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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Back to back baby at 37 weeks!

31 replies

TLH0307 · 26/01/2018 15:51

Had to have a scan today and baby’s head is fully engaged but she’s pretty much back to back 😰 I’m so worried because my friend had a back to back baby and ended up in labour for 18 hours then baby got distressed so she had an emergency section. I know there are tips on how to turn a back to back baby but I’ve been bouncing on my ball for weeks and sleep on my left and very rarely slouch on the sofa because I can’t breathe properly when I do. Has anybody birthed a back to back baby and if so did you manage it without horrendous tearing? 😟 I’m gutted because I was feeling so positive and managing to ignore people’s birth horror stories, but now I’m sat here panicking about 3rd degree tears and such! 😞

OP posts:
Lifeofpies · 26/01/2018 15:54

I know it’s hard not to worry but honestly it doesn’t mean you’ll have a difficult birth. It’s hard to shift them, and it’s not uncommon for them to rotate as they come down the birth canal.
DS was back to back—I didn’t know before he was born, and I had a fast labour with him (5hours). Was rather surreal looking between my legs after he crowned and seeing his little face! I had an episiotomy (front only) and it healed very well.

Original poster
TLH0307 · 26/01/2018 16:02

Awww seeing his little face must have been amazing! At risk of sounding thick (this is my first pregnancy so I’m not completely clued up) I didn’t realise there were different types of episiotomies? What is a “front” one? 😯

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glow1984 · 26/01/2018 16:05

My son was back to back. I was in labour for 20 hours, but I don't know if that's because of the position he was in. I had a second degree tear, which I don't think is that bad.

Lifeofpies · 26/01/2018 16:06

Sorry I was wrong—it was the back. There are two cuts they can make, one is straight and one is off centre (according to the diagram in my notes!).

Original poster
TLH0307 · 26/01/2018 16:10

Glow1984 Oh I see, the midwife did say it might just mean a longer labour but the first thing I thought of was my friend who really had a tough time then ended up with a section anyway! This has made me feel better, although a 20

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MadeForThis · 26/01/2018 16:10

Both of mine were back to back. But they can change positions right up to the last minute. Big mine were only confirmed in labour.
First labour was under 10 hours from the very first twinge until birth. Small cut that healed easily.
Second labour was under 4 hours but ended in a section as baby was also brow presentation.

Both labours would have been quicker if baby wasn't back to back.

Also means that a lot of the pain is focused in your back. I found a tens machine really helped in the first few hours.

Original poster
TLH0307 · 26/01/2018 16:10

(Stupid phone posting before I’m done..) ...although a 20 hour labour doesn’t sound a walk in the park!

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Original poster
TLH0307 · 26/01/2018 16:11

Ahhh lifeofpies I see what you mean now haha!

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Original poster
TLH0307 · 26/01/2018 16:13

MadeForThis wow 10 hours is a quick first labour! Oh well, at least you’ve healed and babies are here safe and sound. That’s what I need to focus on. I just wanted it to be as least panicked as possible!

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FitLikeQuine79 · 26/01/2018 16:15

DD2 was back to back. Labour was quick and wasn’t any more painful than when I had DD1. I had a second degree tear but having had an episiotomy with DD1 it didn’t seem so bad. I tried lots of crawling around on all fours and swimming but nothing rotated her.

unicornsunshine · 26/01/2018 16:20

My first birth was back to back - although didn't know until I was in labour. The only 'issue' I had was extra back pain. She was born naturally and quickly. Try not to worry, as others have said baby may even turn before or during labour, or like me it won't cause any problems.

Waddlelikeapenguin · 26/01/2018 16:31

I've had 3 post 42 week (so bigger) babies al back to back - none of them turned, all born sunny side up!
Long labours, first epidural due to endless hospital nonsense basically , but 2nd & 3rd were born in water at home no meds.
1st second degree tear needed stitches
2nd graze
3rd first degree tear no stitches.

