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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Back to back baby

29 replies

Smerlin · 09/10/2013 13:41

Hi all

Does anyone have any tips for turning a back to back baby? Am 38+1 weeks and baby is now only 2/5 palpable so pretty low down- not sure if it is still possible for the baby to turn with the head that far into the pelvis?? NCT says 2/5 palpable counts as fully engaged!

Midwife suggested leaning forward on birthing ball- any other tips? Has this actually worked for anyone or should I just resign myself to a long, painful labour

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Shellywelly1973 · 09/10/2013 14:59

Hi op, didnt wantbto leave your post unanswered. There are loads of tips on helping babies get into good positions on the net...

Sorry can't do links as im on my mobile.

But don't worry too much 4 out 5 of my babies have been back to back, with no problems.

Excited85 · 09/10/2013 15:45

Hi Smerlin, I'm in the same boat, 2/5ths palpable and poss back to back. The way my mw explained it was that the baby can still spin around quite a bit even though it's engaged, sometimes I have a bum to the right of my belly button, sometimes to the left and occasionally (usually when I see the midwife!) it lies back to back so all you can feel are limbs. Mine also suggested being on all fours as much as possible, leaning forward and over the ball plus sitting on ball with legs as far apart as comfy to encourage it to stay in the right position. I'm nearly 39 weeks so please don't give up hope as that means I should too!!! x

TigerBabyyy · 09/10/2013 16:00

My baby was back to back, but this wasnt spotted until 22 hours of labour.

I had an EMCS as you cant deliver a baby that is back to back

Shellywelly1973 · 09/10/2013 16:19

You most certainly can deliver a baby that is back to back!

My 2nd & 4th babies didn't turn & were delivered facing upwards.

Dc 2 birth was horrible & hideously painful...

Dc4 was a water birth. He was still in his bag. His head was delivered & I could see his face...I had to wait for the next contraction to deliver his shoulders.

No two labours are the same!

Bunnylion · 09/10/2013 17:42

Look up "spinning babies".

It's definitely not too late to turn, most do during labour.

But if yours doesn't before labour there's a section on the spinning babies site about OP labours and what you can do to make it easier.

rachyconks · 09/10/2013 17:47

I had a back to back labour. Not spotted until I was admitted to the hospital. No waters either. It was fine though. Totally manageable. Just make sure you listen to what the midwives tell you and you will be fine!

fuckwittery · 09/10/2013 18:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RemindMeWhatSleepIs · 09/10/2013 18:02

I had a back to back baby - it wasn't spotted by the midwife till the head came out. He'd been in a perfect position till my waters broke (without labour) and i had to go into hospital for monitoring whilst lying on my back, I felt him turn.

My labour was all over in 2 hours (first contraction to cuddle). The pushing bit was harder work than my previous baby though, but not unmanageable.

Take care and keep calm.

Try scrubbing kitchen floor on your hands and knees, or kneeling leaning on your birthing ball whilst spelling letters with your bum!!

dingit · 09/10/2013 18:08

Another one that had back to back baby, but in some ways the delivery was easier than my first, who was ventouse. He's been an awkward little git ever since

dingit · 09/10/2013 18:09

Another one that had back to back baby, but in some ways the delivery was easier than my first, who was ventouse. He's been an awkward little git ever since

Oceansurf · 09/10/2013 18:10

My baby was back to back and I gave birth!

Mind you, also had forceps and a generous episiotomy

So it is possible! It was a long painful labour mind you (was also induced so might have been that)

LadySnapcase · 09/10/2013 18:34

Mine was found to be back to back at 36+5, went and got a ball to bounce on on the advice of the midwife...unfortunately I went into labour at 37+1, possibly due to all the bouncing! Labour still only took 16 hours from waters breaking to finish, but 90 mins of that was pushing as he had only partially turned. My contractions were 3-4 minutes apart for the whole of the 16 hours which the midwife attributed to my body trying to turn him the right way up before he came out, so yes, still possible for it to turn! I did need a ventouse in the end. BUT...it actually wasn't that bad, certainly it wouldn't put me off having another the high needs 8 week old has done that

Fingers crossed for you though!

workingtitle · 09/10/2013 23:37

My baby moved into back to back from LOA during labour. Quick labour, needed an episiotomy & ventouse but I may have needed them if he wasn't back to back.
Lots of babies turn during labour so try not to be overly worried.

