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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Avoiding back to back baby

25 replies

BertieBotts · 18/03/2021 18:06

I've had two babies, one possibly back to back (can't remember and don't have notes) - 36 hour labour and intense contractions.

Second defo back to back, was in notes. This labour wasn't as long but was still v long for a second labour, 17 hours I think, took ages to get to 1cm dilated and then went immediately to 6cm in about an hour. Incredibly painful and epidural didn't work.

I mentioned this to my doctor today (am abroad so all check ups with doctor) and she then said when I had my scan oh, your baby is back to back again, that's why you can feel them moving so much.

I also have anterior placenta - did with DS2 as well.

I'm only 18 weeks, so I don't think it's something I need to worry about yet, is it? But when should I be aware of positioning etc?

And also how the hell do you sit in that leant forward position? I admit my last baby/ies were probably back to back because I'm lazy and lean back but it's SO uncomfortable, already, to lean forward while sitting. All my stomach and lungs are squished up and it's awful. I can't imagine how I will be able to do it when I'm any bigger.

OP posts:

OverTheRainbow88 · 18/03/2021 18:09

In the last 10 weeks I spent as much time on all 4s as possible; with like bum higher than head-
Also helped painful back, bouncing on a birthing ball, try not to lie back and slouch on the sofa

Ahmose · 18/03/2021 18:16

Get a gym ball and kneel with your arms and chest resting on the ball. Make sure someone is there to help you up though!
I found it really comfy in the evening watching tv when I was in the later stages of pregnancy.
The balls are not expensive.

5zeds · 18/03/2021 18:19

Why does it matter if the baby is back to back.

skeggycaggy · 18/03/2021 18:20

@5zeds

Why does it matter if the baby is back to back.

Because labour can be longer & it feels like your back is going to split apart as your labour. Personally.

Have you seen the spinning babies website, OP?

Princessbanana · 18/03/2021 18:22

I’ve had 4 back to back labours. I didn’t think they were that bad although I don’t have anything to compare them to as I only have 4 children. It’s a back to back labour common? I’m not sure there is a lot you can do to prevent it.

5zeds · 18/03/2021 18:27

Pretty much same here @Princessbanana all but one of mine were back to back (and weren’t slow labours). I had no idea it was a bad thing.

skeggycaggy · 18/03/2021 18:28

Princessbanana 4 seems like quite a few I’ve only had one back to back labour, it was my 3rd, & I still had him at home without pain relief, but it was certainly a harder labour than my 2nd was.

sylbunny · 18/03/2021 18:28

I had a horrendously long early labour with my first (5 days) so keen to avoid another back to back labour. Midwife recommended avoiding being on my back too much in the second half of the 3rd trimester. Side is better but all fours is best.

For those asking why it's bad ... babies head banging on the cervix is what helps it dilate. If it's the front of the head (as it is in back to back) rather than the back it's a lot softer and therefore not as effective.

5zeds · 18/03/2021 18:31

That’s interesting @sylbunny my cervix is retroverted, maybe that’s why it didn’t slow things down.

Original poster

BertieBotts · 18/03/2021 18:35

Yes I remember spinning babies way back with DS1 (now 12!) although I always thought it was more for breech? Will have another look.

I don't tend to watch much TV, what I do in the evening is MN/FB/etc on my computer or play computer games. Maybe I can get a ball that will be comfy for this. I did have one with DS2 but it was faulty and kept deflating. I can prob get a cheap one from Decathlon easily though.

It's my last baby and I really want to experience a non back to back labour as I've always wondered why mine are so ridiculous compared to others - like if I watch one born every minute etc or reading other people's birth stories. I was never able to use any of the techniques etc because the pain was so intense it would black out my entire consciousness and then when you only have 30-60 seconds between contractions it's not long enough to recover.

Also considering having epidural earlier this time so I can sit still as I struggled with this last time and it might have been why it didn't work.

OTOH I don't want to have it too early - last time it got really intense already at 1cm and I know in the UK fore xample they wouldn't give it to you unless you're at least 4.

But I have read another reason why epidural can fail is the back to back position - so I don't really want to go through the stress/anxiety of having the epidural - I hated it, I have a terror of needles, if it's not going to work.

I will have an appointment at 34 weeks to talk all this through - pain relief etc.

OP posts:

Onlinedilema · 18/03/2021 18:38

Didn't know about that sylbunny I had a back to back Labour and it was very long, and painful.

BurningBenches · 18/03/2021 18:56

@BertieBotts I've had 4 babies and am 28wks pregnant with number 5.

Every single one has settled back to back regardless of placenta position. So I think personally it's something to do with my body shape or pelvis shape or something.

Dd1 was induced at 42wks, back to back, didn't turn and was ventoused out but 2, 3 and 4 all turned immediately before or during labour and were, despite 3 and 4 requiring induction, straightforward births.

I have had successful epidurals with 1, 2 and 4. And 3 thankfully only took 2hrs so no time for an epidural.

I can totally understand the desire to have a non back to back labour. This is most definitely my last and I would so so like to not go hugely over (my babies don't engage and are always overdue) and/or be induced.

