Back to back babies

[toadierocks]

Hi

I'm 34 weeks with my 2nd and I have an anterior placenta so I always knew there was a possibility of the little cherub being back to back but it's just been confirmed by the midwife he's literally 180 degrees the wrong way round if you see what I mean - head down and engaged but just needs to pivot.

I've been on the spinning babies website etc and I'm trying to turn him naturally before the big day BUT I'm looking for anyone with advice or experience who had a back to back labour where the baby didn't turn - did you get them out alright (albeit sunny side up)?

I'm set to have a home birth so just need to keep my confidence/realism in a good balance but I'm debating getting myself to hospital instead.

Thoughts please :)

DS was back to back. I knew from about 2 weeks before and did everything suggested on spinning babies - spent most of my maternity leave before he arrived on all fours! - but he didn't turn. Like a previous poster said all the pain was in my back and I didn't feel anything across my tummy at all.

Although I dilated quite quickly and with only gas and air, DS got stuck in a corner and didn't descend at all. I had no urge to push whatsoever and after over 15 hours of contractions I was utterly exhausted. So I was transferred from the birthing centre to the labour ward, had an epidural (blessed relief!!) and put on a drip in the hope that this would increase the strength of my contractions and get him to turn. It didn't and he was eventually delivered by forceps.

If I have another (big if, definitely not over the birth yet!) and it is back to back again, I would definitely ask for an early epidural. I very much didn't want one before I went into labour but now I wish I hadn't soldiered on for so long without it!

DS was back to back though nobody told me till labour was well in progress.

Fuck it was painful. I could only tolerate being on my side like another poster said.

Epidural was amazing. Drip was needed as he just wasn't coming out. Ventouse in the end but only avoided forceps cos I spent an hour and a half pushing to gently turn him.

Didn't get him all the way around, but got him 180 degrees turned and so the ventouse did the rest.

I don't think I could have done it at home, tbh. That's not me being weedy, I just think there was too much help needed and the pain was too much for the bath (which I tried - it worked but only up to a certain plateau and then the pain broke through).

Oh yeah, there was an episiotomy too. Though the epidural meant I felt nothing.

My little boy was back to back. I laboured to 10cm but he was in too awkward a position and couldn't move down. Ended up with an emergency c section. The pain was excruciating before epidural and never went off between contractions. They told me this was because he was back to back. Be prepared for any eventuality is what I would say. Good luck.

DD1 was back to back. I had a long and painful labour (38 hours), her head got stuck in my pelvis (she ended up with a huge haematoma which made her head look very misshapen for months), had Kelands rotation with forceps.
Long story short, we both could've died and I suffered from PTS afterwards.
I had severe tearing and it took a long time to have comfortable sex and I still don't feel comfortable using tampons. This was 19 years ago.
i know things have moved on massively in terms of medical technology, etc, but please don't have a home birth. Your life, health and emotional well being is much too important.

I haven't got a personal story but I'm reading 'Birth Skills' by Juju Sundin and there's a whole chapter on what to do during back to back labours which you might find useful.

www.amazon.co.uk/Birth-Skills-Proven-pain-management-techniques/dp/0091922143

My dd was back to back. I was in labour a long time (3 days ) I ended up with syntocinon in order to speed it up as my waters had been broken. I gave birth squatting on the floor. Pain relief was gas and air & paracetamol so it wasn't that bad (for me, I appreciate pain is very subjective). In hindsight now I only really remember the pain in my lower back, not the contractions/pushing pain so I'm hoping without a back to back baby the next labour will be pain free . After I gave birth I remember thinking if I ever have syntocinon again /back to back I'd have an epidural but now I'm not so sure.

I've heard back to back isn't as much of a problem for 2nd baby as everything has stretched before so they have more room to turn. So I wouldn't be as concerned as for 1st. Also it's only a problem if they don't turn. Many babies turn in labour.

DC1 was back to back though no one told me until 8 weeks after the birth. 24 hour active labour. thankfully once we got to hospital they were wonderful (started in mlu). Heartbeat dipped randomly once or twice but came back quickly so Drs weren't too concerned. Then out of the blue it dropped extremely low and never came back. a rather panicked but quick cs performed. DC1 resuscitated and within mins was back to being a healthy baby. Drs undoubtably saved his life.

No one predicted baby was in any such danger at all. In fact midwife in mlu tried to stall the transfer to the hospital as she thought it was unnecessary (basically accused me of overreacting!).

