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Childbirth

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

Original poster

What were your first signs of back to back labour?

72 replies

anony1111 · 17/02/2024 22:38

What were your first signs of back to back labour starting?
I already know baby is back to back and he hasn't moved round yet despite me trying my best. I was just wondering what were your first signs things were starting?
Been having some pains today but not sure if it's anything or just because of this stupid relentless cough I have 😤

Thank you 😊

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Original poster
anony1111 · 18/02/2024 15:03

@thelowestpainthresh @TheShellBeach
Thank you, I'm not against having the epidural if I do need it, will see how things progress when the time arrives.

It's really helped reading all the replies so thank you 😊 I had felt calm about labour until i found out baby boy was back to back and I was like how the hell am I going to get through it now?! but you have all helped me feel a bit better about the situation!

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TheShellBeach · 18/02/2024 15:08

OP I'm a midwife and I've seen many, many women with posterior positions of the baby's head at the start of labour.

Some women have long labours as a result (especially if it's a first baby) but most do not (especially if it isn't a first baby!)

I wouldn't be too worried if I were you. You've already had one vaginal delivery. That really lowers your odds of having a dysfunctional labour this time.

Zephyry · 18/02/2024 15:11

Yes to constant pain, no obvious contractions then relief. Also several days of labour and very little dilation. Ended up emcs after an epidural and a lot of fruitless pushing as he was completely stuck in pelvis

Original poster
anony1111 · 18/02/2024 15:21

@TheShellBeach thank you so much! That makes me feel better too. I'm having another big baby which already was playing on my mind then chuck in the back to back baby and it sent me into a worrying spiral!

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TheShellBeach · 18/02/2024 16:08

I've delivered plenty of big babies where the mother's labour was normal and she didn't have stitches.

ImthatBoleyngirl · 18/02/2024 16:09

Long, painful labour. The midwives thought I was just being dramatic to begin with.

NancyJoan · 18/02/2024 16:12

Both of mine were back to back. First sign of labour was waters going, then contractions. As things got a bit more poky, the pain in my lower back was wild, like my spine was being torn apart.

TheWorldKickedBack · 18/02/2024 16:44

13 hour labour,very painful contractions but absolutely no natural urge to push. Ended up with a c-section as back to back. I only got the urge to push with my second baby which really shocked me!

Original poster
anony1111 · 18/02/2024 16:56

@TheShellBeach yeah my first was pretty normal just needed an episiotomy. It's the pain after that worries me more 😂

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PeeBeee · 18/02/2024 16:57

I didn’t know my first was back to back until I was already being induced and on the god awful drip. Looking back now, my first sign was excruciating back pain after a sweep the week before. I remember not being able to stand up properly thinking surely this isn’t normal! Ended in an EMCS as I wasn’t progressing at all!

BritishDesiGirl · 18/02/2024 16:58

The pain, there is no word l can think of which can fully describe the pain of back to back .

Original poster
anony1111 · 18/02/2024 17:03

Thank you everyone for your replies. I think back to back labour has epidural written all over it for me 🙈

Here's to me scrubbing the floors on my hands and knees for the next week 😂

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ExperiencedTeacher · 18/02/2024 17:07

My back to back labour was induced.

All pain in my back, very like period pain. I also needed to poo a LOT during labour (not sure whether that’s related or not). I didn’t have any pain relief and was on my own until the last 20 mins. I was much more comfortable on all fours. Once midwife got involved and I was put on my back so little dude could be monitored, I found it more difficult. DS was born looking up at me after a 4 hour labour and 3 pushes.

I had an amazing birth and loved every minute of it. The pain wasn’t unbearable, it was fairly quick and I was up and about straight afterwards with just a graze.

Survivingmy3yearold · 18/02/2024 17:57

DD2 was back to back, had no idea until she was born and the midwife commented that she was sunny side up Grin It made sense once we realised as all my pains had been in my back and I found it almost impossible to lie on my back because it hurt so much. I'd had scans all the way through due to being a higher risk and she'd always been in the correct position so had turned very late. My early labour was quite long and stop/start but once things got going it was quick, within 2 hours of arriving at the hospital. Apparently it can be more painful and the pain is focused in your back as opposed to your front, but I wouldn't say I had any particular issues specifically arising from a back to back baby Smile

thelowestpainthresh · 18/02/2024 19:50

@anony1111 if you want it, it's there. But you might be fine, especially as it's your second. I've heard big babies push their own way out (not sure if that's just a throw away comment!)