Back to back is talked about as something to fear but it's still just childbirth Flowers

Balancingact12 · 26/01/2018 16:33

I had back to back , second labour and it was honestly more straightforward than the first. Didn’t even know it was back to back until all my labour pains was just like a hot poker in my back Hmm. Very quick (6 mins final stage at the end) and did tear second degree but also did the same tear first time round so who knows

ScabbyHorse · 26/01/2018 16:56

I had a back to back birth. I had an epidural but the best advice I could give you to prevent tearing is to rub almond oil on your perineum every night from now til the birth. It seemed to work and I had no tearing just a graze. A good friend gave me this advice and I'll forever be grateful. The midwife laughed when I told her and said 'any excuse' !

Girlwiththearabstrap · 26/01/2018 17:06

I was induced with a back to back baby. I also had an epidural so wasn't even mobile! I felt all my contractions in my.back. It's just a variation on normal isn't it? I know it's hard not to worry but try not to assume what happened to your friend will happen to you. I took maybe 6 hours on the drip, had a small episiotomy and healed up fine.

Lilonetwo · 26/01/2018 17:10

I tried everything to change my back to back baby. But he just preferred this position (anterior placenta didn't help). Is your placenta anterior?

I believe most babies turn during labour. But although I fully dilated, DS had a big head and being Occiput Posterior (back to back), I wasn't able to push him (2 hours of failed pushing). So I did have a c section in the end.

But I think I am in the minority. A lot of c sections happen for other reasons.

blinkineckmum · 26/01/2018 18:32

Mine was b2b. Long, painful labour. I had hoped to be drug free and held off for far too long. An epidural was absolutely necessary and I would say take one earlier rather than later. Good luck.

Original poster
TLH0307 · 26/01/2018 18:49

Thank you everyone, I feel much better now, I think the hormones got the better of me earlier and I just started to feel down and panicked!

Lilonetwo yes my placenta is anterior! boooo :(

Blinkineckmum I was desperately trying not to have an epidural :( we’ll just have to see what happens! I imagine i’ll be begging for alllll the drugs haha.

OP posts:
Aspergallus · 26/01/2018 20:27

Have a look at spinningbabies.com for exercises to improve the position.

Original poster
TLH0307 · 26/01/2018 20:28

Thank you Aspergallus! Will have a look

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Lilonetwo · 26/01/2018 21:02

That's the one! Spinning babies is what I read and followed 'to a T'

And I absolutely second blinkineckmum. Take the epidural when you feel you need it!

NymeriaStark · 26/01/2018 21:06

My DD was born on her due date so I had my 40 week check that morning. The midwife didn’t tell me until afterwards that she was back to back at that point.

She turned was born that afternoon after a 20 minute labour.

So try not to overly worry if you can. There’s a very good chance your baby will turn.

whichwayisout · 26/01/2018 21:10

My 2nd was back to back, quickest labour of them all.

Jodie567 · 26/01/2018 21:12

My wonderful daughter was born back to back, she was in the same position from 38 weeks. My labour was 12 hours but was not that bad if I'm honest. If I have any advise it's DO Not use a tens machine, it was awful and made the back pain a million times worse! I got into a birthing pool and it was amazing for the back pain but I got out to give birth. If you have a positive outlook it honestly is not that bad... I did have a tear which was horrible after but only took a week to completely heal.
Good luck and Enjoy it as much as you can!

Caenea · 26/01/2018 21:16

Yep, DD back to back! And an anterior placenta too.

21 hr labour and unfortunately a 3rd degree tear. However, I was so drugged up I didn't feel it and then had a lovely nap in theatre while they sewed me up.

Word of advice OP - IF you tear, they will give you laxatives to help you poo afterwards. For the love of all that is holy, take the laxatives for as long as they tell you to. Don't do what I did and get cocky when you have an "easy" poo and think you're all better. You will not be better. Take the laxatives.

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