Back to back baby - any positive stories about birth please?

[goofygoober]

Hi I'm a newby and 39 + 5, baby is very comfy back to back despite me trying to get it to move for the last 3 weeks. Docs/midwifes say I could 'try' for a VBAC but it is likely to be very painful and require foreceps/ventouse, I'm still planned for the trial.

Trying to be positive about it but had elcs for twins so this will be first experience of vb which is what would I would really like - pref not with the horror some have advised me it will be

Please can you share your experiences, the nerves are really setting in now. Thanks all X

[tiggersreturn]

I had an emcs for failure to progress with an OP baby so not encouraging. BUT my friend has had 2 OP babies. First was born in the hospital car park in an ambulance and 2nd came after about 4 hours and waterbirth. No forceps/ventouse required. Some people just have it easier than others and there's nothing to predict how it will be.

Trying to keep calm and relaxed and believing you can do it will definitely help. Have you tried hypnobirthing? Also make sure you move around during labour and don't remain on your back so baby doesn't get wedged in.

[thisisyesterday]

birth is very painful regardless of what way round they are!

my best labour (out of 3) was ds2, who was back to back.

Most OP babies turn during labour anyway, so it's not that likely to be a big problem, but if your baby doesn't that does not necessarily mean you are in for a more painful/longer labour IME.

I had a lot of back pain with ds2, I felt the urge to walk a lot (which apparently is helpful anyway with OP babies), and I gave birth kneeling up over the sofa. The midwife told me afterwards that it was an optimum position, I didn't know that at the time thogh, just did what felt best.

anyway, my pushing stage was a bit longer than normal (nearly 1.5hrs), but he was born just fine, still back to back, 9lb 5oz with a 38cm head circumference! ouch. no pain relief either.
I am a huge wuss and I don't have that high a pain threshold so if I can do it anyone can LOL

But honestly, it hurt less than ds1 or ds2 and I would gladly do it again

[TheSugarPlumFairy]

i had a back to back baby. I spent the last 4 weeks of my pregancy religiously reading the spinning babies website, bouncing on my birth ball, crawling around the carpets on my knees, swimming, the whole 9 yards. Nothing shifted her.

Becuase she was OP she wasnt engaging with my cervix properly so labour wasnt starting. at 40+11 I was booked in for induction. They did the prostin pessaries for a couple of days which had very little effect other than creating some low level cramps and i endlessly walked the halls of the hospital getting grumpy. i think i got to about 1cm, so no labour was established.

Eventually DD started to get sick of continuous low level contractions and her heart rate started decelerating and not coming back up as quickly as the midwives would have liked. At 3am i was moved into a delivery suite for monitering and at 7am the next morning the chief midwife told me that they were going to break my waters and put me on a syntocin drip to get things moving. By that stage i was pretty convinced it was all going to be a waste of time and i was headed towards a CS. I didnt really care so long as DD was ok.

THe syntocin worked brilliantly. i never got above the initial dose. THe contractions spun DD around very quickly and she was born 3 hours after the first dose of syntocin was given. I got them to administer an epi at the same time as the syntocin as i had been told how brutal it would be without one. I gave them firm instructions that under no circumstances would i consent to a forcepts or ventouse delivery so if they thought i would need assistance then it would have to be a CS. I had heard too many horrible stories about the damage done to women using forcepts et al. You could have knocked me down with a feather when DD was born vaginally and up the right way.

The epi was brilliant to as it was a "mobile" epidural which left me with enough feeling and control to move around the bed but none of the pain of the contractions. I could feel the pressure of DD moving down and i was the one who told the midwife that i thought it was time. She checked and DD was not far from crowning.

Though the preceeding couple of days were stressful and annoying, once the induction got underway proper it was a very chilled out and relaxed birth. am hoping for a repeat performance with No2 in March.

[Tillyscoutsmum]

Both of mine were back to back. DD was OP at my 39 week midwife check. My waters broke at 39+5 and she was the right way round at that point. Labour was fine.

DS was also back to back. I started having quite painful contractions on the Friday afternoon but they weren't regular. They continued throughout the weekend. I went in to be checked a few times but I was only 1-2 cm dilated and he was still OP. I finally couldn't take any more on the Monday night (mainly because I was exhausted from no sleep) and I was 3cm but he was still OP. I laboured at hospital (mostly leant over a bean bag) and at about 4.30 am, he had turned himself. I was still only 6 cms at this point because my waters hadn't broken and they were in the way. They broken my waters at 6.21 am and DS arrived at 6.28 am. 7 mins, 2 pushes and a 10lb 5oz baby

[boysrock]

I had 2 back to back labours both of them 4 hours each and no intervention required.
I found remaining relaxed and concentrating on how I was breathing really helped with ds3. I had the hang of it by then.

[MoaningMcMyrtlepants]

My DC3 was back to back. We had no idea and the midwife got the shock of her life when he was born l I was squatting, leaning on the bed as i was with DC2 as well and it was my quickest birth, 30 mins from start to finish with just gas and air which is all I had with all 3 of mine. I also sought of went into myself when DC3 was born and sort of breathed him out, if that makes sense.

