Baby back to back at 39 weeks

[DimpleHands]

Anyone got any advice?

Mine was back to back at 40+2 and turned during labour so he was back to front (if that's the right term!)

The midwife suggested sitting the wrong way round on a dining room chair and bouncing on a birthing ball. I'm not sure which one worked but one did!

My back to back baby is now 11! So
a dim distant memory. He would not turn but to be honest apart from the back ache during labour it wasn't as bad as everyone said.

My advice go with it you have no choice, chill and concentrate on meeting your baby.

Good luck x

Just go with it and relax - not long to go!

But if I could go back in time to before my back to back DS made his appearance, I'd do some additional research on intervention, and also have pain relief much earlier in proceedings. There's no medal for enduring pain you don't have to (wish it hadn't taken me 3 years to accept that!)

Keep active, get going on your birthing ball if you have one, and they might turn. But if they don't, it's no catastrophe.

My auntie (midwife) swears by bouncing on a birthing ball, just while your watching tele in the evening for half hour or so.
I had two back to back labours, one turned during labour (he turned abit too much, had the cord wrapped round his neck twice!) and my daughter was born facing the ceiling

Yes, get an epidural.

I had a BTB baby and it was fine, don't get me wrong...but I needed that epidural. BTB babies might not be able to slide out as easily, so pain interventions really help.

I found it a pretty ok experience post-epidural tbh. Prior to that was a bit hardcore. But I asked for it in time so I still had some energy left for the big finish. Which was painfree, yay!

My daughter was back to back, i couldn't even sit down, standing for hours did mean gravity did its job and she came a little faster tho!

The midwife attempted to turn her by manipulating my stomach- it was the weirdest feeling ever, she turned about 5 minutes before I started pushing.

It wasn't that bad- I don't have anything to compare it to tho. I'm sure you will be fine too

I had two BTB, the first turned in labour and shot out 7 minutes later. It was intense. I had an epidural for the second and he came out face-to-pubes.
Not worth getting too bothered about really, but would definitely recommend the epidural!

I laboured back to back for 22 hours and it was horrendous.

Ended up with a emergency c section

I had back to back almost whole way through pregnancy but believe she turned during labour and I didn't find it painful at all so don't jump for the epidural!

I second what many are saying - pain relief! I soldiered on for 18 hours and it was hell. Got an epidural in the end but should've done it sooner... Good luck.

Mine keeps moving BTB and then FTB (?), last Tues I was told he was BTB so midwife said to keep from slouching on the sofa (2 weeks maternity leave is what did it!). SInce last week I've sat on the ball at the dining table, in the evening watching TV. Whenever i've wanted to properly rest I've laid down on the sofa but on my side. And then tried leaning over the footstall to watch TV in the day - still supports my back. That and walking and keeping upright. I THINK it's worked, will find out at midwife appt. today.

Thanks everyone. In a panic because I know just how painful it is - DS1 was back to back and the pain was nothing like I had imagined. Nothing at all in my stomach or even in my back but an awful sharp stabbing pain in my bottom! So weird.

DS1's head was also enormous, as was both mine and DH's when we were born, so this one is bound to have a huge head too. I don't think I'm in for a fun time all in all if this baby stays back to back...

Really wanted to avoid an epidural this time but can't imagine going through that same type of pain again without!

No advice but I had a b2b labour with DS1. 38 hours of hell and just gas and air. He was face first and had a big head too. Also had to have him pulled out of me (mw stuck her hands up there!) As he got his shoulders stuck and I had pph. So when I was having DD I was petrified.

She too was b2b and face first. But I was only pushing for 7 minutes. I think it was easier because I knew the pain IYSWIM. I had done it once before so I could do it again. Active labour was only 5 hours. So it may not be the end of the world. Good luck and congratulations

The reason for my secrion was because i was told the baby couldnt come out if it was back to back.

Section*

The no slouching advice really annoys me. It's like you're being blamed for this hideous pain because you were lazing around during pregnancy I believe the reality is that some women are just more prone to back to back babies because of the shape of their pelvis or something (< scientific explanation ).

My mum, my sister and I have all had back to back babies, more than one each, and we've had a variety of life styles, none of which have involved slouching!

If this baby is another back to back I'm going to go with the epidural as early as possible and just get through it as best I can.

then get a designer vagina at a later date as my fanjo is in ribbons from the last one and I don't expect an improvement after this one

Yes I remember being told once when I had a scan that I had a tilted uterus - maybe that's to blame.

It's not the pain I am so worried about as the thought that a bad presentation and big head could mean the baby gets stuck - really don't want forceps or ventouse if I can help it.

I've got a midwife appointment on Friday so might ask for a scan to get an idea of how big it's head actually is.

Agreed, Maisie! I had a very active pregnancy with DS. Exercised throughout, worked til 39 weeks and did yoga right up until he was born. But he was back to back and never turned.

I really get irked when people glibly say to me "oh, it's from sitting on a sofa too much" or "have you not tried so-and-so yoga position? Or bouncing on a ball?" Yep, did all that to no avail, thanks.

Babies being B2B is a luck thing as much as anything else, IME. Hoping this one isn't B2B like her brother was...

The only one of mine that wasnt back to back was the one where the SPD was so severe I couldn't move off the couch. So obviously the slouching advice is bollocks.

Dimplehands I had to have a ventouse. They had me push for a looooong time cos they wanted to manipulate him around through my pushing if you know what i mean. So every time I pushed he turned around a tiny bit. But he only turned halfway around. I was pretty chuffed with myself getting him halfway round though! So in the end they said they'd do a ventouse to help turn him the full way around whilst I pushed him out.

Honestly it was absolutely fine. I didn't feel anything cos of the epidural and baby didn't seem to feel anything either. He had a pointy head for a few weeks!

I know these things are scary but they can be handy, too.

Yes to the stabbing pain in my bum. Couldn't sit down. And contractions were one endless wave of hell. But nobody told me why

Ended up epidural after 20 hours and pethidine and still had failure to progress with ventouse. I think I was moments from the section.

I also had done endless yoga and walking. Nothing to do with the way I sat.

DC2 didn't move about as much and was an almost undiagnosed footling breech. So I did have a section. But still laboured and boy were the contractions totally totally different.

Take the epidural earlier.

Dung oh my goodness you are the only other person who I have heard say they had the stabbing bum pain! It's awful isn't it? Such a sort of sharp excruciating pain it took my breath away.

I expected the pain to be like very bad period cramps but it wasn't like that at all.

I've called the midwives and am going in on Thursday to have a chat about my options.

I will never forget the pain in my bottom!
DC 2 though I totally could cope with the contractions. Like period pain up from of my belly.

There was no similarity at all in them so maybe wait and see how they go. At least you know when to yell for the Anaesthetist.

My DS1 was btw, and I have a tilted uterus too, so wonder whether that has anything to do with it.

I had all pain in my back, nothing in my tummy.. i wanted to deck the mw who kept telling me until i had pain high up in my bump we weren't in proper labour... I never did get pain there... still popped a baby out.

*btb