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Childbirth

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

Original poster

37 weeks and back to back: tips on moving him please!!!! (Help!!)

30 replies

spannermary · 19/03/2012 12:02

So I'm just back from a presentation scan, and whilst baby is not breech, he is back to back.

I'll be honest - this scares me more than breech. I've been told to rock on all fours, but were wondering if any other wise MNers had any tips of what helped them?

Swimming? Ball bouncing? Chocolate eating?

I'm quite anxious about this all, as my pain threshold is shocking to say the least!

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CuppaTeaJanice · 19/03/2012 12:07

I think you have to lean forward as much as possible, so instead of reclining on the sofa in front of the telly, cobble together something comfy, maybe sitting on a cushion leaning over a beanbag, or on a birthing ball leaning onto the back of a chair etc.

Chocolate eating sounds good though Grin

katiegolightly · 19/03/2012 12:10

Hi Mary, how's your sleeping? Are you managing to sleep on your left side or do you rest back onto your back/right? (I find it so hard sticking to the left!)

I'm tempted to get a kneeling chair (I have one in the office but due to finish this week and tempted to steal it for home). They force you into a better position that's comfortable to stay in for a while. I find all fours or bouncy ball is all very well for 20 mins a couple of times a day but it's hard to stay like that for a feature film!!

I'd definitely vote for chocolate eating too - sure fire win Smile

Good luck, fingers crossed he finds a new comfy place in the next few weeks!

Flisspaps · 19/03/2012 12:17

Chocolate eating sounds good.

Lots of OP babies turn in their own time anyway - you've got potentially another 5 weeks (or more!) for baby to turn anyway. You don't necessarily need to do anything. Some turn during labour itself.

OP babies can be born perfectly well as they are without any assistance - and don't forget that your 'normal' pain threshold has no bearing at all on how you'll cope with labour so don't worry about that. It's going to fucking hurt whichever way the baby is facing

I learned yesterday that I was a back-to-back baby.

HardCheese · 19/03/2012 12:23

I'm due today, having discovered my baby was back to back about three weeks ago, too - and have managed to budge him, so it is possible!

On my midwife's recommendation, I've had three sessions of acupuncture with an ex-midwife who has experience in turning babies, and have also been spending as much time as possible on all hours, or leaning forward on a birthing ball, sitting on reversed hard chairs leaning forward over the back etc. No sofa-slouching, lying on my back, or sitting in any seats where my knees are higher than my hips.

My midwife also got some tips from a Spinning Babies workshop that she communicated to me - much the same thing you can find on their website. Swimming was also recommended (though I didn't do it, as I couldn't be bothered trying to acquire a maternity swimsuit at the last moment - if you're not a swimmer, even hanging onto the side of the pool is helpful, as it lets your bump float free.

The baby is now most of the way to being in a more normal presentation acc. midwife and acupuncturist, though obviously, having tried so many different things, I don't know what, if anyhting, worked, or if he would have shifted of his own accord.

Good luck - and don't worry too much. Midwife keeps telling me that most babies will rotate in labour anyway.

Fuchzia · 19/03/2012 12:25

If all else fails don't panic! I've just given birth to a back to back 9lbs baby with just gas and air and only a very small tear. It can be done.

ohmeohmy · 19/03/2012 12:57

google spinningbabies

Original poster
spannermary · 19/03/2012 13:52

Dear cuppatea - such a shame. I quite enjoy reclining on the sofa. And fuchzia, I've deliberately been sitting with feet up a lot this week, to combat my swollen ankles! Gah. Change of plans, eh.

Katie - yep I start on my left and wake on my back! Annoying, huh?

Hard chairs, HardCheese - I'm not happy about that! My arse has so much pressure anyway, that anything soft to sit on is good - apparently that's because the baby is partially engaged, and I'll feel it more in my back/posterior because of the way he's laying. The ball is comfy, though, as it's lovely and air cushioned. Tricky to use my laptop when I'm on it.

And I'll try some of the leaning forward on the ball exercises. Our gym ball is larger than the ones they have at the antenatal unit so it's a slightly mammoth task!

Swimming is a possibility. My mum's leant me her costume, so it still just about fits. For now! I may only have a week or 2 left to use it, though, so should get a move on.

Flisspaps it's good to know about the pain threshold. My main problem is anxiety. I've been reading some Juju and some Maggie Howell, and feel great when I read it - but hanging around the antenatal ward today got my heart thumping and adrenalin flowing so I've clearly still got a way to go!

Meohmy, I've googled spinningbabies.com and it's a bit confusing. I think my baby is ROP but the terminology is all different! My head's spinning now! Will come back to it later when it's had time to sink in...It's an interesting site for sure, thanks for the link.

OP posts:
CuppaTeaJanice · 19/03/2012 16:21

Spanner I had terrible anxiety all through the pregnancy - panic attacks in supermarkets, no energy, hard to breathe, convinced something will go wrong. But once I was close to labour, I felt very calm, I think maybe the hormones kicked in! Yoga and breathing/visualisation techniques really helped too. Smile

Flisspaps · 19/03/2012 16:50

Have you tried sticking the laptop on one of those cheap TV tables - perfect height for the ball Wink

Original poster
spannermary · 19/03/2012 22:18

cuppatea - I'm hoping I'll be like that...maybe this just needs a few days to sink in...

And flisspaps I'll have to check out the garage to see if we've still got our old one! It's a good idea!

OP posts:
thereinmadnesslies · 19/03/2012 22:28

DS2 was born back to back, no one told me he was in that position until he arrived so I didn't have a chance to panic. Labour was pretty stop start, my waters went but it took two days to get regular contractions. Even in establish labour the contractions faded away for 30mins or so several times and labour lasted 6 plus hrs. But once I was fully dilated pushing was fine, and I didn't tear. DH said it was really wierd seeing DS arrive face up. Good luck Smile

Tregony · 20/03/2012 22:23

I was once told that back to back is a much more recent phenomenon due to comfortable sofas Grin

I was told to lean forward on a bean bag or scrub the floor!

