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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

back to back labour anyone experienced it?

32 replies

gutsrus · 21/10/2014 20:06

I'm about ready to go into labour but baby is back to back with me what should I expect

OP posts:

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ilovechops · 21/10/2014 22:07

I have. Expect long, start, stop labour, slow (I mean incredibly slow) progression and dilation a and severe pain in your back.

What I would say is having now been through it you can:

Rest as much as possible between contractions (sleep even if just snippets) because you may be in for the long haul. Also eat in the early stages because you will need energy (you won't feel like it but just nibble). Stay in water if it helps.

I don't know what your opinions on pain relief are but with my back to back I was adamant I wanted nothing...Ahhh how I changed my mind with the back pain. Gas and air helped hugely and then an epidural to relax me and help baby turn.

It's hard but totally doable. The worst for me was expecting it all to happen quickly and to keep being told I hadn't 'progressed'

Is it your first baby btw? I think second babies would be quicker.

It's really really good your midwife has identified it as being back to back, they will help you along and support you. Mine didn't realise until I was a long way in and so I struggled without the pain relief. A big sign for me was no or v little pain In my tummy and severe pain at the base of my back.

Good luck, it's sooooo worth it in the end!!

Bartlebee · 21/10/2014 22:15

My first was back to back. It took about 7 hours from when I got to hospital which was considerably longer than the next. I put the slowish progress down to the fact I didn't walk around.

I had no pain relief and it was OK.

God luck!

Casmama · 21/10/2014 22:21

Don't know if you have time but I found a tens machine made a big difference to my pain levels with a back to back labour- it was my only form of pain relief until fully dilated. Good luck.

wanttosinglikemarycoughlan · 21/10/2014 22:23

I was back to back
very painful around the lower spine and no pain at all around tummy
Mine was only 4 hours though and progressed quickly, I was 9.5 cm dilated when I got to hospital but contractions stopped and I slept for an hour
It was then very quick
the hardest for me was not really knowing when to push because the pain didn't feel like a contraction because it was all lower spine
good luck op
I just had gas and air which was the best thing ever

SignoraStronza · 21/10/2014 22:28

If anyone comes anywhere near you with a syntocin drip 'to speed things up', tell them to fuck right off unless you're guaranteed an epidural to go with it.

3isthemajicnumber · 21/10/2014 22:29

Both mine were back to back.
First v long labour and 2nd very quick.
Don't panic I managed fine especially second
The worst thing was I had a premature urge to push and it is the hardest thing to ignore.
Baby can turn anyway in labour so don't worry about it.
Good luck,

Mashedupbanana · 21/10/2014 22:29

My second was back to back. It was no worse for me than my first (normal delivery), but I wonder if this all depends on the natural shape of the gap through the pelvis as I didn't have the back pain either.
Labour was only 6 hours with an hour of pushing.
Good luck OP

robotnikchair · 21/10/2014 22:37

24 hour labour with three and a half hours of pushing, it was bloody hard work but DD never got distressed so I had no intervention and got the water birth I wante . TENS machine helped in early labour, I loved the gas and air and I also had something I think the midwife called water papules. They basically inject saline just under the skin of your lower back. Don't know if it really helped as it was all a bit of a blur by that stage

robotnikchair · 21/10/2014 22:40

Agree with the premature urge to push, the midwife told me off for it! Try not to worry OP as every woman's experience of labour is different and you have to just keep an open mind.

Good luck

Notmymonkeys · 21/10/2014 22:41

Is it your first baby? Most of the problems associated with babies in this position (such as very long labours) only apply to first babies.

My second was b2b and labour was not much over 2 hours start to finish, with just a few minutes of pushing. It hurt like hell but I forgot to ask for the gas and air so it can't have been that bad!

CarlyRichards · 21/10/2014 22:42

I had a similar experience to Chops. All the pain was in my back. I also had a premature urge to push but I was nowhere near ready. Gas and Air was my friend. Have small regular snacks, keep hydrated and get as much rest as you can. Good luck!

EllaJayne123 · 21/10/2014 22:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LikeASoulWithoutAMind · 21/10/2014 22:48

My third was back to back. It was slightly slower than labour 2 (which was super quick) but still faster than labour 1 and there was no stop-start. Definitely more painful but other than that the contractions felt like they did in my previous labours.

