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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Worried it will be back to back again!

25 replies

hereharehere33 · 22/01/2015 17:42

Hi Ladies,
My first was back to back, which I was told early on at 36wks. I scrubbed floors daily, used the birthing ball etc but nothing would shift him.

My labour was long and hard as I was fully dilated on one side whilst the other side was only 3cm. Although difficult, it all ended fine with minimal intervention, but it did take me some time to mentally get over it.

However, I'm now over 30wks and the prospect of going through it again - if he is back to back - is starting to creep into my mind. My uterus is retroverted (tilted) which, apparently makes a back to back presentation more likely.

I don't know that after having one back to back, there's a greater chance of it happening again? Did anyone manage to get their baby to move? And are there any positive stories of back to back labours out there!!

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Jackiebrambles · 22/01/2015 17:58

I'm the same as you, had one pregnancy so far that was back to back. Although I had no idea until I'd done 12+hours of agony.

It ended in an EMCS.

I had a debrief with a consultant midwife who told me that it is unlikely to happen again.

PotteringAlong · 22/01/2015 18:04

My first baby was back to back and born that way. My second was back to back until the morning I went into labour when he turned himself around!

shmuf · 22/01/2015 18:17

Both mine were back to back..but they were ok,stay positive no two births are the same!!now ur body knows what its doing u might find things are easier this time around?

ISolemnlySwearImUptoNoGood · 22/01/2015 18:19

I've had one (the first) out of four back to back. It was horrendous and ended with intervention. But he was also 9lb 2.5oz which is not necessarily that big but was an added factor. My second was breech quite late which is much scarier and I did all the exercises to shift her. It did work. Except for the first I've had problem free labours and births.

I know it's difficult but try not to over think it.

londonlivvy · 22/01/2015 18:23

I am the same, terrified of a repeat of the very very long and very. Very painful back to back labour. I'm only 29 weeks.

I think whilst you can do all the 'right' stuff to encourage optimal foetal position (all fours, not sitting on sofas, etc etc) I think there's a certain amount of having to just accept what will be will be. I think back to back is in 15% of cases, so relatively unlikely.

cosmicglittergirl · 22/01/2015 19:32

Worried about this too, tried everything to get first baby to spin round, but no luck. Think the same is going to happen again, I wonder if you can always switch them...

berrypicking · 22/01/2015 20:10

I wasn't told or aware my ds was back to back till after 20 hours of agony in labour. 30 hour labour altogether and pushing for two hours and born sunny side up so I know how you feel. 16 weeks and it's playing on my mind too. I was in the birthing centre last time (so no epidural). This time I have decided to opt out of mlu and go straight to labour ward and will probably have an epidural this time. it's the only thing making me feel better about labour this time. Also I am going to make sure they check position of next dc right at the beginning this time!

flopsybunny45 · 22/01/2015 20:22

There are lots of us out there it seems!
Now third tri with second and also wondering if this one will be b-2-b like my first...

Positives -
Unlike many of the above, although my b-2-b was hideously painful, it was only a few hours long with 15 mins pushing... so it can be quick too even if b-2-b again. Maybe more likely if DC2? DC1 also came out like superman (hand up by face, compound I think?)

Negatives -
Sadly, the speed meant I was refused an epidural!! Agree with other post-ers, will EMBRACE pain relief this time and demand they give it to me :-D

My placenta was anterior last time which apparently makes b-2-b more likely too - the babes prefer hugging it my midwife said! This time posterior... although no guarantee, hoping more likely to not repeat!

Good luck!

Clobbered · 22/01/2015 20:26

My second was back to back, long drawn out labour and horrendous pain. She turned at the very end of labour and was born the 'right' way round. I had a quick second stage that left me very shaken (although no intervention and physically fine).
For my third, I was so frightened of going through it again that I had an epidural. It was fab, labour was quick but smooth and baby was born back to back with no problems.

