Back to back birth experience

[Helenback56]

Hi all,

I'm almost 36/40 & a first time mum.
My midwife has confimed my suspiscions that our baby is back to back (but head down). I have an anterior placenta, which I gather can increase the chance of this. I'm quite active and well informed on the ways that my body position can help promote a change in baby's position. I certainly don't lounge on the sofa much.

I know each labour is different, but for those who have delivered a back to back baby (especially if you have a non back to back birth to compare to), what was your experience of labour like?
My mum birthed my brother back to back and needed an assisted delivery - albeit this was early 80s and she laboured in bed & in stirrups vs being active, upright/leaning forward. There's also a difference in our respective fitness. I'm well aware back to backs can lead to a longer or more uncomfortable labour, but I'm also aware that might not always be the case. Thinking positive!

Just to add - the only assistance I needed wasn't due to baby being back to back and my labour was incredibly quick for a first baby!

This bub is estimated to be about high 6s to 7lb if we continue along the same growth line based on a growth scan a few weeks ago, so hopefully no huge baby to push out.

My 3rd baby was back to back. I didn't get told all way through pregnancy. I think I managed the contractions ok considering they were strong but i didn't think anything of it, was only when i was pushing and literally getting nowere they told me she was back to back! The midwife managed to turn her as she was coming down the canal. It was my hardest labour out the 3 im sorry to say 😢. I was minutes from intervention when they said i could possibly have a c section as i was getting nowere i have never pushed so hard in my life! BUT it was the most rewarding birth of them all, I worked bloody hard throughout that labour and it shows it is possible just compared to my previous two alot more effort at the pushing stage. Good luck xx

DS was back to back. I had to go on a drip in the end, as he was taking that long to descend, my body was exhausted (contracting on and off for 3 days at this point) and my contractions stopped. I had more than the usual drip, and was sticking at 7cm. I was shattered and emotional, so I had an epidural, some sleep, then managed an unassisted birth. I tore badly, and it was one hell of an effort, but the edge was taken off by the epidural (I only had the one click of the button when they first put it in, as when I woke up, the pain was bearable, and I wanted to be able to feel when I was contracting myself as I thought it would be easier to push).

The end of my pregnancy my lower back was very uncomfortable, and my labour pains in my back were terrible. Doable though, and I'm expecting DC2so it can't have been that bad