I have tried most things. With #4 hanging upside down off the bed which I think is spinning babies, but I'm am a little resigned to it this time.....though I'm sure I'll be hanging upside down and bouncing in a few weeks again!!

HereComesATractor · 18/03/2021 19:30

I haven’t had back to back babies (I’ve had two) so I don’t have that experience but it’s interesting to me that you say that leaning forwards is so uncomfortable, because from second trimester onwards I found a reclined position unbearably uncomfortable on my lower back and pelvis and I had to sit leaning slightly forwards or perched on the edge of seats. As the bump got bigger this had to be with legs spread (elegant) to avoid everything getting squashed up. In fact in late pregnancy the next most comfortable seat after the Pilates ball was a church pew. With my second pregnancy I had a 1yo so spent a lot of time on all fours playing with him. I expect that my discomfort with leaning back is entirely unrelated to not having back to back babies and it’s just one of those things. And maybe you not feeling comfortable leaning forwards is just natural for your pregnant body rather than something you’re doing wrong? But hopefully you can do the all fours and leaning over a ball things to maximise your chances.

HereComesATractor · 18/03/2021 19:50

Sorry, rereading that sounds like I think you think you’re doing something wrong - I didn’t mean it like that. Just that, maybe the leaning forward advice just isn’t for you and if you’re concerned that’s increasing the risks of back to back, and you want to minimise, then there are hopefully other ways that suit you better

Original poster

BertieBotts · 18/03/2021 21:47

No that sounds interesting, Tractor! I didn't take it as criticism at all.

I meant to ask my doctor if she thinks my womb is tilted as I'm sure I was told at some point that it is - my mum's is.

Burning that's reassuring to know the epidural worked for you anyway and v interesting to hear that nothing you did changed it - makes me wonder if it is just the shape of some people's bodies?

OP posts:

Bobbi73 · 18/03/2021 23:45

Both mine were back to back and nothing I did helped. Thru were both big babies though so that may be why. The first was horrendous and lasted for two days of regular contractions and twelve hours of contractions a minute apart before having an emergency c section (the surgeon couldn't believe they made me wait so long when it was obvious nothing was happening). Second one was back to back again so I had an elective caesarian

Bobbi73 · 18/03/2021 23:47

Sorry posted too soon.
I did have a friend that managed to spin her baby though do it can happen. Congratulations and Good luck 😀

wanderlnst · 19/03/2021 07:59

Definitely try bouncing on that ball as much as you can! I'm not convinced it works though - I spent hours on my ball and my dd was back to back and laying transverse .

Shandilarr · 19/03/2021 08:05

My first was a back to back but with the second I was swimming a lot as we moved to a house with a pool and most of my pregnancy was in summer. I floated a lot with my bump hanging down in the water and I'm sure that made a difference.

So my advice, buy a house with a swimming pool.

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/03/2021 08:48

Like PP, my back to backs have been sections, first was 36 hour full labour with almost 10lb baby, stuck solid and never got past 6cm. Had to be pulled back out during section while they held me down on the table. I also had sacroiliac hip disfunction so was unable to go on all 4s which may have helped.

2nd was in same position with same circumstances and given it was only 13 months later, I was offered a section which I took.

5zeds · 19/03/2021 09:10

Epidurals worked for my back to backs and all were delivered vaginally. My (sample of 5 so not scientific!) experience is that bigger babies are easier to push than smaller ones, but I’m not sure if that’s just me.

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/03/2021 09:20

You can't push it if it's jammed solid. I think it's the issue as with back to back, the head has the ability to tip back so that the widest point hits and jams before it's able to properly push on the cervix to open it. That's what happened to me anyway.

I appreciate every birth is different though and I don't think bigger babies are always an issue, but in my case it was a factor, as was the position, as was my hip problem.

The epidural did work for me though. I avoided it for the first 30 hours on the basis I didn't want to slow any progress.

Original poster

BertieBotts · 19/03/2021 09:48

Hahaha to swimming pool! Although actually we live v near a couple of lovely open air pools which I may well live in over summer :o

I got the pushing urge at 9cm with both of mine and ended up with people screaming at me to stop and me being like I don't know how to stop, I'm not in control of it! Then they told me to make a telephone noise with my lips, which I'm sure drove everyone mad. I had to do that both times but I had forgotten about it second time round as they were 10 years apart.

OP posts:

BurningBenches · 19/03/2021 10:18

@BertieBotts, I don't have any evidence (beyond my 4 births) and we will see where this one settles towards the end, but I would put money on b2b and induction.

#2 I was so gutted when they said she was b2b after #1, but she did move round in labour. #3 and 4 it was kind of a resigned sigh when they said at MW appointments.

So yeah I really think it's something to do with me, I have overdue big babies who prefer to be back to back, never drop or engage before labour and usually need evicting

Princessbanana · 19/03/2021 11:13

Just to jump back on and say, all 4 of mine were vaginal births and I had 4 epidurals, they all worked great, apart from the last one as I was nearly ready to push when I was given it, but it was my own fault for holding out for so long, but it did take some of edge off!😂. Also non of mine were over 8pounds so that may have helped to.

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