induced vs back to back birth!

[bunkygirl]

I'm 37+3 with dc2. Was induced due to pe with first and had forceps delivery due to exhaustion which wasn't great but ok. I had low platelets so was told I wouldn't be allowed epidural if I'd wanted so had g&a and remiphentanol, or whatever it's called. saw mw yesterday and she said baby is back to back. Know that can change at any time but just wondered whether anyone had experienced both induction and back to back labour and how the pain compares? My platelets are bit low again this time so preparing myself for not being allowed epi again, and I would prefer an active labour anyway. Any experiences?

I had forceps first time as baby got stuck and was looking the wrong way. Second time around I was induced with gel followed by waters being broken. Baby was back to back althogh I didn't know at the time. Once my waters were broken it was very quick from 4cm to 10cm in 20 mins and a further 20 mins pushing. I did it on gas and air and pain was very very intense but also very managable as I could focus on pushing and could feel baby moving so knew it was working, I was helped by my first experience and a determination not to let it end in forceps and also a determination to prove that I could give birth 'properly'. I don't know if I could have coped with a long labour with such intense pain but I was led by instinct to push that was not there last time as baby was stuck high up. I got to 10cm first time and opted for epidural when the head was not descending and no end in sight but up to then the pain between both labours was on a similar level. What I am trying to say is yes it can be done. I should also add that I felt great afterwards and only had a couple of small tears which were stitched. I feel that my second birth was a positive experience compared to first one, despite being induced and back to back. I hope yours turns out the same (it can be done!)

Thanks for your reply. That sounds like a good experience. I totally know what you mean about wanting to give birth 'properly'. fingers crossed it will be a lot quicker this time as I had 2 hour second stage before they used forceps after 10 hour pretty intense first stage last time so was just exhausted. Thanks again

I can't help with any information on induction, but dd was back to back and I had a waterbirth with gas and air. I had a very long first phase (or possibly pre- first phase, with contractions starting and stopping for about 4 days. However, once things got going properly, it was a very straightforward actually quite lovely birth. I think that the water probably helped a lot with the pain.

Your first experience sounds very similar to mine. I also had a 2 hours pushing, where they kept telling me to stop to see if the head would come down naturally. The epidural kept slipping out so didn't last. I ended up being taken to theatre and given a spinal and they were ready to do a c section but managed to get her out by forceps, really awful but it proves that you can still have a positive experience after a difficult birth! It is true aswell that your body knows what its doing second time around and first baby has already paved the way (even when induced/back to back!)