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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Found out today baby is back to back....McPhee wants your nice stories [wink]

40 replies

JubileeMcPhee · 06/06/2012 20:23

So the midwife today has confirmed that baby is laying back to back, which answers a lot of questions ref bad back pain. I've looked up what this means in terms of birth, and read about some ways of encouraging baby to turn around. But, if baby decides to stay put, it's going to bloody hurt isn't it

Stories of the non scary nature please

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

louloutheshamed · 06/06/2012 21:12

I had a back to bath labour with my ds, I didn't know he was op until he came out with facing up! I'm not going to lie, labour was long and painful but I managed on g and a and then diamorphine and glad I didn't go for an epi in end as I think it could have made it even longer. I wasn't able to lie down due to he pain in my back so I spent most of the time kneeling over a ball, which helped.

Also another thing that I think was linked to him being op was that I never felt the 'urge to push' when I was fully dilated so I had to rely on the midwife
Telling me I was ready. I think this was because his head wasn't pressing down on the right point because of his position. good luck op!

blueberryboybait · 06/06/2012 21:17

I had 2 back to back labours - DD1 was 7 hours from start of induction - epidural (because of other complications which may have resulted in EMCS) no forceps, no help, 15 minutes pushing. DD2 less than an hour no pain relief because I was ready to deliver once I arrived at the hospital, no pushing time recorded because she sort of popped out in her intact bag of waters during a contraction.

I must have a bucket fanjo!

GobblersKnob · 06/06/2012 21:30

Bothof mine were back to back and there is no way I am risking another one.

Ds I nearly managed to push out, but then they discovered he had the cord around his neck three times and was basically bunjeeing in my fanjo so I had an emergency spinal and forceps.

Dd I did manage to push out though out though it took me two bloody hours and an amazingly understading midwife, though once she came out we realized it was so hard as she was not only back to back but face presentation too That's what you get for insisting on delivering in the dark in a corner

I did everything suggested to turn mine but nothing doing.

Personally I found leaning forward positions by far the most comfortable, supported stand, squat or kneel, or straddling a chair (in early labour). On my back was agony, a birthing stool actually made me scream and cry. Water was amazing, hot as you can stand it bath for the back ache. Very firm massage accross your pelvis with a hand or a tennis ball.

GobblersKnob · 06/06/2012 21:32

Sorry if any of hat sounds scarey, I didn't mean it too, just being honest.

I have nothing to compare the pain to as I haven't laboured with a baby the right way round.

Wolfiefan · 06/06/2012 21:39

Ds was back to back. Found tens helped and had a waterbirth. DH constantly poured water over my back which helped. Luckily for him, baby arrived 2 1/2 hours after we got to hospital!?! He was my first so expected longer.

McPhee · 06/06/2012 21:58

I know it's probably going to hurt like buggery , but I need to be prepared for this. My sisters baby was back to back but hers ended badly, and as much as I love her, I don't want to re-hear her horror story . I'd much rather ask you lovely ladies, who I know are capable of softening the blow

At any point during your labours did anyone suggest a CS?

blueberryboybait · 06/06/2012 22:15

I was told at 5 am (fully dilated)I had until 8am (12 hours post waters being broken) to deliver or I would need a CS DD1 was born 20 minutes later! I was NOT having a CS!

QueenOfPlaguegroup · 06/06/2012 22:21

DS1 was back to back but the midwives didn't realise until he came out the wrong way up, it was quite a long labour but managed with just gas and air. I loved my birthing ball, having my back rubbed by DP and hated being on my back.

I was expecting DS2's labour to be loads easier because he was well positioned, was very disappointed that it felt exactly the same.

