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

[JubileeMcPhee]

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

I had a 9lb6oz-er back to back on gas and air, no tears/cuts

hard as nails me and fanjo of tungsten rubber

DS was back-to-back, it was absolutely fine on just gas and air.

However, and I don't know whether this makes any difference- I knew he was back to back, but I didn't actually realise this was likely to make the job any harder, because no-one had told me. I do believe your state of mind when you go into labour is quite an important factor, blah blah, maybe have a read of a hypnobirthing book? I couldn't afford the classes, but found the book alone very useful in making me really positive about the birth.

My ds was back to back labour was a pitiful 91 minutes waters broke dead on midnight, contractions started at 00.45 got to the hospital at 01.25 and baby born at 01.31, I only needed gas and air when I was made to go on the bed for monitoring, I had been managing fine standing up when I got on the bed I gave 3 pushes and he was out! Only a tiny tear where my previous episiotomy cut was, think I only needed 2 or 3 stitches, went home at lunchtime.

Haven't read all responses, both mine were back to back. Won't tell you about ds1 as was complex but mainly due to induction.

Ds2 was 4hrs start to finish no pain relief and was (as far as giving birth goes) easy peasy. Contractions were very strong though and could not cope on my back at all so stay active or at least on all fours.

McPhee - I was told tearing is better which they let you, episiotomy only used if forceps are needed (or the is our hospital policy) Tearing heals better according to my MW as the torn edges provided more places to attach and are less likely to rupture than a smooth cut.

Had my 31wk midwife appt this week and she thinks bump is currently back to back. It's been good to hear that it's not necessarily going to be awful if baby decides not to turn!

I've been doing the same exercise as blushingmare suggested up thread - it's a yoga position called 'rolling cobra' if you want to Google it. Apparently babies don't like the feeling of your spine rubbing against theirs so in theory this exercise will make it get fed up and turn round she says hopefully

my first was back to back and a straightforwards 3 hours of labour.

i still wanted to pass out but that is labour for you!

she came out still back-to-back. stubborn little bugger.

staying upright and active or on all fours (which is what i wanted to do anyway) helps - all fours is the position best for turning them.

and you can do pre-labour exercises (floor scrubbing is the one recommended, i tried MNing with the laptop on the floor instead...) in an all-four position to try to turn them....

'fun things to do on all fours whilst heavily pregnant' ...i really couldn't think of much else :)

My gyne also said tears were better than cuts for healing for the same reason. I had small tearing with both my DDs, some neat stitching and nice after care and both times everything healed up fine.

I have a nice story - DS1 was back to back and by spending hours and hours hanging over a birthing ball during the last couple of weeks and rarely sitting down, I managed to turn him.

Of course he did then flip back just before I gave birth but I won't mention that...

I've desperately been trying to spend what time I can, either on all fours whilst I watch tv, or on my ball. Am I just meant to be bouncing up and down and rotating my hips, or should I be doing something else on the ball too??

hum..

spinning babies suggests soem stuff
page here

i managed to get this one spun to fully anterior, and the next morning it was back as fully OP, so am wondering if there is any point when you are on a fourth baby and your uterus is like a tombola. i don't have the first clue which way round it is now (feels head down at least!) but it feels all stacked up at the front.

Also back to back for me. I had nothing to compare it to so didn't know it was more painful that way. I cannot tell a lie, it did hurt a little. Not overly long though so I kind of now say I would prefer hard and fast than slow and exhausting. I don't care how they come out - as long as they are ok. You will be fine.

Oh god yes - take drugs if you need them.

I thought baby had turned to its side, but no. Arms and legs are flailing around all over the place. Arse

The spinning link is much appreciated. Thank you!

I'm really hoping my consultant will listen to me next friday, because I can't cope with much more of this.

DC1 was B2B & brow presentation. Oh and 9lb!

As is often the case with B2B my waters popping was first sign of labour with cxs starting pretty much immediately 3 mins apart. 4-9cm cxs were utterly unrelenting (next one started before previous had finished). 2.5hr pushing stage (shattering). Gas & air only and nothing after 9cm. 11 hrs beginning to end. Not too bad on paper and nothing to compare it to yet!