Anyone had a back to back (OP position) Labour/Birth for first baby?

[catholicatheist]

Hi ladies..I really need to hear some experiences. I am currently 36 weeks pregnant and my little boy decided he wanted a change of view and turned and is now in a back to back position. I have tried everything to turn him (all fours birth ball etc) and he isnt budging. Can people tell me their experiences as I feel I may need to rethink my birth plan (had hoped for just gas and air) but now considering epidural if it is going to be really really painful and long.

I didn't realise DS1 was back to back until I was examined by a midwife at home about 4 hours in - I had barely dilated at all. Got to the hospital 6 hours in and despite my very frequent and painful contractions they were about to send me home as still had barely dilated, when they spotted some staining so had to be hooked up to monitors. Had an epidural 12 hours into labour, which was really needed as hadn't slept due to contractions starting at bed time. Had ventouse, forceps to no avail and was taken into theatre. Was just about to have a c-section when last attempt at forceps managed to get DS1 out. Unfortunately had 3rd degree tear, so decided to have elected c-section with DS2 (a lot more straight forward and I was in hospital for exactly the same length of time). There is just no way of knowing in advance how a labour is going to be and I hope you don't get disheartened. Best of luck - you'll have a lovely baby soon one way or another.

IIRC, mine was one long contraction. Much pain and no breaks.

I just wonder how much worse it is than normal labour as I get the impression from what I read (I have asked this question on yahoo too) that it is a lot worse and I was terrified any way of a normal birth but I am also scared of having an epidural. I also have a DH who is being a total arse telling me to get on my hands and knees more and turn him then..like its that simple!

Both my awkward buggers were back-to-back. 1st labour was off and on after waters broke 12.10am Monday but real labour started Tuesday evening. I had no pains in front- everything was lower back and also felt like someone was ramming a broomshank up my arse. DD was born 8.30 am wednesay and I managed with tens machine only and a lot of bouncing on birthing ball/swearing at dh etc

DS started off 11 pm and he was born next day 7.30 am, again only arse/back pain but managed with tens machine and telling dh to " go f* himself" etc etc.

I'd do it all again in a whisker- neither was horrendous and I managed to pack in a lot of eating in between contractions

they're both painful in their own ways. tbh what helped me most was breathing techniques. the more relaxed you are the easier (assuming everything goes to plan) it is to cope with the birth.

DD was back to back. Long latent labour (c. 32 hrs stop start and still at 3 cms) but once waters went after a shot of pethidine it was 4 hrs with 45 mins pushing stage. DD turned at very end just before crowning and was born with hand strapped up to her head. I also delivered on my back after being put there by midwife who thought I'd need episiotomy. In end I had tiny tear. I had gas and air and the pethidine, was asking for epidural but first it was 'too early' then no anaethetist available.

For me the pain was extreme, however it hasn't deterred me from planning HB with only G&A for DC no 2 due in few weeks. Despite the pain, with hindsight I am glad I didn't have an epidural as I think it would have slowed things down. I was exhausted after no sleep and got very tired in pushing stage. I suspect from what I've read that I would have ended with instrumental or C-section and from recovery POV am glad I didn't (but in the same position again I'd probably ask for an epidural). I regret having pethidine because it did nothing for the pain and made DD sleepy and jaundiced.

FWIW at 36 wks there is still time for the baby to turn or it may well turn during labour. Do not be flat on back if at all possible including having the belt monitoring - they can use a handheld doppler. Massage, water and hot water bottles can help.

Oh dear, this isn't helping you at all then! I think as others have said, most first births are pretty difficult back to back or not. If I was to compare my two labours, the last 3 contractions of the second were like most of the first stage of my first labour. But I guess I can't say if my first would have been different if DS had been in the right position.

Fear was the thing for me. I was expecting breaks between contractions - there weren't any. I was expecting to be able to get gas & air when I needed it - I couldn't. If I learned one thing, it is how important it is to get the appropriate pain relief at the right time. Otherwise you will exhaust yourself, panic and have a much worse time overall. By the time I did get gas & air I could no longer breathe properly and I got no benefit. In fact, when I was given it for the last few contractions of my second labour I exclaimed "so that's what's supposed to happen!".

I found I was totally unable to communicate and was kind of trapped in a pit of pain which was just horrid. DH didn't realise what was happening to me. So make sure you are flexible about your options and educate your DH to speak for you if necessary - discuss your fears and preferences with him in advance.

When I got to hospital I was 6 cm dilated and finding the contractions very hard to deal with and the midwife explained this was as DD was coming down back to back but was turning around.

The pool helped a great deal and I had gas and air. I had a normal delivery with no problems. The contractions were the worst part for me.

I don't think there is any such thing as a normal labour. You just have to deal with what happens and you will deal with it. Good luck!

I'll say one thing though. If you reach the point where the pain is so bad you think it can't possibly get worse - it won't. I reached this point at 3 cm and obviously I thought it would get tons worse, which added to the fear. It honestly didn't, and if I'd had appropriate pain relief at the time I think I'd have coped much much better.

And I absolutely agree educate your DH as to what your wishes are so he can speak up for you. I had trouble asking for the G&A and the midwife didn't know what I wanted (think he thought I wanted something stronger, I was in a birth centre) but DH knew what I wanted,spoke up for me and I got it.

