Any tips for turning a "back to back" position baby?

[Jenwig]

Hi, I'm nearly 37 weeks and the midwife thinks the baby is in the back to back position. I seem to remember from the baby books that a birth in that position is fine but can be very painful on the back - I think the word excrutiating was mentioned! This is my third and the previous two were fine and in the normal position but certainly not pain free! If there are there any tricks for gently encouraging the baby to turn round in time and so for avoiding the "excrutiating" pain I would be pleased to know... thanks.

crawl around on all fours.
side step to go upstairs (like a crab)
lean over a birth ball to watch tv

Failing those (as I did) dc may turn naturally just before labour (mine did)

Good luck

Hi I had my dd back to back. It was my first birth and yes it was excruciating but so were my subsequent babies!

I found it a different, not necessarily more painful birth. When I had a contraction I felt it all over, down my legs, through my back. The advice I was given to turn her before birth was as sorkycake describes but it didn't work for me.

My midwife did say though that most will turn during labour, I was just 'unlucky' but tbh, I didn't think it was that bad - honest

Hello sorkycake!!

if you are prepared for a back to back labour, that is half the battle...

google optimal foetal positioning and also have a look at www.spinningbabies.com

if baby remains back to back, do not lie on your back during labour....

i had persistent OP baby who did not turn ( i thought she had!! )but she hadn;t !! it was copeable with, i had lots of gas and air and some pethdine and spent as much time as i could upright or sat up, did not lie down ...

Yes, if all else fails (did with me on 2 occasions) then stay mobile in labour: on birthing ball, leaning on bed, on all fours - whatever feels good.

I did this 3 weeks ago and he turned beautifully - despite his enormous size. Good luck but don't worry too much.

MY baby was also OP, but did turn shortly beore birth, I went in the bath and kept lying on my back and then getting up onto my hands and knees. I also kept sitting forward, and eventually ds turned.
Good luck!

For my first labour, baby was back to back, and I spent 6 hours or so (out of a 12 hour labour) on my hands and knees to get the baby turned. The baby turned and was born no problems. My knees were swollen afterwards!

For my second labour, my baby didn't turn, and my midwife made me walk around while in the later stages of labour to get the baby turned.

Mindy - ds is 10 weeks and my knees are still shagged from doing the same

I was advised to kneel, leaning on a birthing ball (or beanbag or poofe or whatever) and gently sway my hips from side to side. I did lots of that.

Didn't work !

But it wasn't so bad - I think it contributed to my labour being very long, but the pain wasn't excrutiating until quite near the end. It was okay.

My current bump is not in an ideal position and I'm not fretting.

I had two posterior labours one didn't turn (totally immobile labour) and the other did, half way through, with lots of walking around. Very weird by the way suddenly the pain and stress ease -- it feels v different! Good luck. Does the sitting on a bucket leaning forward and gyrating during labour help with it? That's what I did. Lulumama may know.

Ask your dp to read up on op labours, you'll forget all the helpful hints when you're in the thoes! Baby might still turn before labour anyway, reflexology and acuncture can help too.

If the baby stays op, it will still be alright, so hang in there and concentrate on the baby! I'm a doula and my lovely, most recent client deivered her first baby who was a cheeky direct op. The midwives were astonished when a little face appeared (instead of the back of the head)!

DD was direct OP....

it was nice to see her face before she was born!!

yes, gyrating, wiggling, leaning forward can all help

working with your body and tuning in to what your body needs to do is really helpful

she had been back to back for the whole pregnancy i think

My daughter was back to back right up until labour started but she turned herself during labour and emerged the standard way round. So even if your baby is back to back for ages, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll have a terrible labour (mine was absolutely fine).

Make sure you don't lean back into your sofa or easy chair, lie on your side, apparently the left side is better. And cross your fingers the baby moves round

thread hijack, sorry
Lulumama, he has agreed to number 4 :D
hmm now just got to get 'im to agree to move to Manchester area, then LM can be my doula at long last! not likely methinks.

On balance I would suggest preparing yourself for an OP birth because if baby does turn it won't seem as bad.

Birth knacks anyway ime lol

My daughter was back to back and no matter what I did lazy little bugger wouldn't move.

But I was told to spend as much time on all 4's especially in the bath and to lie on my left hand side only. Also sit on a high backed chair that is back to front so you are leaning forward onto the back of the chair.

But agree that if you prepare for an OP birth then you wont be stressed about it.

Message withdrawn

DD2 turned just before my labour started properly so don't panic if baby is still back to back when you go into labour.

DD was OP.

To those in the know - my placenta is currently posterior...will this help ensure this DC doesn't go OP?! Am hoping.

my baby was born back to back on March 1 - my back was sore and i found it hard to push while on the bed - was much, much easier when i stood and ended up delivering while standing. The birth itself was not too painful (honest!) and i just had gas and air, but i have been left with pretty bruised feeling tailbone since.
Just keep telling yourself it will be worth it. Good luck!