Back to back baby

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Hi all, currently 39 weeks and last two midwife appointments (examined by usual midwife and student midwife) I was told it feels like baby is back to back. When I asked midwife if baby is likely to turn she said oh definitely, back to back births are so rare, which is a bit contrary to what I've seen on here! No signs of labour so far but I'm worried about a back to back birth now as from what I've seen they're usually longer and more painful

Yes, they are more painful, OP. It’s not the contraction pain in the front of your abdomen - that’s the same as usual. It’s the awful pain in your back, which feels like your spine is being tortured on a rack. The relief when your baby finally rotates from O-P to O-A is ecstatic! That’s assuming she/he does - a few babies actually stay O-P and deliver face to pubes.
If the pain is too much, have an epidural.
These days they contain less local and more opiate in the mix, so you don’t get so much motor weakness and muscle relaxation. That’s important, as you need the muscle tone to help steer the baby’s head, encouraging it to rotate as it descends. Years ago, the strong concentration of local in the epidural made it difficult for women to push during the delivery stage.
It is possible to do it without an epidural - I did with just TENS and some entonox for my first baby - but you should be warned it will hurt like fuck be an endurance test. Good luck, and fingers crossed that baby rotates naturally before you start labour.

I had back to back and found pain to just be everywhere, back and stomach. I had an epidural and was fine!

Please don't worry. I've had four back-to-backs. Labour pain was mainly in my back. I had nothing to compare it to of course but it was definitely bearable with gas and air. Best of luck and hope all goes smoothly!

All my 3 we're back to back try not to worry my pains were mainly in my back than my stomach

My baby didn’t rotated. I’m sorry to say that the pain was off the scale (not helped by the fact the refused me any pain relief - including gas and air!)

Both of mine were back to back so I have nothing to compare it to but I managed without any meds at all because they were so quick and smooth running labours. Don't worry. My butt hurt more than anything which I didn't expect and the midwife did say that was the reason!

My first was. I had a water birth and INSISTED DH poured warm water constantly on my back. It was bliss and helped so much with back pain. The pushing stage itself was longer but he still managed to arrive two and a half hours after we turned up at hospital.
Oh and tens earlier on was brilliant.

I had back to back and had an epidural which helped a lot. Labour didnt progress past 6cm as baby in awkward position so had an emcs.

I had a back to back baby. Nothing else to compare to but if was fine. Lots of my labour pain was in my back. I think the gas and air would have been fine if it hadn't made me feel really dizzy so I had some diamorphine which worked well. I did get a second degree gear but it was also a first baby so that may not have anything to do with it. Everything healed well quickly. Please try not to worry. X

How do you know if back to back I was never told mine were back to back with both of mine all my pains where in me back not one in belly with first I didn't realise it was contractions as was expecting them in belly.

I had a back to back and thought it was so sore but mainly because I kept thinking I needed to poo as the pressure there was unreal even asked my midwife to check I wasn't pooing 🙈🙈 managed 16hours with the pain then had to have the epidural for the last 3 hours as I wasn't dilating enough tbh think having the epidural relaxed my body and helped me dilate as within 2 hours I was 10cm and they left me for a extra hour before actual pushing. Tbh with epidural I did still feel some pressure but not as much as before! X

DC1 was back to back. The pain in my back was horrendous, labour went on for over 24 hours ending in an epidural (minimal benefit), two hour pushing a second degree tear and episiotomy.
DC2 was a breeze.

Apparently only around 5% of babies are back to back once labour begins - they can turn late or even during labour.

Also your midwife might be wrong. Mine told me DD was back to back, we had a scan (for something else) and she wasnt.

Thank you for your replies, I'm trying not to think about it too much to be honest I feel like I don't care how she gets out I just want to go into labour already. I'm so mentally and physically over being pregnant now

My last (dc8) was born back to back, she didn't turn in labour. Apart from more back pain it really wasn't any different from any of my other labours and completely manageable with gas and air

Please read this OP

midwifethinking.com/2016/06/08/in-celebration-of-the-op-baby/

There are all sorts of myths about b2b babies and this is a really helpful article, written by a midwife.

If it helps, I had 1 back to back baby, one, facing sideways, one breech, and one 'normal'. The b2b was the easiest of the lot, both labour nd actually delivering her. She was my second biggest baby.

I had 2 back to back labours. Ds2 turned during labour itself, ds1 didnt so labour was much slower. Needed forceps both times but probably wouldnt with ds2 if he had t been so huge.

What helped ds2 turn was waters not breaking til v late on and me changing positions often (luckily I had a 1:1 midwife to keep me moving as all I wanted to do was lie down).

I was told baby was facing perfectly.until I had a very long labour and was 9cm, I was told btb. I chose a c section over forceps and potential ecs anyway. I had to push for it but.so glad I did.

Please don't worry. It is paintful everytime. Is it back to back or not menopausecoach.com/