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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Baby back to back

11 replies

MadameJ · 16/02/2012 20:04

Is it true that a baby that presents as "back to back" or facing upwards leads to a more difficult, painfull labour where the baby is even more difficult to push out??

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thisisyesterday · 16/02/2012 20:06

not always no.
my second baby was back to back and it was the nicest labour of all 3!
he was also 9lb 5 and I had him at home, so no pain relief. labour was 6 hours from start to finish

he WAS a bit of a pain to push out, but he did come out and it wasn't terrible.

a lot of back to back babies turn during labour anyway, so it might not even be an issue. but even if this doesn't happen it doesn't always mean a long hideous labour.

my advice would be to listen to your body, stay upright and keep mobile

fuckityfuckfuckfuck · 16/02/2012 20:10

I've had 2 back to back babies. Most turn in labour I'm told. My first one didn't, which I put down to me being flat on my back with an epidural, and she came out looking up at the ceiling. With my second one, I stayed upright and active, he turned and I needed no more than a whiff of gas and air. I think it can be more painful, but not necessarily.

SootySweepandSue · 16/02/2012 20:17

Ask your MW for the stats on it. I think back to back is harder as otherwise why would they advise you to try to shift the babies position (being on all fours, sitting forwards etc) before the birth?

smogwod · 16/02/2012 20:45

I've also had 2 back-to-back babies, first ended up emcs, second was elcs. But they were also big babies (and I'm not!) and v stubborn

ImpOfThePerverse · 16/02/2012 20:55

DS1 was back to back and came out facing that way despite me staying upright and active. I was under the impression my second labour would be really easy in comparison but in fact it was pretty similar even though DS2 was well positioned.

I think there can be a lot of difference between back to back labours depending on the exact angle of the head.

Sirzy · 16/02/2012 20:58

DS was back to back, didn't turn in labour and compared to what I expected I found labour easier. Only had G and A, only issue was he got a bit stuck coming out so I needed an episiotmoy.

All the contractions were in my bum/lower back rather

jaffacakehips · 16/02/2012 22:02

For me yes...but she was 9lb 13oz so that didn't help! In the end I had an emcs.

I got to 9cm on G&A before asking for drugs. I wanted to push at 9cm, DD was stuck and all other forms of getting her out fail DD was back to back and facing up and her head was twisted. MW and Docs hoped DD would turn but she didn't.. I should of moved about more. I had a lot of lower back pain as DD was pushing on my nerves {ouch} It now turns out I have a heart shaped womb (didn't know this before) and with such a big baby, she didn't have the room to turn fully which naturally lead to problems, I should of had an elcs.

Hope that helped and didn't freak you out

kiki22 · 19/02/2012 12:24

Mine was back to back but was turned by me pushing and a doc helping him it wasn't pleasant but i survived :)

steben · 22/02/2012 10:27

I ended up with a section after 28 hours labour - she was essentially stuck! Mind you she was 10lb so maybe that had something to do with it. I never got past 5cm either...

4madboys · 22/02/2012 10:37

not always, my dd, my 5th baby was back to back, i had to have the syntocin drip to get labour going after my waters went, but labour took 3 hrs and she was out in a few pushes, came out facing upwards and yes labour was painful but lots of gas and air helped!

Spagbolagain · 22/02/2012 10:45

DS2 was back to back, but turned in labour. Most do so not sure if the pre-labour all fours advice is very helpful (my mw said not to bother). And some perfectly positioned babies turn b2b quite late on if they are feeling awkward.

My baby didn't turn till late labour, remember her saying he was still OP when I was 6cm and he was born only an hour later. But the labour was far easier than ds1. Had him at home, only g&a, pushed for about 20 mins. Not bad for a 9lb 2 b2b!

So I really wouldn't worry too much, can be easier or harder!

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