VBAC with back to back baby

[Carlyt93]

Hi all, hoping for a VBAC. My first was undiagnosed footling breech ending in emergency c-section. I’m 40 weeks and midwife told me yesterday baby is back to back. I don’t know now if this will change how I feel about a Vbac. Or have a planned c section. Has anyone got any advice? Or been in the same situation? Thank you

I had a back to back baby - it was fine. 3 days of labour, which I managed with a TENS machine at home, she then turned just before pushing stage and was out pretty quickly after that. I didn’t have any other pain relief as I was at home but I never felt like I needed anything stronger. It’s my only baby so I have nothing to compare to, and it wasn’t after a c section, but it doesn’t have to be unmanageably horrendous!

My only (read into that what you will) was b2b, and after 36 hours and 4 epidural for the pain, ended in an ECS.

Honestly? I'd have rather had a planned c section and had a better start to motherhood.

Thank you for sharing this. I'm in a situation where I probably won't be able to do a VBAC, but I've been tending towards "better the devil you know".

This is the nail in the coffin.

There's just no easy way to bring a child into the world is there?

Elective section 100%. It’s totally different to an emergency section - much calmer, often a quicker recovery.

I personally wouldn’t even consider the VBAC in your situation. There is literally nothing to gain from it and everything to lose, including your continence, sexual function and a whole lot besides.

Many of these replies are irrelevant to you, @Carlyt93 because as a VBAC you will only be given a limited amount of time and intervention before being offered a CS. On those grounds I would be inclined to go for a trial of labour and see what happens. If progress is slow you can discuss CS.

Has VBAC been discussed in detail? There should be a clearly documented plan in place to maximise your chances of a vaginal delivery whilst minimising the small risks associated with VBAC.

Good luck.

I had a long and difficult back to back labour with my dc1, she was almost 10lb and a ventouse but I was left with no ongoing issues at all. As I'd never laboured before I didn't know what was normal, and I'm glad I was able to have her vaginally. Just a different perspective.

Side lying release
Shaking the apples - buttocks and thighs
Forward leading inversion
Wrapping your belly and your pelvis
Exaggerated lateral lying
Deep squating and being on all fours
Keep your pelvis mobile

All of these might help give your baby enough space to move, before and during labour.. if these methods ease discomfort during labour, there is a good chance that they will also help your baby into an optimal position.

Look at Molly O'Brien on Instagram.

I’ve had 3 natural deliveries - middle one was breech, turned by ECV then was b2b (apparently that’s common) it was definitely the more painful labour of the 3, even though the smallest baby. She was born with cord around her neck which the mw thought maybe was why she had got stuck in an odd position in the first place.
in your situation I would be tempted to go ECS

My first was back to back, didn’t find out until my birth afterthoughts appointment with the midwife weeks later. I wondered why the labour was so long, and why I felt like my coccyx was going to break all the way through labour. The pain was excruciating and like nothing I’d prepared for. Also could not get him out so ended up with forceps delivery, which caused injuries I took months to recover from. Narrowly missed a prolapse although think I’m forever changed down there!

Not trying to be purposefully negative but lots of the replies here are giving you a realistic picture of what its like.
I opted for an elective for my second because of my first birth experience and I’m so glad I did. My recovery was rapid in comparison.

One back to back and one the correct position. Back to back (my second)was agony and very very long. Correctly positioned dc's birth (first,) was fine

No experience of VBAC but my third was back to back. Little bugger was lying quite nicely a couple of days before and must have changed position in the day or so before I went into labour.

It was very, very painful (worse than the others) but I delivered him safely on gas and air.

My first was back to back, unknown/unoticed/not a thing till I went into labour.
3 day labour, ended with epidural and forceps.

All the way though the second pregnancy I was asking about back to back and was told all fine. Lo and behold I went into labour and another back to back. That one ended up "wedged" at the point of pushing so EMCS, with GA cos the spinal block didn't take.

