BACK TO BACK LABOUR - TIPS PLEASE AND POSITIVE STORIES

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Dear All,

I am 35 weeks pregnant with DC3. DC1 was an emcs. He was induced on 40+15, I never made it past 4cm dilated and in the end a c section was needed for both our sakes. DC2 was a VBAC. Both DC1 and DC2 were back to back and I found their labours very painful. I had an epidural with both of them. This is likely to be my final child and ideally I would like a more active birth. I am also very scared about instrumental delivery and whilst I know that having an epidual does not mean that I would definitely have to have forceps or ventose (I didn't with DC2, just tore badly) I know that it may contribute to them being needed.

Anyway, I had a midwife appointment today and DC3 is currently lying in a back to back position. I am going to try and turn him, but am realistic/ pessimistic about the chances of this working, therefore my plan B is to accept it will be another back to back labour but try to make it as positive an experience as possible. So... Does anyone have any tips e.g. for labouring positions for things that might help with the pain and does anyone have any good back to back stories to help me stay upbeat. Sadly, because I had an emcs for my first birth I have already been told that I have to deliver in a consultants unit rather than a mlu and I have been told that water birth is not an option for me.

Thanks.

DS (28 months) was back to back and I had an awful 30hr labour, with epidural and then forceps. The damage left me with a prolapse. I was terrified of another back to back and was glad DD (7 weeks) was in a great position pre delivery, but unfortunately she turned whilst I was in labour despite me being very active, starting in the pool, then getting out and walking/bouncing about to try to get things to progress. Despite her turning, it was a short, and enjoyable labour, lasting 8 hrs, my second stage lasted only 2 mins and she was born after 2 pushes! I only used gas and air and felt no need for anything stronger. For me, the difference was wonderful support from the NHS midwife and also a brilliant independent midwife I had booked.

Ok - its not too awful. all my contractions were in my back so definitely get a tens machine. I didn't have any tightenings or pain in my stomach for the whole labour, dd turned at the last minute which was painful, but not awful. I had a waterbirth at home with only gas and air.

My best tip is stay on all fours, on the stairs for as much of labour as you can - all fours is the only bearable position. Keep exams/time on your back to a minimum, as they really are unbearable. Try to get your birth partner to give you massages (if you can bear to be touched) in the lower back, and try a birthing ball/ hot towels with lavender oil etc on your back.

I tried to give birth on all fours, but had to be turned round at the last minute to get dd 'round the corner'.

Best of luck - when told I had a back to back baby I asked the midwife 'isn't that more painful' and she said ' all labours are painful' so don't worry too much!

DD1 was back to back - syntocinon, epi, forceps. Horrid. DD2 was probably back to back - home water birth. Brilliant experience. The pain in my back was still very strong, but lioness roaring (which I did a fair bit of!) painful, not bewildering, whimpering painful like first time.

My big thing was positioning - try the spinning babies website. Anything that spreads the pelvis helps the back: Standing squat. One leg up on a chair. Also have a look at 'sifting'. Bending forwards and having someone lift and sift your bump during a contraction will also take weight off the spine.

Oh, and think carefully about ARM. Someone posted a link a while ago about how the cushion of waters may help a back to back baby turn in labour, so breaking them to help things along may not be such a great plan with a back to back baby. Different if they've gone on their own of course.

Water was also amazing. Is it really out of the question given you have a history of successful VBAC? Is it the midwife who has told you this or a consultant? As others will also point out, if you were to choose a home birth they couldn't tell you no pool, it's totally your choice. However, I understand that home VBAC isn't for everyone.

I second being on all fours, I spent a lot of my later stages crawling about on all fours which really helped, i actually dozed off at one point on all fours with my head on my hands if that makes sense!

NewYears - I had ARM eventually as I wasn't progressing, the midwife said my waters were really bulging and baby would be born as soon as they went, but they just wouldn't go. She broke them, and DD shot out 2 mins later and with 2 easy pushes, no 'ring of fire' and no tears or grazes! Even she was surprised by how quickly she came given I was only 7 cms when they were broken, so in my case, it was definitely the right thing to do. I think I tend to have a very strong membrane though as they had to be broken with my first as well.