WillowB · 06/06/2012 22:30

My Ds was back to back for virtually my entire pg. spent hours googling and worrying myself stupid. Midwife told me that 85% of babies turn the right way at some point during labour. Didn't believe her. Went into labour at 38 weeks. First I knew was when my waters broke with a gush. Was 5 cm dilated when I arrived at the hospital 40 mins later, was having contractions which just felt like period pains in my pelvic area not my back.
Turns out I had been in labour for hours and contracting without even realising! Anyway Ds had turned the right way as the midwife predicted. He ended up being delivered by emergency c-section but that's another story.
Anyway my point is that just because baby is back back now doesn't mean you will have a back to back labour, with a bit of luck baby will turn.

Bossybritches22 · 06/06/2012 22:33

DD2 was back to back & it was painful, I "gave in" & had pethidine -lovely stuff!.

I'd lost my nameband when a drip went in (to stimulate contractions) and they asked me my name.......apparently Mickey Fucking Mouse didn't match my records but my amused DH & mother vouched for me.

After 10 hrs hard at it,after the drugs, DD2 turned in minutes, 4 pushes & she was out!

I remember thinking
" if that cow (the lovely midwife ) tells me not to push I'll slap her!"

Apparently second stage = SOH failure with me & possibly was the reason I didn't get to DC3!!

McPhee, your DC may turn in the end, just keep as mobile as you can bear, take what pain relief they offer & try & relax if at all possible between contractions.

Bossybritches22 · 06/06/2012 22:35

Oh & DD2 is a strapping 5'10" now & a lovely lively young lady so no harm done!

GobblersKnob · 06/06/2012 23:11

Oh and bear in mind that is is quite common for back to back babies to be early (38/39 weeks, not prem early) and for your labour to start with your waters breaking.

No-one suggested a cs to me, except when they discovered ds's cord problem then I had to sign consent to say they could proceed to a cs if the forceps failed. I threw it accross the room twice before I signed it

blushingmare · 06/06/2012 23:18

I found out mine is back to back today too McPhee! My SIL sent me a video of an exercise to do to try to turn it - on all fours, you air back on your heels, then glide your boobs forwards towards the ground and raise yourself up onto straight arms. Probably not very well described, but you might find something if you google it. However, all this has done for me today is to break my waters...!! Don't think it was actually the exercise that did it really, but am now just waiting for labour to start!

Chrestomanci · 06/06/2012 23:36

DC was back to back at start of labour. Labour was v painful, but cope-able with gas & air and the pool, Ah the pool - the water really helped. He turned sometime during labour, but the pain was mostly in my back, which kind of spasmed. I couldn't get out of the water even enough to squat to push iyswim, as it was so helpful for the pain on my back, so pushed him out sitting up & braced against the side of the pool. Not sure it's the best position ever, but I needed the water on my back...

However 1st thing I knew of labour was my waters breaking & he was born 9 hours later with no interventions.

Sussy83baby · 06/06/2012 23:37

I had back to back with both mine and managed fine, didn't no till I had them either try not worry to much

openerofjars · 06/06/2012 23:57

DD was back to back at the start of established labour, following about 24 of early labour. I did loads of active stuff and she was born 3.5 hours later with no pain relief. Not to say it wasn't bloody painful, but I managed somehow and I am quite weedy really. I could tell from the way the pain wasn't in my back any more that she had moved.

DD is my 2nd child so I am possibly taking credit for what amounts to luck and being all saggy inside. This may also fanjo like a bucket be why I didn't tear.

openerofjars · 06/06/2012 23:59

I say no pain relief but I had a water birth, so I'm not as hard as all that.

GoodPhariseeofDerby · 07/06/2012 00:50

All 4 of mine were back to back. Only needed to use gas & air with my 4th (but he ended up massively bigger than the other 3), the others I managed through with breathing, positioning, and heating pads (I tried gas & air with my first and became sick so didn't bother until my 4th when a very lovely midwife helped me to use it during transition without getting ill). In fact, my 2nd was born still back to back and it was the easiest labour and fastest/easiest pushing I had out of all of them.

