Getting through a back to back labour, tips please.

[MrsCaptainReynolds]

Have one DS. Hard going back to back labour, eventually had epidural and forceps delivery. He was well and healthy, most importantly, but I was exhausted after it all, and had a 3rd degree tear (extending from episiotomy).

32 weeks now and as far as can be guessed, it looks like I'll be delivering another back to back baby. Because, once again, I've grown a particularly massive anterior placenta. This baby has a biiiiiiiig head too.

Can anyone tell me anything positive or useful for getting through another back to back labour? Don't want to be left feeling (again) like I've just survived it :(

Maybe a tens machine the only way mine was slightly relieved was with a bath but then I had to go on monitoring which was awful so not sure if it would work for the further on you are

what worked for me was my dh rubbing my lower back very firmly and the entire time! Firm pressure to lower back.

Try and get on all fours to encourage baby toget in the correct position.

Both of mine were back to back. DC1 was induced at T+12, meconium in waters so continuous monitoring on the bed. Lots of pain, needed epidural and ventouse delivery.

DC2 was a spontaneous labour at T+3. I kept mobile for the whole labour and delivery which kept him off my back. Pain was much better, just gas and air. He actually turned a few mins before delivery just after my waters went. Odd feeling but the relief was immense!

So in short, try and keep mobile!

I used a tens machine and was also in the birthing pool, mostly on all fours which helped massively. I had to get out to deliver and pretty much stayed up right, DS turned just before I started pushing so it might not end up like your first.
I've been told that second babies move around a bit more and can move in and out of being engaged so baby might turn yet, fingers crossed!

Look up spinning babies online - it's a website that advises how to get baby out of breech and op presentation.

You need to spend as much time as possible leaning over your bump rather than leaning back.

Sit on a birthing ball, legs wide apart and lean forward resting on a dining chair, spend time on all fours - these positions should help baby into a more favourable position.

Tens machine, water (not together obvs), back massage, being upright & mobile and staying off.
It's not widely available in the uk but ask if your maternity unit offers sterile water injections during labour - I'm doing a uni piece on it and it seems to be a really effective pain relief method for back ache assoc with back to back labours - it involves injecting sterile water subcutaneously in the lower back ( rhombus of michelis) the injections sting like a wasp sting for 30 seconds but then the back pain is eased instantly!!!

Good luck x

Thank you all.

Have been reading the spinning babies website, being careful of my general posture. Especially in bed and on the sofa. It's the huge anterior placenta that makes me think he doesn't have much choice about his position. He is at least head down. After I delivered my first there was much amazement over the size of my placenta and the cord!

I had wondered about TENS. Stupidly been dead against it -I've previously had a spinal cord injury and was reliant on a TENS for a long time and it has bad associations for me but I need to just get over that and try it out again! Worried that I won't be able to use the birthpool/bath options for relief as I'll be getting antibiotics for Group B strep. I think my best chance is to avoid epidural/spinal and keep mobile as you all say.

Why are you having abx for group b strep? Have you tested positive in this pregnancy? You can get in the pool with a cannula sited (I did) you just tape a rubber glove over your hand.

Yes, had a group B strep UTI early in pregnancy and intermittently remained positive despite a few courses of oral antibiotics, so getting i.v. in labour. Have been told that rules out the birthing pool? I realise cannulas can be covered etc, I thought it was being ruled out more because of the increased risk of transmission of infection between me and the baby in water.

Did you have the private group b strep test done? It costs approx £35 and tests only for gbs where as the nhs samples test for lots of things so is well known for giving false positives.

If you do have gbs there is no reason why you cannot have a water birth as there is no evidence that it increases the risk of the baby contracting gbs - if anything it is thought the water would dilute the bacteria making it harder to contract.

I'm not trying to push you into anything you are not too bothered about but as a second year midwife I am passionate about women being refused the birth they choose because of guidelines and criteria - informed choice is about giving women all the information on risks and benefits and then them making an informed choice!!!

If you want a water birth and want some evidence and who best to talk it through with pm me your email address. Look up Dianne Garland and her website midwifery expert.com she is the water birth queen.
Good luck xx

Had a back to back labour with gas and air, in birthing pool. Visualising DS coming down (think I got this from
Hypnobirthing book?) helped, as did constant back rub with a massage gadget from DH, leant over side of pool. Best thing was focusing all the time on the fact that it was doable as a friend had done the same a few months before but without any pain relief, not even paracetamol or gas and air, the tough cookie that she is

Thank you both. I'll have another chat with the midwives about whether I really can't have a waterbirth and see how that discussion goes.

Looking at renting TENS from mothercare too. And some natalhypnotherapy. Tried the Marie Mongon course last time which wasn't quite my cup of tea, but have heard of others.