Edwin - that's interesting. Definitely the right call in your case then! If they were really bulging and she thought the baby would come as soon as they went then that's a bit different to what I was thinking of (sorry if my first post was a bit vague). I was thinking of the situation where an OP labour progresses slowly, and at 3 or 4 cms midwives give a pretty 'routine' suggestion to break them to try and encourage things to get going and the the contractions to strengthen. They did that to me in my first labour and it was pretty much a disaster for my labour - since I saw the article someone mentioned (which I still can't blooming well find), I understand why that might have been the case. I had no idea there was any particular issue why you might want to ask a few more questions before agreeing to ARM with a back to back baby. As I said though, obviously a good call for you!!

Both my dc were back to back so don't know if it is more painful or not. No tightenings in my tummy at all, just all in my back. Induced for both so don't know what it feels like to go into labour naturally. Had the drip thing and waters broken wiht dd and have since heard get an epidural before they do the drip as it was like someone put a rocket up my bits and went from nothing to c9ntactions on top of each other with no break.

Both came out face up despite the few weeks previous for both dc we had snow so constantly on all floors cleaning/mopping my slate floors made no difference! I just don't think I am one of those women who just 'breathed their babies out' mine had to be pulled out. I do think labour hurts for most women, however their babies come out!!

Thank you for all the replies. I have a consultant's appointment next week so want to fully explore what the options are for me and find out what the objection to a water birth is. When I was first told I would not be allowed a water birth, I was not that bothered, but the closer I get to D Day, the more I want to make sure that if it is rejected, it is for sound medical reasons. One reason why I was not initially set on having a water birth was that DH does not like the idea of a water birth and whilst he would not stop me having one, as he is my birth partner I felt that he needed to be convinced that something was a good idea in order to properly support me IYSWIM. The consultants unit where I would be delivering is in the same hospital and right next to a mlu with baths for water births so if I had a water birth, but complications developped, it seems to me that these could be dealt with. Anyway looks like I am going to be doing some research before next week.

As for being on all fours, I have already agreed with consultants and midwifes at the hospital that I will not have to stay on my back for monitoring during labour but will be able to move and get into other positions. This was something that I found unhelpful with DC2 so even before DC3 turned out to be back to back I wanted to be sure that I would be able to be on all fours/ standing up/ basically whatever helped.

Was also interested that having waters broken may be unhelpful as I had my waters broken with both my previous deliveries.

Thanks again for all your help .

I post this on all back to back threads as i found it so useful with DS

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

Both of my DCs were back to back, I found a TENS very helpful and walking around a lot. Contractions were not very painful for me and I entered the hospital at 8cm with DD and had a homebirth with DS. DD was born OP and DS turned in my pelvis.

Labour was long and I dilated very oddly and slowly but managed to avoid any intervention with both children. With DS it took me 18 hours to dilate to 6cm and then he was born one hour after that. His actual birth was amazing, I managed to breathe him out and it didn't hurt at all-not even as his head came out-the midwives said because I was relaxed and my birth canal had had lots of time to get ready (so some benefit to all those hours of labour!). I read a lot about hypnobirthing and it really did help me stay calm.

With DD they tried to get me to hold on as I felt an early urge to push, after an hour I had had enough and she popped out like a cork from a bottle.

The waters thing makes sense as I don't think the head fits quite as well on the cervix with an OP baby as a OA delivery, hence the weird dilation, I would imagine the waters would minimise the effects. With both of mine I never got a gush of waters, they came out with the baby and only leaked slightly throughout the labour. Without the waters cushioning the baby perhaps there would be more pressure on the back with every contraction? Not a midwife but spent a long time discussion position with my MW and researching frantically!

My midwife said i wouldn't be aloud into the MLU (sound similar to your hospital in that the water pools are in the MLU down the corridor from the consultant lead ward) unless the consultant had previously written it into my notes.

So i saw the consultant last week and he spoke to the leading midwife and they have agreed that i can labour in the pool but have to come out for delivery. This may be an option for you?