Do back-to-back babies come later? What gestational week did your back-to-back l.o. show up?

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Hi there! I'm 38+3 and even though I've been having lots of contractions, and cervix has been effaced for a while, no sign of our l.o. yet. She's been back-to-back for some time now, and since the dr says it can make delivery slower/harder and increase chances of a c-section if they don't turn, I was wondering if on average labour starts later for back-to-back babies. What's your experience? What week did labour start for you if your DC was back-to-back /face first? Did you deliver after your EDD /need induction?

DS was back to back in labour, however I had never been told that he was back to back prior to this and in fact remember him sticking his bottom out quite a lot below my rib cage. So I think he probably turned the wrong way in labour, the monkey.

I was induced at 42 weeks, pessary got me to 9cm before drip. Can I just echo the AMAZINGNESS of tens machines. That was all I used til then and tbh I was wondering what all the fuss was about labour, it was a piece of cake. I would seriously look into getting one by whatever means possible, it was fabulous.

Then I had to get the synto drip which very quickly became agonising and with hindsight I should definitely have had an epidural. Eventually had emcs after refusing rotational forceps but that was because he was also huge (over 11 lbs with a massive head) as well as back to back.

Don't think of pain relief as the enemy op. There's sometimes nothing "impressive" about having no pain relief. Everybody experiences a different level of pain, even from baby to baby in the same woman. I had no pain relief with either of mine because I was adamant I wouldn't. First time round, I was in so much pain that labour was horribly traumatising. It was my own silly fault. I was so set on the natural, water route that I ignored the fact that I was in so much pain I wanted to hurl myself out of the window when perhaps some gas and air would have made me feel more positive. In the end, I had an 8hr second stage, transferred from home to hospital and had an emcs. The epidural was the single greatest thing about the whole shebang. Don't be impressed that I said no to pain relief until I was forced to have it. I was a ruddy fool. And don't believe pain relief is bad. If you genuinely need it and it's going to take you away from a pain you can't endure, then it's a brilliant thing. I still advocate looking at natural pain relief, moving around, water, hypnobirthing etc BUT don't decide now that you won't need more.

Second time round I had a 38hr labour and no pain relief. Because it wasn't painful. Not even sore.

So you just never know. Keep an open mind.

I agree. Keep an open mind. I don't think you can know how you'll feel about the pain until you're going through it.

I was all set on natural methods, did all the hypnobirthing, positive thinking etc, but when my labour suddenly started out of nowhere with my waters going spectacularly and straight into 5 contractions in 10 mins (ie no build up and no break between them), I just knew I wouldn't be able to cope without an epidural. Believe me, you'll know what you need.

The epidural itself was a blessed relief, giving me the ability to re-group mentally and cope physically. It was honestly the best thing about labour for me. It's nothing to be ashamed of and is there to help you if you need it.

40+9. I was having contractions every 7 minutes at home for about 16 hours before I went to hospital, the pain was perfectly manageable at that point.

It went downhill from there really- I never progressed, and ended up getting an EMCS about 12 hours later because DDs heart rate kept dropping.

I did have a very natural birth in mind, but that went out the window soon after they put me on the drip to speed things along. I couldn't use the birthing pool at all because DD was being monitored with a clip on her. The epidural was fantastic!

Thanks for sharing your stories!
Re the epi, I'm not deadset against it at all - I have no idea how I'll cope with the pain, and how the whole experience will be for me, and I might well ask for it within 5 minutes of getting to the hospital, but since I read that it tends to slow down contractions/pushing, and lead to greater tearing, and increased use of instruments, and I already have some pre-pregnancy damage to the perineal area, I would like to try to go without it if I can, and use gas&air, pool, etc. instead.
Good to hear manyof you have had positive b2b labour/epi stories, and good luck to the other mothers-to-be

Lost if you do need an Epi have it. I'm all hippyish and hypnobirthing but on DD1 I would never have done it without. It gave me respite and rest before the pushing stage. Worth asking for a "walking" epidural though. That's what our hospital did so the edge of panic pain was taken away but i could still feel enough to know when to push and was up and walki g within the hour.

I was 39+5 with ds . I didn't find out he was back to back until well into labour.

I had very bearable contractions for a few hours an was chatting away to the midwife . She broke my waters at about 7cm as not much was progressing.

After the midwife broke my waters she asked me to turn on my side and ds was born in about 10 min . Quite painful but very very short and no complications after at all .

All the best

I went into labour early hours at 38+ 4 then DD was born the following lunchtime, I managed 26 hours without an epidural then the midwives suggested I had one as she was getting into distress and they were going to give me syntocin.
It was a great 4 hours after that, I really wish I'd had one earlier as it had been a pain filled haze, I enjoyed the final bit and can remember it all a lot more clearly.

Ds2 was back to back although nobody had realised until his head come out (with assistance) it was long 5 days of contractions been regular BUT so was my ds3s labour and he wasnt back to back. Also ds2 started on due date wheras I was induced with ds1 who was in a good position at almost 2wk over. The only difference between my 2 spontanious labours (ds2 and 3) where ds2s was more painful my bottom and back really hurt and that I never got an urge to push and I was pushing 2hr.

I was induced at 40+10, dd born 2 days later. Only picked up she was back to back during labour. She hadn't turned by the time it came to push so they wheeled in a team with a ventouse to help. At one point (if you include the MW and trainee MW) I had about 5 people at the end of the bed shouting 'keep pushing, keep pushing!' at me :). She turned by herself as I was pushing her out so the team weren't needed any more. I had all the pain relief going.

Very helpful feedback - thank you ladies!
Still no baby although had another false alert yesterday afternoon with electric-shock type back pain, lots of contractions, etc. for a couple of hours, then stopped... Wondering if stop/start labour is more likely with B2B babies if head is already very low but not in optimal position.
Really interesting to read about all your very diverse experiences.
B2B buddies - hoping our little monkeys turn!

Not sure op. My ds's head was very high and nowhere near engaged right up to labour-I never got the Jon Wayne walk! In fact I'd completely convinced myself he'd be late. For what it's worth he was definitely the other way a few days before and at that stage I felt certain I'd really feel it if he turned but he must have gone B2B whilst I was asleep, so it can just happen at any time.