Back to back/ anterior placentas

[vinoelle]

Hi everyone. I'm looking for stories of those who have had either an anterior placenta or back to back babies known before delivery, and if they turned/what happened and how it impacted your labour.

I'm due in a few weeks and baby currently back to back - also have anterior placenta so I'm doubting she will turn. I'm aware of the exercises etc to help.

Just reading a few of the other threads especially the intervention thread and needless to say I'm terrified! Am I doomed to a horrific labour?!?

Mine was back to back. I had no idea until he was born (forceps delivery). It was agony, the majority of pain was in my back. It felt like it was going to snap in half. No idea about the placenta.

I would have loved to have known he was back to back before labour began. It would have changed the whole event.

@Kinsters thank you for a positive story. I’ve never heard of peanut ball so I’ll look into that. Out of interest do you know whether it matters if it’s left or right side to help turn? I know they say left is better for feeling movements ...

@Sipperskipper thank you for sharing. I really want to avoid forceps too - I’m scared it will get to the point where there is no turning back and it will be too late for a section. How did you know /make the decision?

@VisionQuest I’m so sorry to hear that. What would have changed for you do you think? Just understanding the pain more or would you have asked for different intervention etc?

@vinoelle I had put it in my birth plan - I was absolutely terrified of the idea of them and wanted to try and avoid them at all costs. In labour the team were really supportive of my wishes. They suggested trying forceps, and I asked if we could move straight to c section, which they were happy with (obviously depends on clinical situation at the time) Was certainty the right decision for us.

I made it clear all along that I would be happier for a section than forceps - I think often women want to avoid a section as much as possible, so teams do everything they can to support that - I’d say try and be as clear as possible about your preferences - obviously at the time all depends on what is safest for you & baby, but I found the whole team so supportive & they tried to accommodate my wishes / preferences wherever they could.

Did you have a look at the blog post I added? I found it really positive and reassuring.

Back to back baby and anterior placenta too - the baby never turned. All I can say is: epidural! Good luck x

3 anterior placentas and back to back labours here - definitely get an epidural.

@Vinoelle - thanks it wasn't a pleasant experience and I don't say that to scare you but I wish someone had warned me!

As for what I would've done differently. I would not have gone to a stand-alone midwife unit (nowhere near a hospital) where there was very limited pain relief available (only g&a)
Rather I would have gone straight to hospital and insisted on an epidural. Nobody needs to feel that level of pain.

As it was, I was rushed from the midwife unit to hospital when it became apparent that I was not pushing the baby out unassisted. Very frightening and not something I would recommend.

What annoys me, looking back, is that I'd had stop/start labour all through the previous week and I went to the midwife unit on two separate occasions and was found to be 3cm and not progressing. Rather than trying to figure out why, they just sent me away. Now looking back, it was clearly because he was back to back and stop/start labour is common in this circumstance.

I'd never even heard of back to back until the moment he was born!

@BertieBotts thank you for linking that blog. I’ve been down a rabbit hole of reading this morning and there is so much useful information there. I might buy her Induction book too.

This thread is terrifying! . FTM with an anterior placenta and completely burying my head in the sand about labour anyway...

I did read yesterday on Tommy's that 'most' babies will turn into the correct birthing position, even with an anterior placenta - is this not as common as they make out?!

I'd really not planned on having an epidural but would do if baby was back-to-back...

Back to back. Really straightforward Labour despite all the scenarios they scared me with. Was long and the pain was all in my back but I did it without pain relief and baby popped out fine on his own with no interventions/

@vinoelle I lay on my left side but don't remember whether I made that decision for any reason. I think I would have laboured quickly anyway but I've read that lying on your side can really help turn an op baby and speed up labour if the position of the baby is slowing things down.

@chichz please don't be terrified- on paper my labour looks crap but it was actually OK- hypnobirthing really helped me to stay calm and feel confident too. And the epidural was lovely - I even fell asleep at 9cm dilated!

The section was OK too- recovery pretty straightforward. I'm having another section in August and not worried in the slightest (and am a worrier about everything usually!)

@SipperSkipper I think I've maybe just had an easy ride through this pregnancy, and now the complicated part sounds like it's going to be the bit I was most worried about all along! Typical.

I wouldn't be averse to having a C-section if needed. I hadn't thought that there would be any particular reason for me to need an epidural though and really don't like the sound of them. I dislike the thought of not being in control down there, and I know tearing etc is then more likely.

Thanks for your attempts at reassurance in any case! What will be will be I guess.

@Chichz
Back to back labour is not that common - most babies do turn. OP here has specifically asked for peoples experience with back to back babies, so of course there are lots of stories about it on this particular thread. But the actual.number of babies born back to back is something like 3%.

OP are you sure baby is back to back? My midwife was convinced mine was but when I had a scan it was clear she wasnt. I had an anterior placenta, I think that also makes it harder for them to palpate the uterus.

@Underthebus Thanks - I will have a read into it now that I know a bit more about what it involves, and ask my midwife next week too. Didn't mean to hijack the thread - I was just a bit shocked hearing the similarities in many of these stories!

Hm, glad I didn't read anything like this thread with my first! I had an anterior placenta and it turned out she was back to back too, no one mentioned it could be a problem at any point. I had a great home birth with a pool, my contractions were entirely in my lower back and never felt anything at the front which made me think I wasn't in labour for ages 😂 long latent labour looking back, but only 10 minutes of pushing. Just for a more positive viewpoint!