Clobbered · 22/01/2015 20:27

PS another superman too! (Hand first)

jimmycrackcornbutidontcare · 22/01/2015 20:38

Don't worry. My first back to back labour was a disaster. I needed surgery afterwards and there was a big panic about getting the baby out on time at the end but with interventions she was fine. My body still hasn't recovered.
They noticed my second baby was back to back again during my labour. There were a few difficulties and I was panicking because I was so scared it was going to go the way of my first birth but it was okay. It was not like my non back to back birth which went very smoothly and without any problems. But it was not the torture chamber of my first.

Bondy83 · 22/01/2015 20:46

My 1st was back to back 39hrs in labour and ended up with a ventouse delivery. 2nd wasn't back to back. 35 weeks with 3rd n was told last week he was also back to back I'm hoping he turns in the next few weeks

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 22/01/2015 21:57

My second was back to back just like my first.

First was days long, drip, forceps, etc

Second was 9 hours. Totally fine. No intervention. I actually felt her move position towards the end.

Levismum · 22/01/2015 22:05

5 of my 6 baby's have been back to back. 4 of them with no stitches. No intervention. No pain relief.

Don't stress as baby's can turn. Back to back doesn't always mean more difficult.

Good luck.

Maki79 · 22/01/2015 22:13

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EssexMummy123 · 22/01/2015 22:14

eek my first was unbeknown at the time back-back, stuck, pushed for 2.5 hours with no joy, - horrible experience and i also have a tilted uterus - and another ant placenta yet midwife is keen for homebirth for this one - i am not keen.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 22/01/2015 22:17

Essex- fair enough. my second and third were home though. The position wasn't a big issue.

Dogsmom · 22/01/2015 22:32

I'm another who had a very rough time with my b2b daughter, now 34 weeks and getting very nervous.

I did 26 hours without an epidural last time though and plan to ask for one at the beginning this time, yeah I could still feel pain but it was manageable and not toe curling.

Original poster

hereharehere33 · 23/01/2015 07:43

Gosh! There are a few of us! My placenta is also anterior so the odds are increasing!
Trying to stay positive and I know every birth is different but I was so naive to it all last time and I'm worried that if he s back to back that I mentally might not be able to deal with it. I'm doing yoga and thinking about hypnobirthing to help with the anxiety.

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fattymcfatfat · 23/01/2015 08:00

My two were back to back. Dc1 I was in labour fir 38 hours pushing for two cs he came out face first aswell and his shoulders got stuck.
Dc2 I was in slow labour for a couple of weeks but it was start/stop until the morning I gave birth. I wss in active labour for 5 hours and pushed for 7 minutes. She was also face first. My worry is that dc3 is going to finally be the one to do some damage with coming out face first! Back to back is painful but it can be done again! I was so scared of giving birth to dc2. But it was much easier to get her out than I thought it was going to be!

Jackiebrambles · 23/01/2015 08:27

I didn't realise that anterior placenta increases odds of back to back! I've got an anterior placenta with this pregnancy, oh lord!

blowinahoolie · 23/01/2015 15:40

It could just be coincidence, but both of my babies were back to back. It didn't matter what I tried before the births, they just would not turn.

Hope yours doesn't pan out like mine did! It was absolute agony!

flopsybunny45 · 24/01/2015 15:08

So interesting to read everyone's experiences...

FWIW, I was lucky enough to have 6 weeks off work before the birth my B-2-B DD. As a very active person normally, I used all this free time to attempt turning: I was in the pool belly down on top of a woggle and/or doing lots of yoga every day (last class two days before labour) in this period. I did not sit on the sofa, just sat backwards on a dining chair as recommended or on the birthing ball when watching telly/relaxing. None of this made a difference - DD was stubborn inside and knew which way she wished to emerge! Quite aptly, this matches her diva personality now - 18mo going on 13!!

Fun times :-)

rodaream · 25/01/2015 10:17

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PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 25/01/2015 10:22

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