Back to back baby- very worried

[hairylegsdontcare]

I am due my first baby tomorrow! I saw my midwife 2 weeks ago and she said my baby was probably back to back. Although I'm not certain about this.

I can't stop worrying. I really would like an intervention-free birth if I possibly can, and I've heard back to back can make this very difficult to achieve.

Caesarian birth is one of my biggest fears in life.

Can anyone put my mind at rest? Need a hand-hold 🙁

[HappyLollipop]

My son was back to back all throughout my pregnancy and he turned during labour coming out the right way so I wouldn't worry to much about it!

[Aebj]

Both mine were back to back. Only had gas and air for them both.
Both births were fine ( I had a retained placenta with ds 1 but generally everything was ok)

[hairylegsdontcare]

Thanks so much, everyone- this has been really reassuring. I saw midwife yesterday and she says he has turned a bit and is now 'Side on', so it looks like all the sitting bolt upright, leaning over chair backs and all-fours is working! 40+2, still babyless though!

[hairylegsdontcare]

bluebell thanks for sharing your story of CS birth. I don't know exactly what it is that frightens me so much, but recovery time is certainly a part of it. It is good to hear you had a smooth recovery that wasn't too bad. Maybe I'll try to think more about CS and identify my feelings, rather than just running scared and hoping it doesn't happen- then I might not be so frightened if i do need one

[PolkaDotFlamingo]

Mine was back to back but I didn't know until she was born. No intervention needed! Try not to overthink it because they can turn all over the place anyway. Just try to go with the flow.

[BringMeTea123]

My baby was back to back but didn't find out until I was induced at the hospital! I had to have an episiotomy (but because he cooked an extra 10 days he was a huge 8lbs 9oz - I'm only a size 6 and 5ft 5 lol... ouch) anyway the doctor was gong to use forceps however once I'd have my episiotomy I managed to push him out without the intervention! I had just pethadine no gas and air and can honestly say even though no lying it hurt and was hard work it was the best day of my entire life! Being back to back isn't always a cause for concern, I think it's quite common. I'm glad baby had turned a little for you though. Hopefully they'll turn completely before they arrive

[Princesspinkgirl]

Mine was back to back it did hurt more in my back more of a constant pain thing is my labour only lasted 4 hours and pushing was 2 mins my dd just refused to turn before birth lol

[Yellowmaiden]

I had a baby two days ago. Was told it was back to back and I stressed about this for the last few weeks of the pregnancy which was just daft in hindsight. Baby turned side on (after some bouncing on birth ball etc) and when I was in labour the midwives advised me on some positions and exercises to help her to turn completely and it worked. I had a straight fwd homebirth with just gas and air. Really, don't stress about this and good luck!! X

[museumum]

Mine was b2b when labour started about 3pm on a Friday. It really hurt but tens was a lifesaver. With tens I bounced on a ball through all night.

About 8am contractions stopped for an hour, then restarted, I think then he'd turned. Went into hospital at 4pm and was 8cm and he was born in the pool at 8pm after literally two pushes.

Hire a tens is my absolute no.1 piece of advice.

[CPtart]

My first DS was back to back. 24 hour labour with over two hours of pushing, an episiotomy ad a second degree tear. I had an epidural which didn't seem to do much tbh, all the pain in my lower back. I thought it was awful but then he was my first and I had nothing to compare it to. With hindsight I would have tried to stay upright much longer.

[43percentburnt]

I bounded on a yoga ball (for hours) in labour and my back to back baby turned round. My contractions were very close together yet erratic. I hypnobirthed in water but felt the contractions in my thighs!
Gas and air last 10 minutes.

No need to panic, stay calm and breathe! Oh and I recovered much quicker from a c section. It took 45 mins of stitching post natural birth, the midwives were keen to save me from having to go theatre to be repaired! Had to sit on a rubber ring for weeks!

[OhtoblazeswithElvira]

Write "no forceps" with huge letters on your notes.

A CS is a very common, controlled and safe operation. Please don't fear it. I have had a VB and an ELCS and the recovery from the section was a walk in the park compared with the recovery from the vaginal birth.

[43percentburnt]

Bounced even!

[RP23]

My baby was back to back, turned at the last minute. I can't promise you you won't need intervention obviously, but we were fine. It made for a very long labour but my contractions turned him back around. Almost needed foreceps to rotate his head due to his head being sideways still when it was crowning however I managed to push him out enough that he could be turned using the doctors hand and then delivered naturally.
Please try not to worry. Your baby may turn themselves anyway and even if they don't there's a good chance you will have an intervention free birth.

If you're still worried I have heard that swimming or bouncing on a birth ball can help

[Ohyesiam]

I has a spine to spine no intervention birth, it's possible!

[VioletCharlotte]

Try not to worry OP. My first baby was back to back and everything was fine, albeit the labour was quite long. I experienced most of the labour pains in my back and found a TENs machine really helped during the early stages.

Someone told me back to back babies are known as being born star gazing, which I thought was quite nice