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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

12 replies

sophiaslullaby · 12/09/2015 20:47

Hello,
I'm 33 +3 and been told that baby's head is down (good!) but is back to back. Will he spin round or is that it now? I am knealing on all fours for a bit each evening to encourage him round (so I've heard) but will I not undo it when I then slouch sit back on the sofa for the evening and gravity spins his spine back to back again?

Feel silly asking but would rather be silly and get opinions than worry. Thanks!

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Runningupthathill82 · 12/09/2015 21:32

DS was back to back and never moved from that position despite spinning babies website, yoga, ball bouncing and all sorts!

The midwife has told me this time round that first babies tend to get into position and stay there, whereas subsequent babies shift around a lot more. No idea if that's backed up with real data though.

If he stays in that position, I'd advise you to do a lot of research into interventions etc, and decide what you'd like best in all circumstances - ie forceps or section, if it comes to it.

I don't mean to scare you by that - some back to back births are just fine, but lots aren't. So while chances are that all will be absolutely fine on the day, best to be prepared for the eventuality of a long and possibly assisted birth rather than have it come as a shock.

Hope the kneeling works!

Wolfiefan · 12/09/2015 21:35

My DS was back to back. Labour and birth were fine but I pushed for quite a while and had lots of pain in my back. (Thankfully it was a water birth so my husband poured warm water over my back at every contraction or faced my wrath it really helped.)

Whoknewitcouldbeso · 12/09/2015 21:38

My son was back to back. Every contraction was on my back and it was fucking excruciating but I had a VBAC with no intervention and no stitches.

OMGBabyNo3 · 12/09/2015 21:46

My DD was back to back and labour was pretty tough going but ultimately natural with no interventions. Currently 37 weeks with No 3. Was back to back at 35 weeks but has moved and is currently right way right round.

kbbeanie · 12/09/2015 23:07

Dont panic. All back to back births aren't horrific. When i went in to the hospital with my ds (first baby) midwife said i was too happy to be in labour and wasnt in enough pain. She then said it would be a long night as baby was back to back and dont expect anything anytime soon being a first baby and all that. That was at 9.15pm, at 9.30 i begged her to examine me as i felt i needed to push....she wasnt going to qnd then said oh ok i will...except she announced she didnt need to because she could see the head...he was in my arms at 9.52pm ! Delievered back to back no pain relief. I did end up with quite a lot of stitches but honestly it was nothing...ive had worse pain since. I really hope you get it as easy or baby turns in the meantime x

Focusfocus · 12/09/2015 23:08

Acupuncture has a good record in positioning babies, you may need a few sessions.
More than doing the right positions few times a day, try to eliminate all the wrong positions.
Lots of back to back labours do go well, but research signs that things aren't going well - back labour pain, everything in the back etc
Lots of back to back labours go well.
You're only 33 weeks so plenty of time for babe to turn.
Try spinning babies!

Runningupthathill82 · 13/09/2015 07:52

What Focus said - research is key. I hadn't read up enough, so had no idea that agonising pain in the back, but no "real" contractions, was a bad sign.

Original poster

sophiaslullaby · 15/09/2015 11:49

Thank you ladies for all your advice. I'm limited on what medication I can take anyway (no to Pethadine and determined to stay away from epidural as i want to move and have the 'control' so I'm really putting the pressure on myself!) I'm not scared or anxious about birth just, like you've all said, what to prepare myself.

I like what you said Focus about eliminating the wrong postions - no more sofa slouching then? - that makes as much sense really. I will try :-)

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Mouthfulofquiz · 16/09/2015 12:09

Echoing the poster above - not all back to back births are horrors. My first baby was back to back, and whilst I did have to push hard for an hour, I did it and it was fine. One stitch in the fanjo and back home eating a ham sandwich three hours later

Original poster

sophiaslullaby · 16/09/2015 17:14

a ham sandwich, at home, 3hrs after giving birth sounds ideal to me, I'll aim for that! Thanks for the happy story x

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Mouthfulofquiz · 16/09/2015 17:34

I should add that I did have some diamorphine to help with it all!
It was a positive experience all in all. i think that the key is to mentally prepared for all possibilities, and to go with the flow. If you want loads of drugs, have them. If you need a c section, be happy that the health service is there to provide it. And reward yourself with a big homemade ham sandwich whatever happens
Good luck to you!

Mouthfulofquiz · 16/09/2015 17:36

Also, I was very keen to not have an epidural as I wanted to move around, but needed to stay on the bed in the end as I needed to be monitored - I didn't give a rat's arse by then! If you labour as long as you can at home, you can move around as much as you like, and then when you go into hospital - just do whatever is best.

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