Cazm2 · 21/03/2012 05:41

I have done all these things and bubba won't shift!! Bit worried about labour pain! Already had severe backache with my show thinking cos he/she is back to back! Hoping to turn in labour! Although midwife said if not they are more likely to need intervention!

RainySmallHands · 21/03/2012 07:05

DD2 was back to back. I did all of the recommended: slept on left, sitting leaning forward, lots of time spent on all fours. I would feel her twist round into the 'correct' position, but then within minutes of getting up and getting on with things she would twist back to OP. Awkward bugger!

Labour was fine. Similar to DD1, only very slightly longer (realised 'this was it' at 19:00, DD2 born 09:30ish. Contractions were a bit higgledy piggledy but copable with G&A. Pacing around helped LOTS. DD2 was born face up after only 20mins pushing and the resulting tear (2nd degree) healed so much better than DD1's episiotomy.

Easy for me to say, but please try not to stress too much. It is perfectly natural to be anxious, but scary stories are just that - scary stories. People rarely take so much time to tell you the good back to back birth stories.

Original poster
spannermary · 21/03/2012 11:12

Thank you all! I am currently on my ball leaning forward - but leaning forward makes the back ache worse!

Soldiering on, though, and now the reality has set in I'm feeling a little calmer and reflective about it. So I'm carrying on with trying my best to get him to move but also focusing on my pain management techniques for labour, and educating DH in how he can help me!

Wish me luck!

...Also listening to Turn, Turn, Turn by the Byrds. Think that'll help!?

OP posts:
Little30 · 28/03/2012 11:52

Hello ladies

I'm currently 40+1 and was only told yesterday that my baby is back to back. Needless to say I am panicking, my sister in law had my nephew back to back and it sounded like a nightmare. Doesn't help that this is my 1st baby so I have no idea what to expect. Is it too late to turn the baby?

ardenbird · 30/03/2012 14:51

Little30: I'm 40+5 and in the last three days mine has gone from ROA to LOL to LOP of her own accord (argh!), so I presume they can still spin at this stage. I'm currently leaning forward overs birthing ball in an attempt to get her to spin back some.

likelucklove · 30/03/2012 14:58

My baby was back-to-back from 30 weeks right up until she came out! I only thought to ask after she had come (was a v quick labor) because I hadn't had pain relief and it was nothing like the pain I had been told to expect! Midwife said she came out normal and that she turned at some point in the hour, since 2 hours before she was definitely still back-to-back.

However, I tried everything. Sitting on chairs back-to-front, leaning, bouncing on my birthing ball an hour each night... None of it worked! A lot of babies do turn at the last minute.

Good luck Grin

ThatllDoPig · 30/03/2012 15:04

I had two back to back babies, until the last min. They both turned in labour and came out the right way!
Try not to worry.

I remember being in a right state and getting down and scrubbing the kitchen floor by hand in an effort to make baby turn. Didn't work, just knackered myself.
Go with the chocolate eating. Especially toblerone. yum

pianomama · 30/03/2012 15:09

Crawling across the room on all 4th - was an advise of my MW, Alexandra technique apparently.Make sure DH/DP is not watching as it amused mine no end . Seem to have worked for me though. DC was born at home in less then 4 hours (3 bottles of gas later) right way around. Good Luck !

PS Other DC was back to back and was born naturally as well, sure it took longer. Don't forget to keep moving, walking, rocking whatever you can manage during labor, the gravity will help.

Original poster
spannermary · 30/03/2012 16:15

All the best, Little30! I've now had my 38 week appt, and my little one has turned half way! He's still not in a perfect position, as his spine is on the left, but he is now looking sideways; not up.

Or something!

Anyway, MW said keep doing what I'm doing, as it's having some effect.

What I've been doing is predominantly ball bouncing and chocolate eating. With a bit of pineapple thrown in (I've been really craving it!)

More Dairy Milk than Toblerone, though. :)

OP posts:
Youremindmeofthebabe · 04/04/2012 08:47

My baby was stubbornly back to back, or side from week 34. Midwife kept freaking me out about it, but there was nothing I could do to change him round. At night he'd go to the front, and then back again through the day. I walked loads, was very active. And knackered! In the end I was reassured by my mum, another midwife, that the important thing was positioning during labour, so all fours, upright, laying on left side etc. He turned sometime in labour, and was born normally after a 6 hour labour (second). I wouldn't say it hurt any more than my first labour. Try not to worry too much.

CheeseAndMushroomToastie · 03/04/2013 12:47

Marking place as just been told baby is back to back and am being induced in ten days Sad

NAR4 · 03/04/2013 18:34

Don't worry. All 5 of my babies were back to back. Each labour was completely different regardless of them all being in the same position. I had no pain relief for my 2nd, 3rd and 5th labour, not because I am some sort of hero, but it just wasn't that bad. I had an epidural for my 4th labour because I found it awful.

A tip I got from the spinning babies website was to tie a folded sheet around you, so it slings under the bottom of your bump, lifting it a bit and firmly round your back. I found this very comfortable during labour and also the pressing the small of my back against a wall whilst lifting and holding my bump with my hands. Have a good read through the website and try some of the things whilst in labour to see if anything helps make it more comfortable for you.

Oh and if you get your cervix checked during labour and don't seem to be dilating, don't worry, this is really common in back to back labours. With mine I stayed at 2cm right up until I suddenly needed to push. For my 5th I needed to push just 15 minutes after being checked and only being 2cm.

I have heard swmming is meant to help the babies to turn.

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