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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Childbirth

Back to back baby anyone else

39 replies

Princesspinkgirl · 15/12/2016 15:32

38+5 midwife just said baby is back to back is it anything to worry about

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CocoLoco87 · 15/12/2016 15:38

Not at all. Labour is pretty painful with b2b's though. every contraction = acute back pain. I've had 2. Good luck!

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smEGGnogg · 15/12/2016 15:43

Nothing to worry about but yes labour was a lot more painful for both of mine than my others. Every contraction is in your back and arse.

With the first, it was a very long labour and I had an epidural and ventouse. The last one, things weren't moving quickly enough, she was a big baby and in a stupid position so I had to have the drip. It didn't feel the same at all, I knew the contractions weren't working if you see what I mean.

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Polyethyl · 15/12/2016 15:43

Spend every moment on your hands and knees. Try to turn the baby.
Back to back is painful. I was glad of the epidural.
Good luck.

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savagehk · 15/12/2016 15:46

Have a look at spinningbabies.com/

I was told mine was back to back in labour, not before, but I didn't have any of the back pain I know is typical of back to back labour.

If I was told that baby was back to back I'd try persuade him to turn before labour started. Consultant this time said that babies turn in labour, nothing to worry about. I'd still try start with a non-back-to-back baby though :)

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Fishcakey · 15/12/2016 16:16

My DS was back to back. The pain is all in your back and it was a long labour but I did it without any intervention or drugs (despite everything I was told might go wrong) so don't let it worry you too much.

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Princesspinkgirl · 15/12/2016 17:21

Oh God I'm scared now I will look at the link thank you I pray this baby will turn ahh

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LadyBunnyFluff · 16/12/2016 13:05

My DD was back to back and it wasn't a particularly pleasant experience I'm afraid. The hospital turned me away twice because my contractions didn't show up properly despite being in pain and dilating (they wouldn't check). The pain was pretty intense on each contraction and her head had a large deep crease in it due to it being wedged in my pelvis too long. I also reckon it contributed to my 3rd degree tear, because she was SGA and you'd think certainly not big enough to cause trouble. I hope your baby turns .

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Spottyladybird · 16/12/2016 13:09

Both mine turned back to back during labour- first time was tricky, second time I coped much better by staying upright or on all fours for contractions.

You still have time for baby to move though so look at Spinning Babies and spend lots of time on all fours!

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purplefizz26 · 16/12/2016 13:52

I only have one DC so nothing to compare it to, but the contraction pain was very intense in my back as well as front.
I had a rotational forceps delivery as DC got stuck and couldn't fit that way.
Doesn't happen to everyone though, if the pelvis is wide enough it's fine, I just have childlike hips

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rachyconks · 16/12/2016 13:56

2 back to back babies here. 1st one only had gas and air. Long labour, bad back pain, but not unmanageable - no pain between contractions and bath helped. Also sitting over a chair with a pillow to rest my head on helped take the strain off my back. 2nd - water birth. No other pain relief. Water helped pain and only sore when I had to get out to go to the loo.

You will be fine! If you are in pain, tell the midwives and request pain relief.

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defineme · 16/12/2016 14:12

Both ds1 and dd (first twin out) were back to back, labour v intense, ds1 just pushed out on hands and knees, they turned dd1 with forceps and then i pushed her out. It was a far pleasanter experience with the twins as they seemed to prioritise pain relief with twins.

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PutDownThatLaptop · 16/12/2016 14:19

Don't be scared. Don't worry. My DS1 was back to back and I also have a tilted cervix. I can highly recommend an epidural, it worked wonders and I slept through the labour until told to push. I did need a forceps delivery but all was fine. He was 8lbs so not a little one. Don't be afraid to ask for an epidural, if you want one, early on.

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kippersandcurtains · 16/12/2016 14:23

My last dc was b2b at the start of (induced) labour. She turned during though, and the pain wasn't unbearable. I used gas and air only when waters broken during last half hour. Arguably a longer labour due to positioning but still less than four hours.
Don't be scared. Spending some time on ball and using spinning techniques isn't a waste of time though. Best of luck - try not to dwell on negatives.

