back to back babies

[ThatllDoPig]

MW has just told me baby is back to back. I suspected as much due to all the front movement. Anyone got experience of this. Is he likely to turn around do you think, or am I doomed to a more painful labour? I'm 36 weeks.

MW told me to get down on hands and knees more! Spose I could clean the kitchen floor.

my second baby was back to back. there was no shifting him and he was born in the same position

was my nicest labour (out of 3) by a long shot! long pushing stage, but it was ok :)

yes I was really worried when told baby was back to back at my 35 week appointment and then 10 days later he had moved ROA. I'm hoping he'll stay there (currently 37+4).

I was convinced he hadn't moved as I still get lots of movement above my pubic bone so it was a nice surprise.

I borrowed a birth ball and sat on that to watch telly instead of lying back on the sofa and also used it to lean against with my knees on the floor for 15 minutes at a time - seemed to do the job.

I read somewhere that 80% of babies who are back to back move into a better position in the early stages of labour as well so even if you get to that point the odds are good you won't deliver in that position.

Yes my 1st was back to back and it tends to make labour more drawn out and painful as the baby's position means that his head is pressing down on your spine which isn't nice at all, the head doesn't place the right amount of pressure on the cervix and the fit in the pelvis isn't as good as it could be. Rather like fitting a shoe onto the wrong foot, possible but clumsy.

What you can do:

There is still plenty of time to get the baby into the right position and most OP babies turn during labour if given the opportunity so I'm sure you've heard the advice about leaning forwards and spending time on all fours? That is great but it works even better if you try and keep your back parallell to the floor during contractions. This means adopting a leaning over postion, all fours or leaning over a table or birthing ball. DO NOT BOUNCE on a birthing ball with an OP baby as this encourages them deeper into the pelvis and you want to avoid this. Yuo are really aiming to work with the contracttions to allow your body and your baby a chance of rotating sightly into a more favourable postiion.

I'd echo all the other ladies here about the all fours for 15 -20 mins three times a day if you can cope or even over a birthing ball.

My yoga teacher is very vocal about not sitting slouching on the sofa because most have your bum lower than your knees but on the floor against the sofa on a few cushions so that your knees are below your hips. Not idea when DH wants to cuddle up but its only for a short while.

Also a cushion on your car and work seat to tilt you forward- something I hadn't thought of until the yoga teacher pointed it out.

Think of gravity as your friend :)