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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

How bad is back to back labour compared to normal labour

18 replies

Cleo2628 · 11/10/2018 20:06

Hi everyone,

My DD is almost 1 and I’m starting to think about when I have baby number 2. My DDs Labour was very quick (4 hours) and she was back to back. I had no time for any pain relief until gas & air at 8cms.
I know I had quite a straight forward birth as had no interventions and a 1st degree tear but I still feel quite traumatised from the pain. I really really want a second DC but I’m so scared.
I was just wondering - how bad is back to back labour vs ‘normal’ labour? Was it way more painful for me because she was back to back? All I remember is all the pain being in my bum!!

OP posts:

MrsT1983 · 12/10/2018 09:39

DS was back to back through most of my labour but turned near the end and I just remember all the awful back pain just suddenly disappearing, it was such a relief (for a while until contractions ramped back up!) it felt completely different though, contractions at the front were way more manageable than the ones in my back and felt like they were actually doing something, if that makes sense. I’m currently pregnant with no2 so am hoping this one is the right way round when labour starts!

beccii161016 · 13/10/2018 06:14

I can only speak of my personal experience but want to be honest about it and say it was unbearable and I'm amazed I managed to go through that much pain! I know it's not "positive" but I wish I'd have been prepared for it as I'd have asked for pain relief a lot sooner (ended up with gas and air only). My waters did break before any contractions so not sure whether that had any bearing on how bad the pain was.

The main things that I found difficult to handle were: my contractions came in definite waves but from very early on they didn't really "go away" in between, it was constant pain with peaks. And I found pushing extremely difficult. I was pushing so hard that all of the blood vessels in my face burst but because of the B2B angle couldn't get him out without assistance.

I have heard some people say they didn't find it much different though and if you have an epidural it will numb your back completely! Sorry to be a bit of a downer but wanted to give you an honest opinion from personal experience. I'm sure there's lots of people with a more positive one than mine

Undercoverbanana · 13/10/2018 06:40

It was my first so I didn’t know any different. No stitches, no pain relief, no gas and air, no interventions. Labour was about 8 hours. Yes, the pushing was hard work but It was fine. I was fine, he was fine. He’s 22 now. No idea where the time has gone.

Jaxtellerswife · 13/10/2018 06:49

My first was back to back and ended with an emergency Caesarian. I will remember that back pain forever lol. I barely felt any of the contractions in the front at all.
My second turned the right way early on in labour and it was a world of difference. Don't get me wrong, it's still not a cream tea in the park but I felt more in control and it was a little easier to control my breathing and I could be in better positions.

Starface · 13/10/2018 07:04

I've had both types. First was back to back and second was right way round. I managed both with just gas and air. However, second was much much easier. So much less pain, less tiring and as my second it felt like my body knew what it was doing plus had already stretched. Pains all properly just across my uterus, rather than also in my back/bum. Much less tiring labour. Also, my first was 48 hours from first contraction to out, my second was 6. Be prepared for a much quicker labour given your body has stretched before.

Don't be scared, your child is for life, not just for labour. Concentrate on that bit!

Girlwiththearabstrap · 13/10/2018 09:00

Both of mine have been back to back and didn't turn during labour so I don't have anything to compare it to, but I did find my second labour easier. I was induced both times so they were relatively quick but the second time was faster and less panicky because I knew what to expect. It's a hard push at the end getting them out face up but it can be doable. I didn't have any pain relief second time apart from a bit of gas and air at the end because it was so quick it just sort of happened! I found I wanted to lean over things a lot and that kind of provided some kind of control over the pain, even if it didn't make it go away.

3in4years · 15/10/2018 06:09

Ds1 was b2b. Unbearable pain for 24 hours. Ended with epidural, drip, episiotomy and ventouse.
Dd1 was not. 4.5 hours start to finish. Very bearable until the last hour which was shocking pain but fine in the end. Very quick recovery.
Dd2 was b2b. 4 hours start to finish and no time for interventions so I had to get her out with sheer force. 3rd degree tear.
I found my 1st and last labours very traumatic. Normal labour is shocking enough but doesn't compare.

Jessieevans94 · 18/10/2018 22:33

With my daughters labour I was told I was 4cm with mild back ache a few little cramps like I was on my period and I didn't believe then at first until I got to the labour ward this was around 1pm. Checked again when I got there I was 5cm and had my waters broken and epidural that didn't work, they checked to see if I was numb on my back but I could lay on the side as I couldn't close my legs, they checked me and sure enough baby was crowning , I was so shocked I was in pain but not screaming . Labour was only 2.5hours in total .

With my son , I had back to back labour . I had a sweep and told I was 3cm and 5 mins later I had contractions on and off but pain got so bad I struggled walking anymore, so after 20mins of walking I was taken upstairs as I have fast births, told I was only 5cm , and both my son and I were in a lot of distress and pain , his heart rate was 30bpm mine was 170bpm so they were going to rush me to have a c section as soon as the emergency was out . 5 contractions later I started to push , I couldn't stop myself and 2 pushed he was out but by God it hurt bad compared to my 1st labour I wanted all the meds possible but no one was about to give me them, my mum, husband and a surgeon delivered my son after only 1 hour 35 minutes from my first contraction until he was born it was fast but very intense!