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MerlinsBeard87 · 16/12/2016 15:37

My ds was back to back but I only found this out afterwards in my birth debrief. It was a very painful labour, I didn't feel contractions in my back like people report but lying down for exams was agonising. If your baby stays in that position ask midwives for advice with positions to labour in. I was left alone, but found leaning forwards over the bed or all fours most comfortable

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savagehk · 16/12/2016 20:58

Merlin sounds like me. My transfer on a bed from mlu to labour ward was the worst bit. I didn't find it overly painful but pain certainly wasn't in my back.

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LittleBee23 · 16/12/2016 23:17

Dd1 was back to back. I had a long early labour but once I got into active labour it was fairly quick.

If baby is still back to back when labour starts then try and stay as active as possible in early labour and try and avoid being on your back for delivery. I found this helped majorly speed things up and helped me deliver with just gas and air.

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BexleyRae · 16/12/2016 23:24

Don't be scared. My DD1 now 11 weeks was back to back. Like others have said the pain is in your back during labour. I had a relatively quick (8ish hours) water birth- with only gas and air. I tried all the tricks to get her to move but my little chunky money (8lbs 12.5oz) wasn't having any of it

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Blaze6 · 16/12/2016 23:30

I had two back to back labours, both long and the pain in your back is pretty bad but totally manageable so don't be scared! My main advice is stay upright, walk about or sit on a birthing ball do not lie Down on your back! upright at all times and you have better chance of the baby turning during labour! My second labour the baby was born completely naturally and no problems, I stayed upright the whole time, first labour I lay down and it was an instrumental birth!

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DailyFail1 · 16/12/2016 23:32

Sister had 2 back to back labours. Teared in both.

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DuggeeSchmuggee · 16/12/2016 23:39

My DS1was a normal birth, and DS2 turned during birth (bastard) and was back to back. DS2's birth (whilst I still managed to gave birth naturally with just g&a in a pool) was far far more painful. I was at a birth centre, but if I had been at hospital I would have taken the epidural.

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Etak15 · 16/12/2016 23:48

All my 4 were back to back - although I didn't know that with any of them until well into labour. The times of my labours got shorter but The pain didn't get any easier to deal with! in fact somehow dc4 was the most painful - (maybe because there was not enough time for drugs!!) and the worst tear too but I think that's because the pain was so bad I was so desperate To get him out and pushed too hard too quick!!
But saying this I wouldn't worry about it too much. It's got to come out one way or another and yes it will hurt but it's worth it

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WinterRose92 · 17/12/2016 05:28

Hi, I would try not to worry too much. I gave birth to my baby on 13th, and it was only picked up that he was back to back just before I was to start pushing! Not going to lie, it is painful, but he apparently turned just as he was being delivered. Things progressed quite quickly, he was born after just 17 minutes of pushing - my first, as well! The midwives were quite surprised! Did it with gas and air and diamorphine. Managed to get away with a slight tear which didn't require any stitches, too.
Honestly, please don't stress too much - you will be okay. Hope this helps in some way. Good luck!

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Fishcakey · 17/12/2016 22:17

I only pushed for 20 minutes. All the pain suddenly moved to the front - it was fantastic!

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Becciilouisex3 · 27/12/2016 08:29

Back labour is horribly painful BUT if you scream and scream for an epidural apparently it's not too bad. I had no pain relief save for gas and air (not out of choice!) and it was just horrendous. Before labour id said I'd never have an epidural as I'm petrified of needles and struggle with blood tests but if I got pregnant again and was a back labour I'd scream at the hospital staff until they'd got that needle in my back

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icebearforpresident · 28/12/2016 21:13

I had a 75 minute labour with my second and back to back was diagnosed about 73 minutes before she was born.

Compared to my first labour it was a LOT more painful. I felt every contraction in the small of my back and spent every contraction practicially trying to crawl up the bed to get rid of the pain (dont know why,it made sense at the time). That said though i only had gas and air and 2 pracetemol and while i admit that there was literally no time for me to have amything else i never felt like it was too much and i couldnt cope. I did tear but no worse than with my first daughter.

That said though if i have another i would make sure i asked my midwife if baby was back to back while there was still enough time to try and do something about it!