When Lauren McEnulty found out her baby was breech in the third trimester, her birth plan began to unravel—or so it seemed. What followed was a powerful journey of trusting her intuition, advocating for herself, and ultimately having a vaginal breech birth that changed her life.
In a birth culture where breech almost always means automatic cesarean, Lauren’s story is a testimony to what’s possible when women are given informed choice and the freedom to follow their instincts.
In this blog, we walk through her entire journey—from diagnosis to delivery—and unpack what you can learn if you’re facing a breech baby and want to avoid surgery.
What Is a Breech Birth?
A breech birth is when a baby is positioned feet- or bottom-down in the womb, instead of head-down. While this presentation is more common earlier in pregnancy, most babies turn by the third trimester. When they don’t, most care providers recommend a planned C-section due to the perceived risks of vaginal breech delivery.
But here’s the truth: breech birth isn’t inherently dangerous—especially when attended by a trained and experienced provider. The reason many hospitals no longer offer vaginal breech delivery isn’t because it can’t be done safely. It’s because most obstetricians are no longer trained in how to support it. This lack of education has created a major gap in care options for women.
Lauren’s story shows exactly what can happen when women are given the opportunity to make informed choices and when care providers trust the design of the female body.
When the Diagnosis Changes Everything
At around 28 weeks, Lauren’s midwife felt her baby and confidently told her the baby was head down. That brought some relief—everything seemed to be going according to plan. But by 32 weeks, during a routine belly check, her provider hesitated. “I think this might be her butt,” she said, recommending an ultrasound. That’s when Lauren learned her baby was breech.
Initially, Lauren was calm and determined. She felt she still had time to turn her baby. She immediately began a daily regimen of spinning babies exercises, acupuncture sessions three times a week, and daily moxibustion. She prayed, visualized, and listened to affirmations. She even imagined her baby flipping while she fell asleep.
Despite her efforts, nothing changed. As the weeks passed, she could feel her provider’s energy shift. “I could feel her giving up on me,” Lauren said. That shift was painful, and it added emotional strain to an already stressful situation. Her midwife gently began preparing her for the possibility of a scheduled C-section, reminding her that the birth center could not legally or safely attend breech births.
“I cried every single day… sobbing in the car, during acupuncture. The stress was overwhelming.”
Providers Who Gave Up—And the One Who Didn’t
When Lauren’s baby still hadn’t flipped by 36 weeks, her midwife made referrals for external cephalic version (ECV) and provided contact cards for local OBs who might be willing to take her on. The ECV was attempted, but her baby’s heart rate dropped and the procedure was stopped immediately. That was Lauren’s breaking point.
She began to seriously consider a C-section, wondering if maybe she was being too stubborn. Her mental, emotional, and physical resources were depleted. It felt like she had run out of options.
That’s when her husband stepped in. “We’re not giving up,” he told her. They emailed and called nine different birth centers, hoping to find someone—anyone—willing to help. Most were full. A few refused her care because she was a first-time mom with no “proven pelvis.” But one midwife responded with a referral to a breech birth expert named Robyn, located in San Antonio.
When Lauren met Robyn, she finally felt seen. Robyn reviewed her health history, asked great questions, and said, “You’re low-risk. I don’t see any problem with attempting a vaginal breech birth.”
Robyn ordered a detailed ultrasound, which revealed the baby had a very short cord wrapped around her shoulder. This explained everything. The baby wasn’t being stubborn or difficult. She simply couldn’t turn.
“It wasn’t my body. It wasn’t the baby’s fault. She was just stuck. And suddenly, it all made sense.”
Choosing a Breech Birth with Confidence
With the cause finally identified, Lauren made peace with the situation. There was no more pressure to flip the baby. There was no more guilt or shame. There was just clarity and peace.
Robyn never pushed Lauren to make a certain choice. She laid out the facts, answered every question with calm confidence, and gave Lauren full ownership over her decision.
Lauren chose to move forward with a planned vaginal breech birth. She got a hotel room close to the birth center, brought her doula, and leaned on her husband for support. They were ready.