Had no tearing on either and only had gas and air with my son.

justanotherday4 · 19/10/2018 22:44

My first DS was b2b, I was induced with him and ended up with episiotomy and forceps delivery. Thankfully had epidural though was still nervous when pregnant second time round. Sure enough at 38 week appointment they told me baby b2b too. I worried a lot about it but I spontaneously went into labour at 40 +2 and yes the contractions were felt in my lower back and bum but I managed ok and I really wouldn’t consider myself to have a high pain threshold! I did try hypnobirthing this time which I believe really helped. I was 8cm by the time I got to hospital and felt like I needed pain relief but I got into the pool, waters broke and DS appeared a few
Mins later. Try not to let it stress you out, they generally turn in labour, my ds must have!

madmum5811 · 19/10/2018 22:55

First baby was like this but I did not know any different, had an awful lot of stitches though. Second baby came out waving, his arm was above his head that was a bad labour by comparison. Third baby was a walk in the park no painkillers, gas and air machine broken but he flew out.

Nat6999 · 22/10/2018 02:06

I was induced due to pre eclampsia, had gel Saturday evening, more gel Sunday morning, started with show & feeling uncomfortable Sunday evening, got taken up to Labour ward & had sweep & waters broken about 7.00pm Sunday night, contractions started straight away, pain was horrific but wasn't anywhere in my bump, pain was in my back, thighs & bladder, felt like I had a bad uti but in waves, I couldn't sit or lie still, couldn't bare anyone touching my back, only way I could get slightest way comfortable was on all fours with bum in air. After about an hour of pain & not getting on with gas & air as it made me feel violently sick I begged for diamorphine, midwife recommended epidural as it was better for my blood pressure, spent 3 hours sweating, screaming & swearing waiting for an anaesthetist, got my epidural at 11.00pm, plus drip to increase my contractions, relief was instant, the moment the needle was in, dozed through night but never properly slept, next morning was only 4cm, reached 8 cm by 3.00pm Monday afternoon, got checked again at 5.00pm had gone back to 7cm, 6.00pm was taken to theatre for EMCS, 6.22pm DS was born. When I was taken to HDU as I was very poorly with HELLP & due to massive haemorrhage midwife told me there was no way I could have delivered naturally as position of DS meant he couldn't have moved down low enough to deliver.

SisterMortificado · 22/10/2018 03:00

Fucking back to back labour. The worst back pain ever, never, ever left. Just peaked at "Unbearable" and then went right back to "Agony". Felt like the contractions did nothing.
I had gas and air, pethidine, and eventually an epidural.
After fifteen hours I reached six cm, stalled for another two, and then DD's heart rate started falling, I passed out, and woke up to Angry Santa the Anaesthetist telling me that he'd keep me awake while my baby was born, because he thought it was really important for new mums.

TBH I'd take the cs recovery over the back to back labour.
Fuck that noise.

Huntlybyelection · 22/10/2018 03:02

My second was back to Back, turned literally as he crowned. With the help of a doctor who ma ually turned him a bit.

Anyway. I likened it to someone taking an angle grinder to the base of my spine. For around 5 hours. Epidural helped.

My first baby and labour seemed like a walk in the park on reflection.

elliejjtiny · 22/10/2018 19:55

My dc2 was back to back. Pain was about the same as with my dc5 which was an induction with the drip. Dc's 1 and 3 were spontaneous and facing the right way. Still painful but nowhere near as bad.

Buffymum · 22/10/2018 20:04

DC1 b2b - 24 hrs of poker up the bottom / back pain . Spinal .
DC2 - b2b- 2hrs no proper contractions , no pain relief as all only felt pressure then pushing which was vv painful - turned on coming out had to have sac broken too !

CantWaitToRetire · 22/10/2018 20:05

My first DD was b2b and pain was simply awful. I had just gas and air and I can remember crying to the midwife that I just couldn’t do it. Of course I had to LOL! but it was agony. DD2 was the right way round and although still painful, it was nothing like the first.

Sallywiththegoodhair · 22/10/2018 20:05

3 of mine were back to back. The pain wasn't any different to my non back to back baby

NoUnicornsToSeeHere · 22/10/2018 20:12

I’ve had

b2b, with extra drip to speed up the contractions. An hour of not pushing as I wasn’t apparently dilated enough, an hour of pushing and baby turned at the last minute.
b2b, born in a pool and facing the wrong way.
b2b until a sweep in early labour (had a night of contractions but was only 3cm dilated so not in active labour). She turned during the sweep and was out 90minutes later. Born in a pool (just).

All of the births I managed on gas and air but I think the third, despite not being b2b, was worse for pain - it may well be because it was so quick I didn’t feel any let up on the contractions. They’ve all felt different pain wise as well (drip/pool for a long time/poop for a short time will make a difference) so I think it’s hard to judge.

My third is only two weeks old; I can say with confidence I’m not doing it again ;)

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