The bottom line is, you will manage. You will do it, one way or another, like lots of other women have before you, because baby is in there and has to come out but also because that's what we do as women (if we want to). Try not to panic - I'll be rooting for you!

Do you know what you're having? I've missed it if you have said

gawditswindy · 18/02/2024 21:22

Long painful labour. I have no idea when they ascertained that the baby was back to back. I didn't know when I went in (or for the first 16 hours or so before I was admitted.) They tried to get me in the bath and on a birth ball but the least uncomfortable position for me was upright, pacing back and forth. Ended in an epidural and an emergency section.

2nd DC: planned section.

Original poster
anony1111 · 18/02/2024 22:35

@thelowestpainthresh thank you 😊
I'm having another boy so will have 2 boys when baby makes his arrival.

I'm really trying not to panic but some of these stories aren't the most positive 🙈 I know I will be fine whatever happens, like you say baby has to come out 😂😂

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mummyh2016 · 19/02/2024 07:43

First sign was waters breaking.
I had both of my children on an MLU and I feel like I'm a strong advocate for MLUs as I really enjoyed my time on them. But after my first born was back to back I'd decided for baby number 2 if he was back to back as well I was going straight for the normal labour ward for an epidural (he wasn't btw). With DD I honestly thought I would never walk again, the pain in my back was unreal. Was 4 hours of pushing alone, only reason I wasn't moved up to the labour ward for an instrumental was because they had no beds.

Original poster
anony1111 · 19/02/2024 10:22

@mummyh2016 oh gosh that sounds awful! I'm glad your 2nd wasn't back to back too. I have struggled with my hips and pelvis from early on in pregnancy and I just don't know how I would cope with the back pain along with that too 🙈
4 hours of pushing, you must of been exhausted!

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KnittedCardi · 19/02/2024 10:35

Additionally to my very easy back to back delivery (2nd DD), she also came out with her arm by her face....... so sunny side up and like Superman in flight 😂

TheShellBeach · 19/02/2024 11:14

anony1111 · 19/02/2024 10:22

@mummyh2016 oh gosh that sounds awful! I'm glad your 2nd wasn't back to back too. I have struggled with my hips and pelvis from early on in pregnancy and I just don't know how I would cope with the back pain along with that too 🙈
4 hours of pushing, you must of been exhausted!

OP you won't have four hours of pushing with a second baby. They intervene earlier.

But I'm pretty sure you'll have a much easier labour anyway.

Moier · 19/02/2024 11:26

My eldest was back to back and came out face up.. she was only 6 pound thank goodness and l was tiny then going from 8 stone to 9 and half.
I was 26 and can't remember any extra back pain or anything. .. l worked until 8 months pregnant and rode my motorbike until 6 months.
11 hour labour with just gas and air and episiotomy.

We also never knew the sex..
Had one scan.
How things have changed.

doppelgangermirror · 19/02/2024 11:34

DD2 was back to back and I had no idea until the midwife made a comment to say that was why the pushing stage was taking so long.

Other than a longer pushing stage, the actual labour wasn't that different from my previous two. But I have fast (and painful) active labours.

mummyh2016 · 19/02/2024 12:37

anony1111 · 19/02/2024 10:22

@mummyh2016 oh gosh that sounds awful! I'm glad your 2nd wasn't back to back too. I have struggled with my hips and pelvis from early on in pregnancy and I just don't know how I would cope with the back pain along with that too 🙈
4 hours of pushing, you must of been exhausted!

I lost all track of time and didn't really know where I was. I first started pushing at 6.30am, midwives gave me until 9am before I'd need to be moved to the delivery suite for help but when they rang delivery suite asked for me to stay where I was as they had no space for me (I will add baby wasn't in distress, the only reason they contacted delivery was because of the time I had been pushing plus my waters went at 9am the day before so we were at 24 hour point). By the time I gave birth though at 10.30 they were checking DD heart rate every couple of minutes and I was literally told to get her out, no hanging around between pushing the head and body out. The only reason I know timings really is because I sent off for copies of my notes afterwards as DH had no idea what was happening.
It sounds horrible written down but it honestly wasn't, we were both fine and I was prepared to do it all again a couple of years later (albeit with an epidural!).

CheshireCat1 · 19/02/2024 13:31

My first was back to back, really bad constant back pain for a couple of hours, just walked around during this as I didn’t realise I was in labour, I was in hospital though because of my blood pressure. When I finally got on the bed I was examined and was 10cms, I was rushed to the labour ward and gave birth 20 minutes later.