BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

POTSDAM -- A potentially difficult birth that could have led to a c-section was averted thanks to the actions of one nurse in the Labor and Delivery Unit at Canton-Potsdam Hospital.

Ashley DiMatteo, a mother of four, said she was told at 38 1/2 weeks that her baby went from cephalic, or head down, to a breech position and that a c-section was the most likely option for her fourth baby. DiMatteo said her first three births were "normal, healthy vaginal deliveries."

"I was told that a C-section was my only option for my fourth baby and that it was better to do this c-section a week early," she said.

DiMatteo said things changed when she went to the hospital for a routine stress test, during which time she was given the news that her baby was breech.

"I was just about to get my shoes on, with my discharge instructions in hand, when a Labor and Delivery nurse, whose name is Ashley St. Dennis, walked into the room. She asked me if she could do a couple of exercises that she found through classes (that she said) are proven through extensive research to help move babies out of breech position," she said.

DiMatteo said she was willing to try anything in an attempt to avoid a c-section.

"Staying within her scope of nursing practice, she had me do exercises on the bed. One in particular, I felt my baby boy sliding down into the correct position, head down, at one point. Within 20 minutes the doctor came to confirm that my baby was now 'unexpectedly head down' at 38 weeks and six days pregnant," she said.

DiMatteo said she felt a c-section was the only option she had until St. Dennis walked into the room.

"I found out later that she pays for her training on how to do this out of her own pocket, which was surprising to me that it’s not something that all the Labor and Delivery nurses are educated on," she said.

Had it not been for St. Dennis, DiMatteo said she would have scheduled an appointment for a c-section had it not been for St. Dennis' assistance.

"You’re told about your baby being breech typically after an ultrasound by your OB in the office and subsequently contacted by a scheduler after you leave your OB office to schedule for a C-section. There are no nurses in the OB office who are trained on how to do simple exercises to move your baby in the womb," she said.

DiMatteo said St. Dennis went "above and beyond" to help her in that situation.

"The best part is that she did this in 20 minutes despite two doctors thinking it was 'impossible' and wanting a date I felt comfortable with to schedule a c-section," she said.

"I trusted my baby boy to know what to do if he was given the right movements to coax him into the right place. I also trusted Ashley to guide me on helping get my son where he needed to be."

DiMatteo said she will be forever grateful to St. Dennis for her efforts and expertise.

"I owe my successful vaginal delivery to her. If it were not for her I definitely would’ve had a C-section a week ahead of my due date. I call her my angel nurse, and I always will," DiMatteo said.