Back to back

[bluemarie87]

Just looking for others opinions and stories.
38 weeks pregnant. Baby is back to back.
Is it really that much more painful? Can they still change position? Any ways to change actual position

Hey @bluemarie87 my son was back to back and Labour was pretty intense but then again I have no comparison. They can change position at any time even during labour (i managed to push and turn mine but not quite enough to avoid forceps).

I did lots of downward dog and four point kneeling in the build up to my due date.

Very exciting times ahead!

All my 3 have been back to back and it was very painful so had epidural

I only found out when I was in labour that he was back to back. Gosh..it was painful...but I got by on gas and air.

Fun times ahead then! It's my first too so this may put me off another
Is there any tips to get him to move before I go into labour? Would you recommend an epidural as I had written I wanted a water birth and only gas and air! Argh! X

Oh gosh...I'd go for epidural. I really wanted an epidural half way through but it was too late. I dont have any tips as I think everyone is different. Just relax and keep moving as much as you can whilst in labour...and have someone who can run your lower back intensily...you'll need it. My son ended up being born by ventouse and forceps..and they needed to an episiotomy. But all worth it. Dont worry. You'll be fine.

My first was b2b (also forceps) it was more painful than 2nd. But was that because it was my first and was induced? Who knows.

Yours could change position. Check out the spinning babies website. I wasn’t knowledgable back when I had my first, to look into all this.

My daughter was back to back & it was excruciating.. but equally nothing to compare it too to be fair! But when they came to do my epidural, the midwife seemed to justify my extreme wailing to the anaesthetist by explaining it was a back to back labour!

My daughter turned during my labour 🙄 my waters broke & I went to be examined and they confirmed baby was in the correct position etc .. when I went back in 20 hours later, she’d turned back to back! I’d spent most of the day rolling around on my birth ball, so I blame that entirely!

Read up here spinning babies!

I would recommend swimming - slow breast stroke gives baby plenty of room to wiggle round!

Try and spend time leaning forwards - eg over a birth ball. Rather than sitting back.

Crawling around on your hands and knees.

My baby was back to back and I managed to have most of my labour in the pool and only was asked to get out to push . I had gas and air . I remember feeling the same way at 38, 39 weeks but try not and worry . Xx

My second was back to back. The sort of funny thing was the midwife mentioned he was that way round when I went for my check ups but said babies often change positions so I didn't worry. When the time came I didn't think about which way round he was. It was painful. Only afterwards the midwife who delivered him said - oh, he was back to back.
I pushed so hard I gave myself piles afterwards which were horrible and uncomfortable for about a week, but they healed and I'm glad I didn't do anything differently.

The only position I could stand was on my side with a giant inflatable dumbel shaped thing between by legs. On the plus side it didn't take too long - waters broke at 1:00am-ish and he was born at 8:15am.

I’ve had 3 back to back babies
I had an epidural for one but I was on the drip & on day 4 so utterly exhausted
The other two I had in water at home with no meds - just some hippy dippy self hypnosis

Keep mobile & as PP suggested have a look at spinning babies

My first was back to back, I didn’t have any pain relief (big mistake) and last stage of labour went on for ages, I was close to having a c section. Only advice from me would be to have a epidural 😊

Both of mine have been back to back. First was pretty painful but I managed on gas and air so not that bad. Second wasn’t anywhere near as painful as the first to the point where I assumed he must have turned. It wasn’t til my husband said he saw the back of his head first that I realised he must have been back to back too (I was on all fours to deliver him). Both very different but both not unbearably painful. Second much better for keeping as active as possible.

My last baby was back to back & yes was more painful than my other labour’s especially as she rotated in my pelvis before crowning.

You need to be upright by leaning on your knees & for each contraction stretch out your back so your pelvis expands.
I did this leaning over the sofa & doing half bridges, it’s easy on a bed.
If you go on your back the pain intensifies & the baby can’t move so try to avoid that position.

Head down get on with it literally

My DS was B2B but they didn't realise until it was very late but this was nearly 26 years ago. I had planned a water birth and spent a long time in labour with an epidural on my back. Ended up with a ECS. It's good that you know now but I would push the staff to talk you through your options and be prepared to change your plan. Good luck.

I had a back to back labour but they didn't know until I was pushing, I had to have forceps in the end and too late for an epidural. I have no comparison for the pain but it was intense!

My first was back to back, 3 day labour which was extremely painful IMO but I have nothing yet to compare it to. DS actually ended up at a slight turn (like 10-20 degree turn) before pushing but still back to back, got stuck in my pelvis, failed forceps and ECMS in the end. However, I am now 37 weeks with second baby, and I've tried everything to get baby to stay in the right position, all fours etc etc and they are still sat in the same position as my first so I'm having an elective section. My consultant however thinks its likely just my wierd pelvis which has caused the problem so I do believe that it is quite possible that the tricks to get them to move last minute do work. My mw told me to Google 'optimal birthing position'. Goodluck OP