Sorry, I feel like I may have been a bit too candid now. I agree with gaelicsheep, the pain of the contractions was the same at 3cm as later on, they just got more frequent. I was also both shattered and completely terrified/freaking out - partly because I was thinking if it hurt that much at 3 cm what would it be like at 10? I think I would have coped with the fast and furious labour proper had I been less tired and calmer as well. I didn't get great support from DH or the midwives though and this time round I've hired a doula and also gone to antenatal yoga to help me learn to breath and relax more.

Thanks everyone I really appreciate all this input. I am wondering about the ladies who said they were not having contractions..was it all back pain then?

Also at what point would I request the epidural..it seems really hard to know what to do because you want to see how far you can go but I dont want to miss the opportunity and for them to then say it is too late now. I totally hear what you say gaelicsheep about pain relief at the right time and can see how that really makes a profound difference.

Both mine were back to back. I can honestly say the backache in pregnancy was worse than the labour/birth. Approach the birth with an open mind and see what happens. Good luck.

Haven't read all the posts but here's my story:

DS1 was back to back through out late pg, labour and delivery. It took a long long time (imo) to get into established labour because of this. Contractions started at 2am on due date, finally went into hospital at 3pm-ish as was finding the ctx were getting hard to cope with (little did I know!).

They monitored me, and hooked me up to a TENS and left me be for a couple of hours. I spent most of the time kneeling up on the bed hanging over a bean bag, like you suffered from bad SPD and walking/standing for any lenght of time was beyond me at this point. Ended up going home early evening still with tens m/c on as still only 2cms.

Went back into hospital around midnight as things had ramped up. They kept me in, managed to get the hang of G&A which was good. About 2am I was getting frustrated and anxious so m/w suggested pethedine to help me relax as she felt I was starting to stall my labour as I was so tense (if that makes sense - it does to me). Progressed fine after that with G&A and TENS as required. Transition was about 7am when I just had to pull the TENS off my back it was winding me up by then. Ended up giving birth lying on my side with out any interventions other than ARM (that lovely crochet hook!) and 3 pushes later he was out. I had a 2nd degree tear but that's probably 'cause I pushed him out in a hurry and didn't really go slowly like the m/w was trying to encourage me to. He never turned.

In short - managed with TENS, G&A, a shot of pethedine, artificial membrane rupture and 2nd degree tear.

As an aside have to say with DC2&3, normal position, I couldn't believe how painful my contractions were in comparison to the back labour with DC1.

Good Luck.

DS1 was OP and the labour was not particularly painful. My waters broke while I was asleep and I was already 4-5cm dilated when I was examined on arriving at hospital 15 minutes later. 3 hours later, with no pain relief other than yoga breathing, I was 8-9cms. Things did slow down after that so I was put on a syntocinon drip and I had some gas and air at that point but I still wouldn't really describe the contractions as painful. In the end he was delivered without intervention and the whole labour was less than 8 hours.

DS2 and DS3 were OP in the late stages of pregnancy but both turned shortly before or at the beginning of labour. I did use a birthing ball and scrub the floors in the last few weeks but I don't know whether that was what turned them. Both labours lasted 1 hour 20 minutes and were not painful at all.

A previous poster mentioned hypnobirthing. I used that for DS2 and DS3 and I would highly recommend it.

Not all back to back labours are traumatic - you might be one of the lucky ones!

Oh gosh Ferchel I would take your experience any day if that was offered. Thanks for the hope.

Yes - my first birth was very painful and long and the baby was born in distress with a low apgar score.

I don't want to be a harbinger of doom - but absolutely would suggest an epidural. I had two numpty midwives (one trained and one in training) spouting anti epi crap and would have thrown myself out of the labour room window if I could have ambulated that far. It took an Obstetric SpR with more than half an ounce of common sense to come in 24 hours into a hideous labour and to remark how inhumane it was and offer me a much needed epudural.....

Hope your baby turns- but if not - go for the epidural if you need it.

Incidentally second, correctly positioned labour was a piece of piss!

Post script - had forceps and ventouse too in theatre with c-section team in readiness

Both mine were OP. DD born first, 3 days of painful pre-labour/labour, day and night, contractions every 5 - ten mins, sometimes 1 min long. By then only up to 3 cm dilated, midwife recommended scrap homebirth and pool and go to hosp. I did, had an epidural, got to sleep for the first time in three days, and gave birth with no probs, lying on left hand side, supported leg in the air, very nice, no pain was a blissful way to get ready to meet my child. DS was induced to allow DP to be present at birth, as DS was overdue and DP had to go away following day. Hilarious gas and air followed by blissful epidural again, midwife tried to turn his head during delivery, no luck, so had to kneel to push and he was then able to turn partially. Good luck, have an epidural if you can, well worth all your National Insurance contributions.

Some midwives are dreadful. The one I have in the community is a lovely woman but I wouldnt trust her to deliver a letter let alone my baby!

Catholic!

Thanks woollymummy I may just do that! Especially given how much I need my sleep! The prospect of a long tiring labour on no sleep is a scary thought!

Just to add - agree with the poster who regretted pethidine. I have no evidence but gut feeling that it contributed to dd's sluggishness and need for oxygen and an incubator in SCBU for 24 hours. I think I recall reading something about the potential effects of pethidine on newborns....

oh yes here we are - scroll down, please don't have pethidine

3rd para under pregnancy and breastfeeding