HadALittleFaith · 10/10/2013 07:24

My baby went back to back sometime between Thursday morning and Saturday night when I went into labour (little monkey - she was only 5lb 4oz so had plenty of room!). B2b doesn't necessarily mean long labour - I was in early labour for about 8 hours, induced (because my waters had broken) and went from 1cm to fully dilated in 1 hour 30 minutes. DD came out in 3 pushe/15 minutes.
Did it hurt? Yes! But it's my only labour so can't compare. But it was ok.

So yes have a look at spinning babies website but b2b labour isn't always as bad for some women as it's made out to be.

womma · 10/10/2013 10:54

My baby was back to back, all my labour pains we're back pains (5 fecking days of them I'll have everyone know!). By some miracle, she managed to turn herself whilst in labour.

I had to have an epidural, she was born ventouse, but it was all okay.

One MW told me to crawl up and down the stairs on my knees....

Good luck, there's still time for baby to turn itself.

Original poster

Smerlin · 10/10/2013 11:11

Thanks for the tips everyone- will do some crawling on all fours and look up the spinning babies site you have mentioned!

Glad that some have found b2b labour manageable though if she doesn't turn - it's my first so I'll have nothing to compare it to anyway!

Nothing is ever straightforward is it?!

OP posts:

fuckwittery · 10/10/2013 13:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bunnylion · 10/10/2013 14:03

If you go into labour still back to back your body may start pushing before your cervix is fully open and you can't stop it.

This happened to me. Although I did a lot of research during pregnancy I didn't know this. Long story short I got incredibly tired after 8 hours of pushing at 5cm, my and babys heart kept dropping and so I then decided to have an epidural. Luckily I had just enough energy left to push him out.

That may not be how it is for all back to backs but if you feel like pushing get someone to make sure you are fully dialated, if you're not then I would really recommend saving yourself a lot of trouble and have an epidural.

womma · 10/10/2013 15:04

Good luck Smerlin, you'll be alright!

ShoeWhore · 10/10/2013 15:20

Dc3 was back to back and I delivered him at home. It was painful, I won't lie but I obviously managed it without intervention! It was actually the only one of my births I didn't need stitches after and it was only a little longer than I expected.

Leaning forward on all fours with or without a birthing ball is great for back to back babies (unfortunately I didn't know dc3 was back to back until I was actually in labour or I'd have tried this - his position was fine a couple of days earlier!) You could also try standing and rocking your hips as well to see if you can get him to move, although this may be less effective with a first baby (they tend to be more firmly engaged)

Try and be as active as you can during labour as well.

BentleyBelly · 12/10/2013 09:07

My baby was back to back and i had a straight forward labour at a midwife led birthing centre with just gas and air and a bit of time in the pool. Managed at home for 12 hours with tens and then went in at 6cm and she was born 5 hours later. I really wouldn't say it was that bad but have nothing to compare it to. I tried everything to turn her, hands and knees scrubbing kitchen floor, leaning over birth ball watching tv, religiously sleeping on left side. Nothing worked and i was so worried about the labour.

TribbleWithoutACause · 12/10/2013 09:11

My two were back to back, and awkward to boot as they both stayed that way. Delivered them both perfectly fine with a bit of a kerfuffle, but overall it was fine.

BentleyBelly · 12/10/2013 09:11

Sorry pressed send too soon. Please don't worry or stress to much about turning your baby. Enjoy the last stage of your pregnancy and the baby will sort itself out. We're not even sure mine turned even in labour as she came out in one big woosh in the end!

Nivet · 12/10/2013 09:30

My PFB was back to back and I had a short labour, so short no-one even noticed he was back to back until his head was born. I really can't remember any difference between that birth and my next one in the standard position.

Try not to worry!

Original poster

Smerlin · 12/10/2013 10:04

Thanks for the support everyone- particularly Bentleybelly - nice to know you managed a natural birth ok. I have a TENS and have asked for the water pool so would like to at least try those options even if I end up with an epidural for the end.

At the moment I'm just feeling too tired for crawling round on hands and knees even if I know I should!

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