Turning a back to back baby- do they have too?

[Hootie]

I'm getting concerned that dd2 is going to stay back to back for this birth. I'm 39+ 3 and getting some twinges and although my obstetrician is convinced my contractions will turn her I'd rather be prepared.

Can I labour and deliver her back to back if I'm maybe on all fours or whatever feels right? I'm shit scared of forceps, shouldn't be googling I know, and if I can push her out head up then what's the problem? Can they turn her with the midwifes hands?

My first dd was in the 'perfect' position and came out fine, just a graze. I was amazed how quickly I recovered and just want that again so much for our whole family.

My baby went back to back for a short time during labour and the contractions were so much more horrendous during this part than any other. He re-turned to normal position and the relief! I can't imagine the pain if he had stayed back to back the whole way through....sorry!

Hope it goes well for you

Often they turn themselves in early labour, but it does mean things take a bit longer, and often they will want to augment to speed things up, which increases the risk of interventions.
I was a "stargazy baby" delivered OP and never turned, my mum had precipitous labours so there was no time for anyone to interfere!

Babies can and do come out without forceps after a back to back labour. It doesn't necessarily mean you will have an awful labour - it might just be the comfiest position for your baby or the most direct route through your pelvis. Since you have already had one normal delivery you have a headstart already. All fours is a great place for any labour if you like it and more likely to encourage the baby into the OA or "normal" position. I love seeing babies blinking up at me and on all fours that is the default setting!

I'll be 39 weeks tomorrow with my first baby, who went back to back about a fortnight ago. I've been spending a lot of time on all fours and leaning forwards over a birthing ball, and having acupuncture to see if I could make him turn, and it seems to be working, in that he's now lateral rather than fully back to back. Midwife and ex-midwife acupuncturist say not to panic, many babies turn in labour, but that I should consider an epidural (which I'm reluctant about) to cope with a longer labour if he doesn't. Good luck to you.

Both of mine were back to back and both of them turned during labour (albeit DS took a lot bloody longer about it ).

My midwife had been concerned that they wouldn't turn because they were big babies and she didn't think there would be room but they both managed it. DD just turned with no "help" (I just laboured standing up) and with DS, after being in labour for 50+ hours and not really progressing, I laboured over a bean bag and he turned then.

I think quite a lot of babies are back to back before labour starts but turn in labour. My midwife said mine was back to back two weeks ago and despite much hands and knees stuff since then I'm pretty sure he or she still is. She also said that particularly in subsequent pregnancies they can shift about a lot up to and during labour - so even if he/she turned, could easily turn back again before labour.

Both of mine were back to back and were born without assistance. DD was born face up but DS, despite being over a pound heavier at 9lb 6 turned and was born face down. He was also born at home.

Back to back labours can be different - less likely to have a gush of waters, slow irregular dilation, irregular contractions, slightly longer, contractions at the back rather than the front, but I didn't find them particularly painful. This is a useful link

Try to stay active and off your back, a TENs machine is great for counter pressure against the back contractions and pain relief, be prepared for a slightly longer labour and odd dilation. With DS I dilated to 6cm in 17 hours and then took one hour to do the last four centimetres. But despite that I'd describe his birth as almost pain free - just a few minutes when he turned in my pelvis where I thought I couldn't cope. I spent most of the labour pottering around, watching TV and listening to music with no panic or fear.

I'm planning a vbac and baby's OP (am 38+2). I've decided to not worry about it too much - I'm doing as much as I can optimal foetal positioning/yoga wise but my placenta is anterior and I think he/she is just happy in the OP position and facing the placenta. I had stress several weeks ago when he/she was breech, so I'm just glad he/she is cephalic whether or not the position is ideal!

I've decided to just wait and see, as reading up on it shows that most babies rotate during labour (in fact, as I understand it, most OP babies rotate into that position during labour!). The numbers of babies actually born OP is very small.

R2PeePoo thanks for that link! It's great to read a positive spin on OP - you've made a heavily pregnant lady happy

Two of mine turned after going to an acupuncturists. No needles involved just a smelly burning stick!

My ds1 was back to back and despite labouring on all fours he stayed that way and came out that way. It was quite a quick labour, about 5 hours. I did tear but that was more to do with the fact he had his hand up. The main difference between that and my ds2's labour was that the pain was mostly in my back and I had to have my dh constantly and firmly rub my back.

Ds2 was back to back a few weeks before birth it I did lots of optimum foetal positioning and he turned to the perfect position. The labour was slightly easier to cope with pain wise.

exactly what DairyNips said. Down to the 'hand up' thing. Waters broke at 2am and I had him at 10am. The back pain was pretty bad.

Baby Goo was right way round and fell out.

Dd managed to become back to back in the week before labour, which I discovered when I got to hospital and SPD and everything was a lot more painful a lot faster than I'd been expecting from ds.
Given the pain from that with SPD I had an epidural and they said probably by the time I was fully dilated (I was 4cm), dd would turn. And indeed 6 hours later I was 10cm and she was 'at 10 o'clock'.

we tried getting me on hands+knees but with wobbly epidural numb knees and SPD and only dp and tiny midwife didn't manage it - probably could have got her out myself but we had a ventouse which popped her out nicely.

Ds was back to back at 8am day he was born. Went home not in established labour, leant forward a few hours, had a nap, woke up went to hospital and had him within half hour, 7pm.
So basically not sure when but he turned himself. Help it along By leaning over on all fours to get him up and out iyswim.
Good luck

Thank you everyone for all your replies! I've been leaning over the ball and doing on all fours yoga stuff for a couple of weeks, to no avail. Been having pains since 5 am (it's 7.40am here in Aus) and like you have all said its a lot more back achey than last time which was all like period pain in the front. So I reckon it might be a long day but hopefully a good one!!

Good luck! Hope it goes well for you =)

Oh good luck Hootie!

With any luck you'll have a snuffly little newborn head to sniff soon!

FlipFantasia I found that article enormous comfort when I was pregnant with my DS. It explained my first labour with DD and allowed me to be much more confident when the midwives were suggesting hospital after 17 hours of slow progress (about thirty minutes before he was born).

Good luck Hootie! Keep leaning forward or sitting on your ball and get someone to rub your back

Ooh any news?

Thanks for that link R2 it's great, very informative. Well what a crappy day. Everything stopped at about 10 am, didn't even get as far as calling the hospital. Few cramps and twinges throughout the day but nothing regular at all. I guess it could still be the 'start of things' as they were exactly like my contractions last time early this am. Just fed up with this waiting game. Dd1 was 2.5 weeks early, and waters broke 3am, first contraction about half five then babe in arms just after 9am. Seeing my obstetrician on Wednesday. She changed her mind about the internal last week and said she's going to do it this Wednesday instead. Hopefully I'll be dilated enough for her to do a sweep. Thanks again everyone for sharing your stories - can't wait to hear how everyone else gets on!

Hello again, so about four hours after that post my waters broke at 2.15 am and Gabriella was born at 4.45am weighing 8lb7. Pain was worse than last time but probably more to do with it all going so quickly! She had half turned and came out just fine! No forceps, no stitches hooray hooray! I'm on cloud nine she's so cute :-)

Congratulations!

congrats! both ds were back to back and very quick. Glad all worked out for you

Congratulations Hootie and welcome to the world little Gabriella (gorgeous name btw). Delighted for you

Massive congratulations!