Back to back - Labor experiences

[shiny888]

So coming to the end of my pregnancy 39 + 1 and feeling very sorry for myself.
My baby is back to back (explains all the back ache and on and off pains on my back)
Just wondering if

1. anyone else has had a back to back Labor and was is more painful than a normal Labor as Iv heard it can be.
2. do back to back babies tend to have to be induced as they aren't pushing on the cervix as much so no progression
3. did a lot of yours end up in emergency c section?

Going to be trying all of the tactics to try turn the little lamb aswell!
Thanks

Look at the Spinning Babies website. Plenty of back to back babies turn up to or during labour. I didn't know baby was back to back but would have done perineal massage if I'd known to reduce likelihood of tearing.

My back to back baby arrived (normal instrument free vaginal delivery) after spontaneous labour at 40+2. Labour was very painful and I did have an epidural as I wasn't having contractions as such for the last couple of hours, just non stop pain. However it was only 12 hours from first niggle - by niggle I mean I did school run, cooked tea etc - to birth (although was DC3) and I had no tears or other issues.

I was induced and it did end in emcs but I’m not sure that was simply because of the back to back. I did, however, have an epidural because the back pain was horrid. It was such a relief when I had it and I had a little snooze mid labour before finding out the news that I was 10cm! So it wasn’t all bad

Dc4 was back to back

Normal spontaneous labour and birth at 39+6

5 hours from start to finish

But yes it hurt more.....dc3 was a walk in the park in comparison

DC3 was back to back. I was induced due to PROM. It was more painful as the epidural didn't take on one side. I didn't need a section. Assisted delivery with forceps was discussed but thankfully he turned and came by himself before any intervention was needed.

My baby was back to back. I spent a lot of time on my hands and knees in labour but he didn’t turn. I had pethedine, labour came on very fast and was pretty painful (probably would have been a lot quicker if he hadn’t been b2b) but he was born back to back and in the end, it was fine.

One nice thing about a baby being born back to back (!) is that as they are born they are facing you, so you see them first!

Hi OP, firstly congratulations on pregnancy! My first dd was back to back. My labour was long and slow but not to bad in the pain area compared to Dd2.
I got knackered with pushing as she was also big as well as being back to back and dd's heartbeat also started being a concern as soon as I said I've had enough I cant push anymore so it was agreed with me they would give me an epidural incase I needed a c-section. They tried forceps and vontuse but no joy so I had an emergency c-section but I was so tired I didn't care. Dd was 9lbs 6 ounces 😬

I forgot to add I was in establishment labour from 8 PM and dd was born at 7am the next day so it was long for me

My DD was born in August and was back to back. I was induced at 37 weeks for preeclampsia. When my contractions started, it was constant pain in my lower back, they didn't come and go at all. I had paracetamol which did nothing, but having a shower in the maternity unit and aiming the water at my lower back was glorious! Back rubs also helped. I laboured for about 17 hours and denied pain relief as I was waiting for the pain to get truly unbearable. I did ask for an epidural when my waters were broken as it had gotten quite bad by then and I was tired, but by that point it was too late. DD was delivered vaginally with no assistance required. I did tear and need stitches so definitely do some massage techniques down there if you can! Don't get me wrong, the pain isn't exactly pleasant but if I can cope with it you definitely can!  And I would do it all again in a heartbeat, I felt so proud of myself afterwards! Good luck for when the time comes, you can do it. 

DD1 - back to back, excruciating but normal delivery (had epidural 14 hours in (out of 25) and it was better). Spontaneous labour.

DD2 - back to back, even more excruciating normal delivery, epidural failed but thankfully labour was only 4 hours. Was induced.

DD3 - back to back up until a few days before delivery and baby turned. Pain was manageable but I had an epidural just in case. Labour 4 hours and was induced.

Honestly, it's going to be hit and miss but yes back to back is more painful. Spinning babies. Birthing ball. Clean skirting boards!

My first was back to back and I got to fully dilated with just a couple of co-dydramol and a tens machine- tens was brilliant for the back pain and I would highly recommend.

I was induced with the pessary as he was small for dates -5lb 9 at full term and he then got distressed so I need a spinal and forceps but I think that was because he was small not because he was back to back. Pessary in 7pm, mild contractions started about 9:30 and fully dilated by 7am

Wow thank you all for you're responses! I feel a lot more clued up now, seeing as the MW don't really give you much info and it's nice to hear it from experience rather than reading online. I will definitely check out spinning babies!
Thank you all again means a lot that you have taken the time! Xx

My girl turned during labour. She was never back to back when I had visited my midwife or when my labour started.

I was induced, waters broke and put straight on the drip. It was my first so I have nothing to compare it to but was very painful, worse than I had imagined and did end up in emergency c section. Various reasons though. After 14 hrs in labour I was only 3-4cms dilated, I had caught some sort of infection and my heart was too fast and my temperature highand baby was in distress her heart rate was dropping.

I'm sure there is still plenty time for you baby to turn and might even do so during labour. Try not to worry too much, I know easier said than done. Fingers crossed for you!

Yes back to back here for my second DS

I was in a lot of pain and in the end midwife realised and said he's back to back and that's why you're not coping too well.... understatement!!

I had an epidural because I couldn't manage with the pain. Had forceps delivery, all fine in the end.

DS was born back to back at 36+0. My midwife didn’t believe how far gone I was in labour because the pain was in my back. DD wasn’t back to back and I can’t honestly say that one was better or worse than the other, pain wise. Just different.

My DS was back to back, I didn't know until after he was delivered by EMCS after a failed induction due to pre eclampsia. The contractions were all in my back & thighs, I couldn't sit down but the midwife insisted I stay on my back for monitoring, gas & air did nothing, I asked for diamorphine but was refused & told my only option was an epidural, I had to wait 3 hours for an anaesthetist. After my EMCS I was told I would never have delivered him naturally.

my dd1 was back to back but they didnt realise until after she was born as when i arrived at the hospital i was 10cm and she was beginning to crown just as they got me into the Labour suite i was onky in labour with her 4hrs and her siblings 21 and 15hrs so she was the easiest by far and my third was the worst pain although he was 9lb 8 and my cervix kept getting in the way which meant he had shoulder dystocia they told me at a growth scan hed only be 7lb at most 😂😂

My DD was back to back. I was induced at 40+13 due partly to being late and also PROM in the end too. Was my first so can't make any comparisons on the pain front but she turned during labour and in all it only took just over 4 h from first twinge, and only needed the pessary to get going. I did all but the last 20 with just a TENS as well until I got G&A. Wish I hadn't worried so much about her being B2B beforehand as it ended up not being an issue at all.

All three of mine were back to back as labour started.

DC1 had meconium in his waters and I was on a drip as dilation wasn’t smooth. He turned the right way at then shot out as I moved from being on my knees to bum in preparation for forceps.

DC2 was in the pool and came out b2b.

DC3 I was only 3cm despite v frequent contractions (I wasn’t surprised, they didn’t hurt too much). The midwife gave me a sweep whilst checking and said “oh the baby is turning the right way now”. Baby was born about an hour later the “right” way.

I suspect due to the speed of delivery my non back to back baby, DC3, was the most painful.

You need to get in a position comfortable for you... for me this was on my knees or hunched over. But it’s ok, it is what it is. I managed on gas and air (+ tens and pool for the second two). Don’t worry about it and hope your baby arrives soon.