I had an anterior placenta but not back to back in labour. Babies want to be in the best position for labour and you can do is try and give them the best conditions for that. I’d recommend avoiding sitting on the sofa or chairs where there’s any slump in your lower back. Instead lie on your side when watching telly or lean forward with bump between your legs. Walk LOTS and invest in a birthing ball, as it’s great for posture and a better option to sitting on the sofa.

Baby could turn to a more favourable position tomorrow, two hours before labour, during labour or you could push an OP baby out. Try and keep a positive mindset. If you do start labour naturally at home and all the pain is in your back, try using the bath, heat pads, TENS, paracetamol etc. The longer you stay at home (provided it is safe for you to) the more time you give for baby to turn. An epidural is great for an OP labour, but it does severely limit the baby’s ability to turn and therefore increase the likelihood of interventions at delivery. Good luck!!

Reassuring words from @Flora20 and @Spoons1988 - hopefully OP will find the same.

Thank you everyone for your stories and input. I think I’m just in a really negative mindset about the whole thing - I just don’t feel I can do it or that it will go well. Has anyone ever felt that way? I’m starting the positive birth company to help try to reframe this. I was doing really well mentally and physically - sailing thru pregnancy really - until 2 weeks ago when I’ve just felt so negative since. I do absolutely appreciate she could turn - I think it’s more a mindset thing than anything else

OP you are going to be absolutely fine, honestly. Back to back isn't ideal but this thread just goes to show that there are people who've managed to labour normally and without issues.

I know I wasn't one of them BUT if I'd had more information like you have (just knowing would have been great!) then my labour would have been so much better.

I think you should just go for an epidural and if you end up needing and instrumental delivery then you will get through it, I promise.

Please try not to worry too much

You’re not doomed. DS1 was back to back with anterior placenta and a short umbilical cord and they didn’t spot it until labour wasn’t progressing and the registrar asked what the scan looked like and the midwife admitted they hadn’t scanned me. It was forceps and an episiotomy but I was home the same day (I insisted, hadn’t had an epidural and I was healthy with a midwife friend across the road). DS2 was also anterior placenta but turned and came out much faster and more easily. Don’t try to be brave, I only didn’t have an epidural because I adored gas and air. Do take a debrief off you need one. We didn’t because I was fine but DH was traumatised and I didn’t realise to my shame until I was pregnant again and he started fretting and suggesting private hospitals!

I was very anxious and negative about the idea of labour / birth but hypnobirthing massively helped changed my mindset - even when I found out DD was back to back (despite only sitting on a birthing ball since about 20 weeks!). It really helped me to feel more positive and confident about everything, even when things didn't go 'to plan'.

I still felt mine went well even though it wasn't the waterbirth with dimmed lights etc I had planned- I didn't feel scared at any point, I felt calm and in control throughout and like my wishes were respected.

What really helped me was having a clear birth plan / preferences and re-iterating this to staff early on. Mine was clear I would want to avoid forceps etc if at all possible and would rather proceed straight to a section if safe. I had also outlined I would rather avoid an epidural.

When I asked for an epidural, they listened, but gently reminded me of my birth plan and double checked with me, which I really appreciated. When I told them I was sure it happened very quickly and I had instant relief!

Can't remember the ins and outs now, but DD needed to come out (she was stuck, distressed etc) and they suggested forceps. This was still all very calm and controlled and did not feel scary. I asked if I could move straight to a section, they said yes and boom- I was in theatre and very soon DD was safely in my arms.

I still look back positively on the whole experience - I promise you!

Hi, I just wanted to try and add a very small dose of positivity for you. I was massively anxious before my first birth worrying about all the things that could happen, and while tbh it was a shit show there is some positivity in it...

Baby was back to back (although posterior placenta). Horrific early labour where I was contracting 3 in 10 for several days before I made it past 1cm. (Active labour (after 4cm) was 17hr). Had 2 doses (max allowed) of diamorphine just to make it to 3cm when I was wheeled to delivery suite and allowed gas and air before being in established labour as baby's heart rate was decelerating. Had epidural as soon as I was 4cm and allowed, made me feel back in control but due to baby's position it didn't take away the pressure in my back every contraction, which I had to use gas and air for (but it was manageable).
Had to spend the whole labour lying still on my left hand side as baby's heart rate would plummet if I moved. Not ideal. Things slowed down and I needed drip about 7cm to progress. Baby was back to back, turned the right way round about 8cm, then flipped back the wrong way just before I needed to push. Things were very much looking like an emergency c section, then there was the possibility forceps could be used to turn the baby in theatre, then it was mentioned perhaps baby could be born face up with ventouse...(ie the options of interventions being discussed actually kept getting better not worse). The good news is - I needed none of it! Baby born (me flat on my back) with 45 minutes of pushing, born face up, no intervention required. Second degree tear.
I did then have a major pph due to extensive labour which was by far the worst and scariest part. And not something I had ever been worried about before! It's always the things you don't actually worry about that get you!!

My advice - get an epidural. They say it lengthens labour. I'd rather a 16 hr labour relatively pain free than 8 hours in pain. I am proof an epidural and drip does not mean you will end up with interventions at the end. I had such anxiety beforehand but honestly during the labour (especially once I had the epidural) I did not care about having all the interventions, I was happy to trust the doctors and do whatever it took to get baby out. The anxiety beforehand was far far worse than the anxiety during.

Good luck to you!!