I was most comfortable kneeling and leaning forwards over the bed. I managed to turn him round at the last minute by wiggling/rotating my hips (I suspect this wouldn't be as effective with a first baby though)

madamginger · 21/10/2014 22:59

My 3rd was a back to back home birth. It was about 6 hours from start to finish and I had a premature urge to push which was hard to ignore.
He turned when I was in labour though (at about 6cm) I felt him turn which bloody hurt and all my pain went from my front to my back.
When he turned he twisted his cord round his neck and needed some O² to get him going. He's fine now though.

mineallmine · 21/10/2014 23:14

My first was b2b. Long, slow and all pain was in my back. Agree with pp who said don't let them near you with the oxytocin unless you have an epidural and it's well topped up. The pushing bit was the hardest- 2 1/2 hours- but ds never went into distress and all was well in the end.

Best of luck! You'll soon be falling into the deepest kind of love.

Petal26 · 22/10/2014 11:57

Long and slow and stop start for me. Starting having pains on Sunday afternoon, baby finally arrived Friday morning.
Was eventually admitted on Thursday evening and offered an epidural as I was so exhausted by that point. Put on a drip, had a ventouse delivery and episiotomy.
Was so tired I think I have blocked a lot of it out (or just don't remember!) I found being on hands and knees helpful when getting a contraction (at home) to get baby off my back. It wasn't unbearable, hasn't put me off doing it again.
Glad to hear second labours aren't as bad/are faster. Am 37 weeks with number 2, possibly back to back again and hoping for far less intervention this time. But very aware after last time to just 'go with the flo', no birth plans in this house....

ElleOhElle · 22/10/2014 15:21

My 1st was back to back. Labour was very very long and very painful in the back but no pain in tummy. can't have been that bad though as doing it again in a couple of weeks! good luck

Buffy81 · 22/10/2014 17:01

Mine was back to back and it was only discovered when the midwife was trying to find his heart beat while i was in the birthing pool. I got to the labour unit when I was 9cm gone as whenever I phoned up, was told that it was pgp (pelvic griddle pain aka spd), as it didn't sound like I was having contractions as I was able to breath through them.

In the end, we ended up having a forceps delivery as he was not budging and he was starting to get distressed. We were very close to ending up with having a c-section

My labour officially was just under 5hrs, unofficially me and the DH reckon it was about 36hrs and had gas and air to start of with and using the birthing pool which helped ease the pain and to control my breathing and then I had a spinal as they needed to cut me to use forceps

Poolbirthx2 · 22/10/2014 21:22

My first was back to back and second was normal and back to back labour was not as painful as normal, it was longer buy not as painful and i had no pain relief!
Good luck x

littleraysofsunshine · 22/10/2014 22:57

2nd was unknown back to back, 58mon labour!

littleraysofsunshine · 22/10/2014 22:58

Min*

littleraysofsunshine · 22/10/2014 22:58

No pain relief, didn't feel as bad as people say. More powerful if anything

Fcukfifa · 22/10/2014 23:04

Mine started very quickly, first few contractions 3 mins apart quickly going to 2 mins apart. Coped upto 7cms (couple of hours) then went into exorcist mode, excruciating pain.

Was eventually examined by another midwife who realised baby was b2b (after I told my first midwife but she dismissed it as my stomach was not concave )

After epidural I coped much better but when it came to push every time I stopped his head went back up so ended up with forceps with an expectation of a cesarean.

This was second birth, much harder than the first.

Playthegameout · 23/10/2014 06:46

Back to back here too. Nothing happened at all for flipping ages, stuck at 2cm. So make sure you've got something to keep you entertained, I can recommend travel trivial pursuit . Ended up having the drip to move it along, 1 hour 37 mins later Ds finally arrived.

My first labour so I can't really compare but I thought it was great, had G and A and found the pain to be manageable. I was really surprised as I'd been told back to back & the drip would mean I had a very painful labour so I was terrified when the midwife and consultant were speaking to me. But, in my experience, it was fine.

CPtart · 23/10/2014 06:56

Yes, a 24 hour labour with 2.5 hours of pushing. A second degree tear and an episiotomy and epidural. The pain in my lower back was so intense I remember trying to lift it off the bed whilst pushing.
All totally worth it .

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