example of the balance of art and science which comprises midwifery's unique body of knowledge.'
Karen Guilliland - National Director, New Zealand College of Midwives
Bronwen Pelvin - Midwifery Adviser, New Zealand College of Midwives

'The author, Maggie Banks, is a practising midwife who trained and practises in New Zealand. She discusses the politics of childbirth with particular reference to midwifery and obstetric practice in her own country, but many of her experiences and conclusions could be replicated in Britain and around the world.In the introduction she explains that: 'The idea for this book started out as a gathering of resources which I could give to women with breech babies.' She further says that: 'Without the midwives who are confident in the process, women who want to give birth naturally to their breech babies will continue to have their options limited.' I believe that she has achieved the difficult task of writing a book for both women and midwives, which will appeal to and inform both ... it has much to offer'
Mary Cronk - The Practising Midwife (1998 November) Vol 1. No 11. Book review extract

'... The photo essay in the chapter 'Giving Birth' is not only stunning, it's awe-inspiring. Along with planning strategies, we meet a couple at home using a birthing pool for relaxation. The woman labours. Maggie makes many suggestions, often captioned under the photo, taking a hands-off attitude. Positions are discussed which demonstrate how birth works. I was so excited by the end of the chapter that I had to go back and read it three more times!'
Jill Cohen - Associate Editor Midwifery Today, (1998 Winter) No 48. Book review extract

'Breech Birth Woman-Wise will be invaluable both to the woman who wants to find out as much as possible about breech deliveries and birth, and to the midwife who wants to learn more about the research and the principles of vaginal breech birth. This book should be read by every midwife (as any midwife could find herself attending an unexpected breech presentation) and every mother who wants to know all she can about the benefits and risks of vaginal breech birth.'
Beverley A Lawrence Beech - AIMS Journal, (1998 Autumn) Vol 10, No 8. Book review extract

'Finally ... the information for breech babies all together in one place. Full to the brim with relevant and important information for midwives, obstetricians, expectant parents and childbirth educators. This book will help me immensely in providing good information to the participants of my classes.'
Sam Schultz - Childbirth Educator, Hamilton, New Zealand

' ... I found this book and its explicit advocacy for women’s right to informed choice a breath of fresh air. I would urge all midwives to read it.'
Christina Nolan - MIDIRS Midwifery Digest (1999 June) Vol 9, No 2. Book review extract

'This is an easy to read book that talks about the 'physiology' of vaginal breech birth, a concept rarely discussed and an event now threatened with extinction with the conclusion of the Term Breech Trial. The photos of breech births in upright positions are beautiful with midwives hands cupping and supporting rather than tugging and forcing the mechanisms. The diagrams are clear and instructive. Best of all Breech Birth Woman-Wise focuses on women and the amazing capabilities of their bodies when supported in their choice. The book even describes checking the baby’s hips after the birth and has a section on congenital dislocation of the hips. It also has a glossary of terms making it accessible to the layperson. This book is a great way for midwives to rediscover the forgotten art and science of vaginal birth.'
Hannah Dahlen - Midwifery Matters (2000 December) Vol 15, No 4. Book review

'Written in easily understandable down-to-earth language. Even as an old practitioner, I learned a lot. Technical information is combined with caring and sensitive support for woman to stand up and make informed choices. This is a book for every pregnant woman, not just those with breech presentations.'
Joan Donley - Domiciliary Midwife/Author, Auckland, New Zealand

'New Zealand's Maggie Banks takes a giant step in reclaiming midwifery knowledge about breech birth for women and midwives in Breech Birth Woman-Wise ... '
Ina May Gaskin - Author of 'Spiritual Midwifery'. Book review extract; Electronic Birth Gazette. (2000 July)

'This is the first book I have read that gives in-depth information about the issues around breech birth. It became my bible when I was found myself in the situation of having a client whose baby was lying in a breech position (bottom first). She wanted a vaginal birth, in a standing position. We both found the book invaluable, so I have no hesitation in recommending it to both health professionals and consumers.

The book follows a clear and logical sequence and contains very helpful and explicit photos ... I found Chapter 5 'Considering the evidence for medicalised breech birth' to be an excellent review of the literature addressing breech birth ... Chapter 9 'Giving birth' was also an invaluable chapter. It is relevant for all women and attending professionals, not just for women with breech presentation. The photos clearly show how to 'catch' a breech baby, and the written commentary is well referenced ... After reading this chapter several times I felt confident that I could 'catch' a breech baby, especially with the mother in a standing position, which is something I have not yet witnessed. Chapter 11 'Following the birth' deals with how to check the baby's hips ... This chapter is certainly a 'must' for professionals who are learning how to check hips.

The main reason I like this book so much is that it is suitable for health professionals and consumers. I believe there should be a copy in every Delivery Unit, and should be read by obstetricians as well as midwives. It is written in a clear and lucid manner, without being simplistic and unprofessional. It challenges the present thinking that women should either have routine caesarian section or deliver on their backs with their legs up in lithotomy. It supports professionals who are striving to present unbiased and research-based information to women about their choices and the implications of breech birth. It is an excellent teaching aid and helped me to feel much more confident about the whole issue of breech birth.

On the other hand, it also uses language that can be understood by the lay person. It has a very detailed glossary that is relevant for all pregnant women. It is a valuable tool for women who want to discover what their options are, so that they can retain the control of their birthing experience that they so desperately need ....'
Sarah Stewart - Midwife, Gisborne, New Zealand

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