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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Waterbirth with back to back baby?

18 replies

CarlottiJames · 02/10/2018 18:57

Baby has been back to back for almost whole pregnancy. Would love to try a waterbirth but worried it won't happen with b2b baby. I know most b2b babies turn but was wondering if anyone had any experience they could share?

Thanks!

OP posts:
seeingdots · 02/10/2018 19:03

Didn't get to experience the water birth as I was induced but I had a stubbornly B2B baby and was so scared about the birth. She turned at some point during labour and was delivered no problems so if I had been in the pool it wouldn't have been an issue whatsoever. Fingers crossed yours is similarly compliant!

Bananacentral · 02/10/2018 19:06

Probably not what you want to hear but...

Back to back baby (intermittent turned around and back from 22 weeks), labour progressed fine up to 4cm, got into pool, baby half turned when i was 6cm so was half back to back. Pain was too much and water didn’t help so got out.
Ended up with emergency episiotomy and forceps. Shock

I desperately wanted a waterbirth, but didn’t enjoy being in it at all. Sounds strange, but I don’t like baths so put some of it down to that Grin
And also think my birth was just unfortunately difficult.
But wanted to share as I wanted to hear stories before I made decision too.

Girlwiththearabstrap · 02/10/2018 19:11

Both my dcs have been back to back and didn't turn in labour so were delivered face up! I was induced both times with the drip so couldn't use the pool but both labours progressed normally so I don't think the pool would have been a problem. Except maybe the pushing stage. It's a hard push and the midwife really wanted to see what was happening!

OhWifey · 02/10/2018 19:13

Yes my second was. It was hard but mercifully only 3 hours. Pretty sure I passed out right at the end and husband had to hold me up in the water but baby born a few seconds later so no harm.

iheartgin · 02/10/2018 19:19

I had a water birth with a B2b baby, she was that way through the entire pregnancy.....labour obviously painful but actually going in the water really helped with the back pain and she did turn at some point during labour so was born in the water the right way round!

Tilliebean · 02/10/2018 19:58

I was in the water with DD, who was b2b, throughout most of my active labour. Unfortunately once it got to pushing my contractions slowed and the midwife said I needed to get out. My DD did manage to turn at the end.

Whatsthisbear · 02/10/2018 20:05

I so wanted a water birth. I was in the pool for hours, contractions stopped. Midwife did a sweep but no joy so had to get out of the pool and put on a drip and my B2B baby was finally born with the help of ventouse.

Original poster
CarlottiJames · 02/10/2018 20:51

Thanks ladies! Keeping my fingers crossed that this baby isn't stubborn! Really hoping for a water birth but trying not to get my hopes up too much...

OP posts:
Dandybelle · 02/10/2018 21:01

I laboured in water all the way through with DD who was b2b but we didn't know, but when it got to pushing she just wasn't for coming and I had to get out and have an episiotomy.
But the pool part was lovely up until then, I think you'd just have to see how you went on.

NickyNora · 02/10/2018 21:03

3 back to back babies & 3 waterbirths.

MaverickSnoopy · 02/10/2018 21:06

Check out the spinning babies website. My baby is b2b and my MW recommended it (wish someone would have told me about it with the first two b2b babies!).

Original poster
CarlottiJames · 02/10/2018 21:09

Funny because my midwife told me spinning babies was rubbish and not evidence based!! I'll give it a go though!

OP posts:
Quodlibet · 02/10/2018 21:11

My first birth went exactly like Whatsthisbears. Snap!

Taylor22 · 02/10/2018 21:11

I had a water birth with a 9lb7 back to back baby.

It was the most excruciating and unbelievably agonising time of my life. But I did it on just gas and air. So it is possible.

I went from 5cm to holding her in a couple of hours and was shaking afterwards but we're both good.

Oonchook · 03/10/2018 05:08

I didn't know my baby was (nearly but not quite) back to back until I got to the hospital in labour. I had the water birth with no pain relief that i wanted. Active labour ended up being slower than the midwives were expecting but I that was because I got too relaxed in the pool and my contractions slowed down.

MaverickSnoopy · 03/10/2018 06:59

@CarlottiJames I'm inclined to believe that the spinning babies website can be helpful. A lot of the information I have now read on there mimics what I've been through in the past with my previous b2b babies. I was told she was b2b on Thursday and started to doing the exercises and by Sunday I felt back to normal (had horrific pain in my back not so dissimilar to labour)....then took a break from the exercises because of pgp and general exhaustion and by yesterday the pains were back so I've started up the exercises again. Could be a coincidence so we'll see.

Incidentally I was having a chat with my health visitor the other day (they come and visit in our area prior to birth so you know who they are). I made a comment re breastfeeding that in the past I'd received different advice from different midwives and she said this happens a lot (not just to do with feeding) and that they're currently running a survey for mothers to say what advice they've been given. She said all midwives (at least in our area) should be giving out the same advice and not discussing individual experiences or opinions. Not sure how I feel about that but it proves the point that midwives are giving out contradictory advice....the best thing you can do is give everything a try and see what works for you.

Jenijena · 03/10/2018 07:02

Both of mine have been b2b. The first had pooed himself (so dry land birth) and turned as he crowned, but the second was delivered b2b in water. Currently 39 weeks with another b2ber...

coffeeagogo · 03/10/2018 09:53

Had 2 back2back babies

  • first one turned naturally being born - there were no birthing pools available on that night but managed fine in the midwife unit was gas and air
  • second one was all set with the pool filled and was waiting to get to 6cms to jump in - things took a slight dodgy turn (nothing to do with the position of the baby) and ended up with a crash c-section - it was fine too 🤦‍♀️
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