Labour itself was manageable with just gas and air but I got very tired as it was so long. Had pethadine to sleep at one stage which helped. I'd advise pacing yourself as I was really mobile and active at the beginning but couldn't keep that up for a full 24 hours.

I'd go into labour and see how it goes. If it's looking quick and baby is turning you'll probably have a fairly normal delivery. If it's start stop or progress is slow or anything seems off I wouldn't risk it anywhere other than the hospital. Also Look at optimal fetal positioning and spinning babies website for positions to help baby turn. Good luck!

I had a 34 hour back to back labour with gas and air. She spun 40 mins before she was delivered with no help at all and no tearing.

I had a back to back labour, very similar experience to other posters. It was long and painful. Definitely needed pain relief.

As you will know from the Spinning Babies website there are 4 different posterior positions and there are lots of variables involved so it doesn't necessarily mean that you will have an awful experience.

I would be more inclined to go to a hospital though. If you do go for a home birth how long will it take to transfer to hospital?

DS was back to back, it was horrific, it was painful and slow. My labor however was not helped by the fact I was refused an epidural, refused the ability to walk or move around, I was ordered not to make too much noise, had my gas and air removed, was placed in stirrups and told push this baby out now, your lucky baby is doing well with all this fuss, or I'd have you knocked out and him cut out of you.

I told the midwife to go fuck herself the condescending cunt. and in full blown labor demanded a "manager" she was replaced by a younger more caring midwife who arrived in time to see DS pop out.

All I would say is I had no intervention, no pain relief, escaped on a 3hour discharge and I had a graze. It's manageable.

My third was back to back, nobody knew until he came out grinning at us and it wasn't mentioned again
I didn't realise it was such a big deal tbh
It hurt like fuck but then he was 8lb 12oz
And I was monitored throughout and his heart rate was up and down but I thought this was because my waters had gone so long before (my temp was up so they were watching for infection) no mention of him being the wrong way!

Two back to back labours.

First was 31hrs with 8hrs fully dilated. Attempted home birth and no idea re position. She turned to OT and got stuck. She was ear first and I had attempted ventouse, attempted manual rotation and a crash cs. I had severe ptsd and we both suffered a birth injury.

Second was 38hrs but not painful and he didn't descend at all. EMCS again.

7lbs and 6lbs respectively.

JigglypuffsCaptor - that must have been absolutely awful. I hope that you are getting the support you need to heal after such a traumatic experience. I hate hearing stories of women not being believed or healthcare professionals thinking that all labours must be the same. I know it is common though having experienced it myself.

I had a very rude and patronising anaesthetist during my labour who metaphorically crushed me when I was at my weakest point and had no support as she had sent my husband out of the room. For a long while I held on to my hatred of her. I routinely had revenge fantasies. I have recently tried to shift my thinking and let go of it. Not because she deserves it but because it takes so much energy to keep hating someone. It feels good to be released from it. And I'm sure that the anaesthetist will experience some kind of karma, but I don't need to worry about it, the universe will take care of it.

untin I geared via the grape vine she retired not so long after my complaint, because not only DoD I complain on the day, I went back 48 hours later with a formal letter and a witness statemnr from DP about my treatment. I wasn't going to let it go.

The trust apologised (like they always do) and that was that. I wasn't prepared to let it ruin my new born days with DS and just carried on. I won't ever go back to that hospital however, ever.

Both of my babies were back to back, with ds (my first) I was in labour 30 hours and he was born sunny side up after being on the drip and being refused an epidural. It was agony, I was waking up crying for months after. When I went into labour with dd I knew she was back to back and panicked. After a short labour she turned and the difference was very noticeable, obviously it still hurt but it was much more manageable when she was tummy to back, the last contraction probably hurt less than the first.

I think you feel the contractions differently with back to back babies-all of the pain was focused in the small of my back rather than spread across our front. One thing which helped was dp massaging the base of my back very hard during contractions- his knuckles were bruised after (he didn't complain though!) so I'd recommend one of those wooden massager things.

JigglypuffsCaptor Well done on being so ascertain. I don't think I could have done that 48 hours after birth! It is good to know that the midwife is no longer practicing. She sounds absolutely awful. I am sure that your complaint will have had something to do with it. I do agree that when you go through the complaints process with the NHS their main priority is ass covering.

^assertive, I mean.

Thank you so much for sharing all your stories and I'm so sorry to hear of those more traumatic ones, especially when there's patronizing and or just plain rude and ignorant ''professionals'' involved!