When her midwife performed a membrane sweep at 40 weeks and 5 days, her water broke within hours. Labor started strong.
“It was like a movie—my water breaking everywhere, contractions starting fast. We rushed to the center.”
The Labor: Intense, Fast, and Beautiful
Once Lauren arrived at the birth center, contractions were intense and close together. She tucked herself into a corner and let the waves of labor crash over her.
Her doula arrived and jumped into action, providing hip squeezes, breathwork guidance, and grounding support. Lauren’s husband stood by her head, whispering affirmations and reminding her of her vision.
Lauren labored for several hours, supported by her team, completely in tune with her body. Her midwife was observant but hands-off. Eventually, Lauren shifted positions, lying flat on her back—a position she never thought she’d choose but found comforting and effective.
“I swore I’d never birth on my back, but it’s what my body needed. I could finally push with purpose.”
A Hands-Off Breech Delivery
The birth unfolded slowly and perfectly. The baby’s body began to emerge: first her legs, then arms, then finally her tucked chin and head. The cord was wrapped loosely around her neck, but the midwife easily unwrapped it. There were no complications.
“She looked up at me like, ‘Thanks, Mom. We did it.’ And I just wept.”
Lauren experienced no tearing. No panic. No trauma. Just joy.
Her baby was calm, alert, and had an excellent APGAR score. And Lauren? She was transformed.
“I did it. I showed all those people. I freaking did it.”
What Every Mom Should Know About Breech Birth
Reflecting on her story, Lauren wants other moms to know:
1. Get a Detailed Ultrasound Scan
Don’t assume your baby can or should flip. If your baby is breech, ask your provider for a thorough ultrasound. It might uncover a physical reason for the position, like a short cord or uterine shape.
2. Find a Breech-Trained Provider
Not every OB or midwife is trained in breech birth. That’s okay—but you deserve to work with someone who is. Don’t try to convince a hesitant provider. Keep looking.
3. You Can Fire Your Provider
If your current care team isn’t supporting you or making you feel safe, you have the right to walk away. Even late in pregnancy. You are paying for a service, and your comfort and values matter.
4. Trust Your Intuition
Lauren had a deep, unwavering sense that her baby was meant to be born vaginally. That intuition guided her through overwhelming fear, doubt, and pressure. And she was right.
“If I hadn’t trusted my gut, I would have ended up in surgery. Instead, I got the birth I dreamed of.”
Breech Birth Is Not Automatically Dangerous
The reason most breech births are delivered via C-section isn’t because they’re unsafe. It’s because providers are no longer trained. Since the Term Breech Trial in the early 2000s, many OBs have been taught that vaginal breech is too risky to attempt. That trial has since been widely discredited, but the damage to birth culture remains.
In trained hands, vaginal breech birth is safe. The outcomes for babies and mothers are statistically similar to head-down vaginal birth when protocols are followed and true contraindications are ruled out.
Lauren’s story proves that.
You Deserve Options, Support, and Respect
Lauren’s breech birth wasn’t just a victory over a medical system that failed to offer her support—it was a personal triumph. It was the moment she chose faith over fear. It was the birth that taught her to listen to her body, advocate for herself, and trust the design of motherhood.
“Every day, I think about that birth. I know I made the right choice. I know we did it together.”
Her story reminds us that our bodies are capable. Our babies are wise. And our intuition is often the most trustworthy guide we have.
If you’re facing a breech baby, know this: you are not broken, you are not powerless, and you have options.
More about Lauren:
Lauren McEnulty is a holistic birth doula specializing in prenatal and postnatal fitness as well as bringing personal expertise with vaginal breech delivery. First and foremost though she is a wife and mother of two beautiful girls!
Website: https://www.waves-doula-care.com/
Want to Experience a Faith-Filled Birth Too?
If you’re ready to transform your mindset and birth with peace and purpose, check out the free Unlocking a Pain Free Birth Masterclass. Discover the 3 keys to a Pain-Free birth so you can experience the joyful, supernatural power of birth the way God designed it.