I'm never having another but if I did I'd absolutely go elective CS

My first was back to back 10lb baby. It was 4 days of hell ending in an emergency section. I was still having hospital appointments for me for 3 months.
My second was a planned section with sterilisation at the same time.....2 weeks after the birth, I was walking 3 miles a day. He is now 4 months old and I have started weight training.

I also remember actively wanting to die in the final stages.
Sorry OP I don't say this to scare you but fuck I wouldn't even contemplate it if you're being offered a c section.
I was also left with injuries that took about a year to heal after the birth and a prolapse to boot.

Are you me!? This is exactly my experience.

I've had a "normal" birth and breathed out one of my DC with no pain relief; but I would have happily killed myself during my B2B birth. It was so brutal, so long, and there was no let up at all in the agony; no "normal" contractions with space to breathe.

This isn't meant to scaremonger, OP. At all. But if there is a c section on offer, take it.

Mine was undiagnosed back to back. Labour was agony, even with an epidural I could still feel it. Thankfully for me my baby turned before he came out, the relief was so immense I thought I'd already pushed him out! It's not for the faint hearted, so best to go in knowing all options available to you. Best wishes for a smooth birth whatever you decide to do :)

Not me but my friend, her baby turned back to back not long before she went into labour. It was her longest labour and did really take it out of her however she has no regrets.

My DD1 was back to back and I ended up with an emergency section after a VERY long and painful labour; she was very much still back to back when she was delivered.

I understand the desire for a VBAC (I desperately wanted one for DD2 and I was fortunate enough to get one!) and had she been back to back, I’d probably have given it a go but bowed out a bit earlier and accepted a section. I spent my last two weeks of pregnancy on hands and knees to try and ensure she wasn’t back to back before I went into labour, so it might be worth a try! Apparently gravity pulls their spine to the front because that’s the heaviest part of them!

God I know, awful isn't it! And yes the pain just doesn't go away, it was relentless especially the last couple of hours. Never wanted to go through it again so only had one child (not the only reason but certainly a big factor!)

Just to add a different perspective. My first was 8lb8 and back to back. Im pregnant with no.2 atm so nothing to compare it to but I had a great birth. It was long but completely manageable in the water with just G&A. Didn't feel I needed anything else and honestly felt it was very positive. I'd be happy with the same again.

Obviously very different for everyone but that was my experience. If this one was back to back I would still go ahead with my plans for a second g&a waterbirth.

All 3 of mine were back to back as I've got a retroverted uterus. First was long and painful and I needed quite a large episiotomy - pushed on my back. Second was speedy and efficient 3 hours - pushed on all fours and I must have been pushing about 1 minute because the midwife only had 1 glove on ha. Number 3 was huge (over 10 pounds) and again back to back but labour was easy peasy and again I gave birth on all fours.

So I think the position you give birth in makes a massive difference. Also I didn't find birth 2 or 3 that painful and managed on gas and air.

My anecdotal evidence: My 2nd was back to back. Didn’t manage to push him out, just avoided EMCS with quite a hands on ventouse delivery. I was prepped for the section and in the OR. Happy to have avoided the c section. It probably depends on how much you want to avoid / are ok with the c section? All the best :)

Back to back labour was like being ripped apart vertically and horizontally and diagonally for three days straight.

Made my second Labour seem like a walk in the park

I had a VBAC with back to back baby. I needed assisted delivery with forceps. Lots of stitches. It was very uncomfortable to sit for a couple of weeks. The main reason I wanted VBAC instead of a Csection was so I could drive sooner, which I did but In hindsight I put too much pressure on myself to get back to “normal”

Another back to back here. I got ‘lucky’ that she did make it out with only ventous support but oh my god it was agony. I was very close to a section. Second baby = c section, I didn’t even contemplate another VB.

I’m pretty sure both mine were back to back late in pregnancy (one was also breech til 36 weeks). Babies often move into better positions just as they are getting ready to be born, so I wouldn’t necessarily panic that a back to back baby today will be in the same place in a couple days time at the start of labour.

I’ve not had a VBAC, but I did have 2 home births with no back labour, no complications, both fairly easy as births go, so I assume they rotated or it didn’t really have any tangible effect on labour.