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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

back to back labour..how bad is it?

34 replies

steph1512 · 23/03/2010 15:39

im 39wk with my third and found out today baby is back to back!

ive had two straight forward prob free labours first 3.5hr and 2nd 1.5hr

how much worse is back to back likely to be and is there added risks,

should i still op for my planned homebirth??

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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rubyslippers · 23/03/2010 15:42

both my DC were back to back

DS never turned - i delivered him vaginally with gas and air and pethidine but an hour of pushing - had 2 days of slow labour which was tiring

DD turned during labour and shot out with 2 pushes (water birth with gas and air)

i would certainly still opt for your home birth - stay as active, mobile and upright as you can

reikizen · 23/03/2010 15:46

Oh god yes, if you are 39 weeks now the baby has 3 weeks (!!) to turn before an induction looms doesn't it? So why worry? Besides that, the majority of babies turn in labour, and if they are well positioned at 39 weeks they can turn back to back in labour anyway! Third baby with two previous normal, fast deliveries no probs. I'd book a home birth as you probably would struggle to get to hospital in time anyway. Good luck, and if you need further proof, I looked after a primip (first time labour) who delivered a persistent op baby (comes out 'face to pubes') and she only used gas & air throughout labour, wasn't even that long if I recall rightly.

Original poster

steph1512 · 23/03/2010 15:47

ok thanks im have been really nervous about labour this time n tihs news made me even more so..im hoping it still might move.

my second although straight froward was so painful not sure i could cope with it being worse not that i have much choice lol

OP posts:

probonbon · 23/03/2010 15:52

It just goes on and on. BUT can even turn during labour. Ruby's right: active and mobile. All fours. Stay off your back, stay at home as long as possible. Eat and drink as long as you can. Get the trace off as soon as you can. Say you need to keep going to the loo to keep moving. Stay off your back!

Ninjacat · 23/03/2010 15:55

Getting on all fours is good for turning a baby so get those floors scrubbed or just crawl about for the next week or so.

Original poster

steph1512 · 23/03/2010 15:56

i havent been able to bare being on my back for even 1second with my previous labours..so not much chance of getting me on my back was birthing ball then stall to deliver first dd

2nd dd was squating/all fours position.

bought i birthing ball today so palnning on bouncing on that for the evening onec dds in bed

OP posts:

belgo · 23/03/2010 16:01

Yes go for your home birth!

The chances are the baby will turn before or during labour and get into a better position. And even if it doesn't you shouldn't worry to much. My second baby was back to back and born at home, very painful but not especially long and I had good midwives to support me.

EggyAllenPoe · 23/03/2010 16:39

my first was back to back and a home birth - no problem. it was still turning when the MW got there, but born 45 mins after....

i think staying active during the birth has got to help it shift.

Firawla · 23/03/2010 17:38

why dont u stick 2 ur plan of home birth, and do all that u can 2 try 2 get baby 2 turn round if possible, then get position checked again nearer the time and think about it again, because if turns now, then u wold have worried and cancelled ur home birth for nothing.
even then u could still just go for it, but u do have time so may not be an issue in the end

Joolyjoolyjoo · 23/03/2010 17:44

My 1st was 4hrs, 2nd 3 hrs, then my 3rd was a back-to-back labour. I didn't actually realise until ds was almost born, was just miffed that none of the positions (eg on all fours) that had worked for me before weren't working now, and that he took 4h 40 to come out, when I was geared up for a 1hr labour this time

Wasn't a whole lot more painful, as far as I recall, just slower, less urge to push, more difficult to find a decent position to give birth in. But I'd go with the birthing ball, if I was you- I lost mine whe I was pregnant with ds, and I still think that was the reason he ended up back-to-back! At least you will know it's a possibilty that your baby is BTB, because I found it very frustrating until I realised WHY this labour wasn't like my others. Good luck!

belgo · 23/03/2010 18:30

jooly - how can you lose a birthing ball? They are rather big, not exactly as easy to lose as a tennis ball!

MillyMollyMoo · 23/03/2010 19:30

At least you know, I found out my third was back to back as she popped out and DH said I can see her face
It wasn't dreadful but I do think you have got to be upright and not lying on your spine 99.9% of the time.
How good is your DH at hauling you about ?

madwomanintheattic · 23/03/2010 19:37

they tried an internal rotation with ds - i would suggest not bothering if anyone suggests that to you...

he did take an inordinately long time tbh - (waters broke at 6am and contractions started at 4 mins straight away) i eventually delivered him at 6 the following morning.

he was vbac1 though, and the doc said by 3 or 4am he was convinced i was heading for another cs...

honestly? i'd do all the all fours stuff and expect the baby to turn - it didn't work for me, but it does work in the vast majority of cases. i'm just a bit rubbish at childbirth lol.

Joolyjoolyjoo · 23/03/2010 20:03

belgo- Dh had decided to deflate it and store it in the junk store garage! Found it last weekend when clearing out the garage (only 2.5 years too late!)