I went for a growth scan today and the little pickle has moved himself back round to LOA for the meantime although I've got another scan in 2 weeks to check but hopefully the amount of time I've spent on all fours the last few days is working!

If he turns back to back again, I'm abandoning my home-birth and heading to a MLU as I've taken stock of all your stories and made an informed choice not to be at home (just in case) but hopefully he'll be the right way up and just fly out with no probs admits living in dream world today

Thank you again for your shares xx

Great that he's turned! If by any chance he does turn back though, it doesn't make a long /painful labour absolutely inevitable so please don't let it cause you stress.

My first two were back to back throughout all of late pregnancy (in spite of my efforts - all I could feel was limbs galore at the front of my bump!) and through most of labour (both confirmed by midwives during labour). Both turned towards the end / during the pushing stage (not sure exactly when). Both labours were speedy! (Both under five hours) and I only needed gas and air.

DC1 was a water birth (amazing experience) but DC2 came in such a hurry the pool was only half full. So they are not always slow if back to back initially. I had NO back pain at all in either labour (although I found it unbearable to actually lie on my back so spent both of them in forward-leaning positions, having nearly gone through the roof in agony during my initial examination (on my back on a bed) with DC1. Hands and knees was MUCH more comfortable!

I was probably lucky in that both babies were small/average size and that I am slightly above average height with big feet so probably have a nice roomy pelvis (although the big feet thing may be a total myth!) so they had room to turn. I really think my position helped too, although I appreciate that many people are not so lucky. I just wanted to share a positive experience to hopefully reassure people pregnant with stubborn back to back babies at least a little.

DC3 is due soon and likes to switch between back to back and back on my right hand side (also less than ideal I think) but I am much more relaxed this time hoping that previous experiences will repeat - fingers crossed all round!!

Is good that he has turned but I have a positive back to back labour story in case he goes back.
DC3 was back to back and nobody realised till her head was out. Labour was 2 hours from first twinge and she was born in the pool with gas and air. Afterwards they said it slowed down labour which was good for me as DC2 was born in a corridor on way to delivery. I honestly didn't notice a difference and felt very calm and in control. Good luck.

Wow Bythepath - I thought my two were quick for starting out back to back but that's incredibly speedy, especially considering that your DC never turned! I am actually a bit concerned that if my DC3 does turn into better position it might be a mega speedy birth and your story about your DC2 is not reassuring me (with a half hour hospital drive even after sorting childcare). But it is good to hear another positive experience! :-)

evening :)
ive not read through anyone else's posts, sorry if im just repeating - Im currently heavily pregnant with my fifth, all mine were back to back ! ive had three home births (my last one was 10lb)! and i (honestly not meaning to sound like im boasting, i just felt more comfortable that way) didnt have any pain relief , not even gas and air. You can Totally Do It! Have faith in yourself ! With my second labor my daughter actually turned during labor itself and honestly i prefer the type of pain you get with a total back to back labor, as for me it meant i didnt experience any pain in my stomach area, solely in my back.
Get some nice lavender oil (any will do, but the smell is great and relaxing) and instruct your birth partner to squirt it on your lower back and just go to town rubbing there when you have your contractions. It (the body is an Amazing thing) actually disrupts the pain signals that are being sent up to your brain and is wonderfully helpful. You might want to have two birth partners present to take over from each other as i needed that rubbing through every contraction towards the end (hence where the oil comes in- not only feels nicer for you but helps with the serious hand chafing that ur birth partner will experience)!
Also avoid positions where ur laying on ur back during labor- these do not feel great, all fours, with arms higher up on a settee or bed , hips swaying is a good one- get some yoga mats to kneel on, you'll feel it the next day other wise !
Home births really are the best for back to back labors (i trained as a midwife, but also from my own labor experiences) because in the hospital midwives will try and get you on the bed as it's an easier scenario for them to control and saves them having to move and bend too much!
Good luck ! It's a wonderful experience :)

That is great news that the little one has turned to LOA. Good luck with the birth!

In the unlikely event that the baby turns posterior again I would second the recommendation to have some labour massage oil as massage feels so great. Also, you could have a Spikey Massage Ball to apply counter pressure to the lower back.

My first was back to back, and it was really painful. I had an epidural, which meant the midwife could lay me in bed on my side with one leg in a stirrup...in a position to get the baby to turn. I fell asleep for 3 hours and when I woke up she was ready to be born and no longer sunny side up.