I would recommend reuseable and multiple heating pads (you can get ones that you can set to just click on after boiling). I found them to be magic - during my 4th, one midwife made a makeshift one after mine stopped working and it was wonderful relief having it pushed firmly into my lower back while I pushed (I couldn't push and use the gas&air, the multitasking was too much for me at that stage).

ilovechips · 07/06/2012 05:51

my DD1 was back to back, midwives didn't realise until she came out facing upwards. The labour couldn't have been more different to that of DD2 who was not back to back, but of course DD2 was also probably easier because she was my second so possibly not a fair comparison!

The biggest tip I would say is make sure the midwives with you in labour know that your baby is back to back, don't just assume they will be aware. Then they know what position is best for you, and you can get optimum pain relief etc...

From what I've read on here, back to back doesn't always equal a worse labour for everyone, fingers crossed it won't be for you either. Good luck! x

surroundedbyblondes · 07/06/2012 06:04

DD1 was back to back. I had an epidural and just before I started pushing the midwives flipped me onto my side with my legs in the air. DD1 obligingly rotated and I got her out quite easily.

DD2 was back to back at a scan less than 24 hrs before she was born but seemed to have got herself sorted when she actually delivered.

My gyne encouraged me to try all kinds of things to get them to turn, but when it came down to it my midwives were utterly relaxed about the whole thing and I never had any problems with it. So not all horror stories, honestly.

littledid · 07/06/2012 06:56

I only discovered DS2 was back to back when I arrived at the delivery suite, although with hindsight, the signs were there. I had a terrible 9 days in the run up; lots of painful contractions from which I could only get relief from by sleeping upright or, I kid you not, by sleeping in the bath.
By the time I got to hospital I was really, really ready to get him out so was a bit shocked when the midwife asked me if I was aware he was back to back and that we had very little time to turn him. She made sure, against all my protestations, that I laboured in an upright position, feet on the floor, slightly squat, with my forearms resting on the bed. I will always love that midwife because less than an hour after we arrived, with just gas and air, DS was born the right way up. He must have turned at the last minute because I remember her asking my DH to press the buzzer, as she was worried the shoulders would get stuck.
Anyway, IME it doesn't have to be a horrendous, drawn out labour although I did most of the painful bit in the days before. Good luck!
Oh, and try to keep active and upright - bounce on a ball, get on all fours etc rather than sitting down. I think that's where I went wrong in the last few months.

EmilyD2012 · 07/06/2012 07:11

JubileeMcPhee I'm due tomorrow and my little man is also back-to-back. There are a lot of scary stories on the internet so I'm trying not to read them! Ultimately, if it's just too hard I'll be opting for an epidural - it wasn't in the original birth plan but the way I see it there's no point being a hero! Good luck x

peggyblackett · 07/06/2012 07:32

McPhee, all three of my dc have been in all sorts of weird and wonderful positions prior to birth and have changed to the correct position at the eleventh hour, so don't give up hope of them turning.

Also, dont be afraid of having an epi if thats what you need. I had one with dd2 (induction) and tbh it made me wonder why I hadn't opted for one before (the reason being that I'm a whopping big canula phobic :o).

Sending lots of turning vibes your way.

Piffpaffpoff · 07/06/2012 07:45

McPhee ds1 was back to back but I didn't really know because my birth plan said not to tell me anything about what might be going on, just tell me what you need me to do (I'm a total scaredy cat and knew that if they said anything out of the ordinary was occurring then I would convince myself that something dreadful and/or fatal was happening.....). Anyway, I was induced and about 6hrs after the contractions started they suggested I get up and sit on a birthing ball so I spent the next few hours on that and leaning forward over the bed. I got pethedine after 11hrs and DS was born after 12. They sat down afterwards and explained about back to back and how the ball was about trying to get him to turn. I don't remember it being excruciating, and I went on to have DD no bother so my advice would be take all the drugs you want and try not to worry.

McPhee · 07/06/2012 09:04

I'll be having all the drugs available, and more. Including an Epidural if that's what's needed. Hero just isn't me, I'm a total wuss and a very anxious person by nature

I also want to know if baby is having problems exiting the mothership, is it better to be cut or to naturally tear

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