SoLongAsItsHealthy · 23/03/2010 21:35

I had back-to-back labour. Six weeks ago tomorrow actually. My first. I guess I have nothing to compare it to but it was very painful and long - 36 hrs and a forceps delivery in the end as he was completely stuck and after pushing for almost two hours I couldn't feel him budge at all. He had been in a good position throughout the pregnancy and only turned in labour. The stupid midwife didn't even tell me that's what was going on, I suppose she didn't want to dishearten me, but she could have helped me change position yet she refused. My husband kept saying "Why don't we try all fours? and she kept saying "No, I don't like all fours." As if it should be at her convenience rather than mine. Everything I'd ever read about back-to-back said stay off your back and there I am at the mercy of the midwife and she's actively encouraging me to stay on the bed, flat on my back! I was just too shattered to argue.

Eventually baby started to get distressed and that's when the obstetric team arrived and wheeled me off to theatre. And thank god they did.

If I were you I'd be less concerned about the pain and more about your baby's distress. I simply could not push my baby out. I didn't give up or wimp out because of the pain, I was pushing my guts out but nothing was happening. He needed to be brought out quickly. What will you do at home if this happens to you?

Oops, that wasn't very cheering was it?!

RH1979 · 23/03/2010 22:14

My midwife managed to turn my baby round using her hands at quite a late stage in my labour. Until this point, my labour had been very long but once my dd had been turned things really speeded up. The only thing that helped my back pain was my DH rubbing a tennis ball on my back so dont forget one!! Good luck xx

gaelicsheep · 23/03/2010 22:29

My first was ROA at term and flipped back to back during early labour. He turned 270 degrees during the second stage and came out LOA. His head was showing after 30 minutes of pushing, but it took another 3 hours to deliver him. I won't lie to you - it was hell - but the first stage of labour was infinitely worse than the second. That was partly because the MW didn't realise (or care) that he had flipped on his back and consequently didn't take my protestations of severe pain seriously.

For me, being active was not a good thing. Standing and walking was so so painful, nigh impossible actually, but I forced myself because I thought I was being a wimp and it was the "right" thing to do. I still have flashbacks. In hindsight what my body wanted to do was to lean forwards on a pile of pillows - I think that would have helped DS to turn much more easily.

I think as long as you are taken seriously and get adequate pain relief you'll be fine. I wasn't and didn't (no gas and air until I was 6 cm) and that's why it was such a bad experience.

On the positive side, I delivered naturally (if you count a long episiotomy) with only gas and air. Best of luck

MillyMollyMoo · 24/03/2010 15:33

It does make a difference that it's baby number 3 though, lets just say everything is a little looser and so easier to get him/her out.

belgo · 24/03/2010 16:36

Your first two labours were short so you have everything in your favour for a home birth even if it is back to back.

At a home birth you will have the attention of one or two midwives who will carry out all the necessary checks. Because of the close attention of the midwives any problem should be picked up sooner rather then later and any sign of distress from the baby the midwife will recommend a transfer to hospital.

wb · 24/03/2010 19:36

Both mine were back to back, both turned during labour. The fact that it is baby no. 3 will be greatly in your favour, it wouldn't put me off a home birth.

But like others have said - stay mobile, change positions as labour progresses to aid turning and STAY OFF YOUR BACK.

Ds1 turned after 55 hours on the way to theatre, which is quite frankly leaving it a bit late. I'm sure being moved onto the trolley (after hours on my back) was what made the difference. Ds2 took only 8 hours and turned beautifully even though he was soddin' enormous.

helyg · 24/03/2010 19:41

My first was back to back, and it was a long painful labour which ended up in a c-section as he got completely stuck.

But he was my first, and he was a fairly big baby. Having had another two since I can vouch for the fact that things gat a bit, ahem, looser... so theoretically as you've had two reasonably easy births it shouldn't present that much of a problem. And unless it does turn into an emergency then being at home wouldn't make that much difference.

weegiemum · 24/03/2010 19:46

My first labour, dd1, was a 9lb12oz vaginal OP delivery (with ventouse!)

I think as it is your 3rd and you have a history of labouring easily, it shoudl be fine.

The other bit of advice I had in 2nd and 3rd pgs was after about 38 weeks don't let your knees go higher than your hips. Don't sit on the sofa, but on a higher chair. Restrict going in low down cars as much as possible. As well as all the on all 4's advice you have had.

I don't know if the others woudl have been OA anyway, but I felt better following the advice!

bluecardi · 24/03/2010 19:48

My dd was back to back & labour was fine & lass than 30 mins! No problems at all. Good luck!

bluecardi · 24/03/2010 19:50

Didn't lie down at all - stayed upright for 5mins monitoring (didn't know I was in labour for sure lol), a check & the birth. No pain relief needed as was fine. Hope you'll be ok

DelsParadiseWife · 24/03/2010 19:52

The pain is different I think. You get to the more painful bit sooner without so much of a build up, which makes you frightened of what is to come. However, because you've got to the worst, you kind of get used to it and stay there and it doesn't build any more iyswim. It is kind of like if you are coping (just about) at 4cm, you'll cope until the end.

It can be a bit longer too, because it may suddently occur to the baby that he/she wants to turn after all and so your body has to do the turning as well as the descending, but your cervix won't need the time to stretch so it won't be 1st labour-like.

You can also find a little less respite between contractions, so if you are going for gas and air, tell anyone who insists you stop sucking in between to fuck right off.

hth

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