[Malvapoeding]

Both DDs were back to back
DD1 - induced,waters broken, 7 hour labour 15mins pushing.
DD2 - 47minute labour, 1grunt push and she was born in her intact bag of water

I was advised by the MW to spend as much time in labour kneeling leaning forward on the back of the bed or leaning over in the bath.

[susiesheep2]

My DD1 was back to back at the start of labour, she shifted at some point (no idea when) but was born the right way after an very good 5 hour labour, however the backache was pretty grim, but being my first it was all new so I couldnt argue) I DID SPEND NEARLY ALL OF MY LABOUR STOOD UP.... only had gas and air, it was bareable - don't worry, im sure she will turn if you stay mobile.

[SummerRain]

ds1 was OP.... I didn't even know until after the birth.

He was by far my easiest birth, no pain relief and no stitches.

He was 8lb10 too so not small either.

[yomellamoHelly]

ds2 was back to back. Labour was 3 hours start (at home) to finish. When got to hospital MW insisted on getting me on the bed to examine me and was then constantly trying to get me flat on my back. Very much felt like the wrong thing so clung onto side of bed like a mad thing. Wasn't able to get up onto back of bed as was quite intense experience. Everything really slowed down once I was on the bed and I managed at least a 30 minute kip! When it came to it he was born on second push. (First one had cord round neck.) - Ignored MW telling me to push until I felt ready for it as she was p*ing me off! - So I'd say keep moving about whatever to help things along if you're able.

[goofygoober]

Thanks everyone, you've really made me feel far more positive about the birth. Sometimes you only hear the horror stories! I would like to keep an open mind and not get too worked up so thanks very much X

[PipCarrier]

I was really concerned about labour when I was told DC2 was back to back. In the end, I had her at home, with no pain relief in 90 minutes. No tears/stitches either...and she was 10lb :) It's not always as bad as you expect!

[msbuggywinkle]

I had a home birth with DD2 who was posterior brow presentation, it was lovely. 4 hours of labour, she was harder to push out than DD1, but was still out in an hour with lots of position changes (DD1 took 50 mins to push out).

Having someone at all times forcing their whole weight into my back was blissful, I really needed the counter pressure and I had to get out of the pool as we needed the gravity to get her out. In her case, she couldn't get into a better position as her cord was too short for her to move much, but this really isn't common.

[mookickkick]

I think the shape of your pelvis and the size of the baby's head are more critical, as the head slots in sideways and the body then turns during labour. That's what my consultant said anyway. Told me not to worry. Do keep thinking positive thoughts!

[camdancer]

I've had 3 back to back births. All at home. All turned during labour. The worst was DC2 who got stuck on an anterior lip. I was pushing for a long time but, with the help of experienced midwives who kept me moving, she turned just as the midwife was getting her phone out for a transfer. With DC3 I told them about DC2 and so they got me moving much earlier.

So keep changing positions and hopefully your baby will turn easily at the right time.

[notnearlyasblondasiwas]

DD was back to back and I didn't know until I got to the hospital birthing centre. They said usually they wouldnt take an OP case in the midwife unit, but said I could try and see how it went. Spent my labour upright hanging on a sling from the ceiling and then pushed on my hands and knees over a beanbag with just gas and air - did tear but it was fine. Was a good birth! Am 40+2 with DC2 at the moment, if i have another birth like the first, will be very happy. Try not to worry am sure you will be fine. Let us know how you get on?

[seaweed74]

I gave birth back to back. Only help was episiotomy. No forceps or ventouse needed. Pain relief was gas and air and water bath, and that was after I made it to 7cm. Pain was concentrated in my bottom and I couldn't sit down or stand straight but contraction pain manageable. Gave birth sitting up on bed as had to go on monitor. Went from 7cm to giving birth in 4 hours so don't think for first baby that was all that slow. Oh and pretty sure DD was not back to back at the start of labour, but turned without any professionals realising till she emerged back to back!!!!

Am now 24wks with DD2 and am not worried if it happens again. My birth was more straight forward than friends and relatives, none of whom had back to back labours or births.

[Firkytoodle]

This might be useful to read:

midwifethinking.com/2010/08/13/in-celebration-of-the-op-baby/

I've had two back to back labours, one child born back to back and one who turned before being born. Both times the labours were long, with irregular contractions and lots of pressure in my back. TENs machine was wonderful as it provided counter pressure. I only needed that and gas and air. I had a second degree tear with my first but that was down to useless and incompetent midwife, no subsequent problems from that. Dilation was very slow but I just stayed at home as long as possible and ended up in hospital at 8cm.

[scarlettsmummy2]

My baby was back to back but she turned at the last minute. It was my first labour so I don't know if it was more painful than normal but I managed ok and didn't need an epidural. My friend has also just had an op baby last week, 9lb, and she has also survived. I am sure you will be fine.

[scarlettsmummy2]

I also stayed on my feet the whole time, either walking or bending over bed when sucking gas and air! I really think this helped- was much worse lying down!