Back to Back

[mrsjck]

Hi there

My husband and I have started talking about the possibility of trying for another baby. However, our first baby was back to back the whole way through labour, and I suspect throughout the last few weeks of pregnancy. I'm nervous about this happening second time around.

Is it possible that the natural shape of your womb etc could force a baby into that position? Is it therefore possible that all babies I have would be back to back, regardless of what I do?

Hi,
It’s actually extremely common for babies to be born back to back, about 80% due to our more sedentary lifestyles these days... lots of time sitting and lying down actively discourage the baby from getting into the right position. The best thing to do to prevent back to back again is gentle exercise, walking and especially swimming as well as maintaining good posture when sitting. If you use a birth ball in the last trimester to sit on that also encourages baby into the right position.
I’m sure there are scenarios where baby is just more likely to be back to back anyway anatomically; an anterior placenta is one; but there are things you can do to try avoid it again in future.

Sorry but I think the “sedentary lifestyle” thing is rubbish. Certainly not true for everyone. My mother had back to back babies (I think there’s a hereditary factor) and 2 out of my 3 were back to back. My third, who was not back to back, was by far my most sedentary pregnancy, for various reasons.

I did some research at the time and I believe the shape of the pelvis can be a factor. My mother has a very narrow pelvis, as do I, as does my sister who has also has b2b births.

Try googling maternal android pelvis occipito posterior.

I don’t know why midwives persist with this “it’s your fault for being so lazy” tack. It’s not one bit helpful and back to back births are no joke.

@MayFayner Then why are they so common? If they’re acknowledged as not the normal way a baby should be born why do 80% of births result in back to back? 80% of women have a defect in their pelvis? Really?
I don’t think its anything to do with calling people lazy, its a fact of life that human beings are far more sedentary now than we were 100 years ago where back to back births were not as common; anatomically we haven’t changed in 100 years but our lifestyles certainly have. I never said, and no midwife ever said that it was a guarantee that the lifestyle plays the only factor into it but it has been studied and proven that it does have a significant impact. So what you’re saying to the OP is don’t bother trying any of the tips your highly skilled and experienced midwives tell you to do because in your personal experience, it makes no difference and she’s doomed to have another back to back whatever she does if she chooses to have another baby.

Not sure where PP got their 80% stat from. Even 60 seconds of google research indicates that it is not accurate...

Um...

I am the least sedentary person I know, but DC1 was back to back. He decided to become back to back about 12 hours before I went into labour. I have a wide pelvis, and it was all looking good, despite his position. We both nearly died. (the midwives were brilliant, btw)

Subsequent DC were ELCS.

@MayFayner I totally agree with everything you say.

I've had 3 DC, am really quite active and was through all 3 of them but 2 were back to back.

I have a tilted womb, so wasn't sure if it had something to do with that, but that wouldn't explain why 1 of mine was the right way!

All my 3 have been back to back babies which I’d assumed may be due to the shape of my pelvis. Whilst the birth of DC1 was a long and exhausting affair cumulating in a panic forceps delivery, the other two were far far quicker and smoother despite both being well over 9lb.

The worst bit I found was the back pain in late pregnancy and the contraction pain was all in my back.

Both of mine were back to back and needed assistance.

To deliver. Sorry posted too soon.

Both of mine were back to back. First one was a nightmare, went on for ever and eventually delivered with a vontuse. Second was a walk in the park 🤷‍♀️

Thanks for all the responses. I am a teacher and carried on exercising and running throughout pregnancy, so I definitely wasn't sedentary. All the research suggests that I guess biologically I am prone to b2b pregnancies. I should say, I felt everything in my back from conception to birth and I've never had period cramps anywhere but my back. Even now. Looks like a second b2b baby for me then.......! Reassuring to hear that second times were easier, even being b2b.

Both mine were back to back. 1st labour was awful. Days of unproductive contractions, excruciating back pain, nearly ended up with ventouse.

2nd labour was a homebirth and 3 pushes on the living room floor. Absolute walk in the park in comparison!

If it’s any comfort, DS1 was back to back and DS2 wasn’t. Both were anterior placenta. DS1 was not a picnic but DS2 arrived with significantly less fuss. Hope it’s the same for you!

My middle of three was back to back; very short painful labour . Because your first pregnancy and labour went a certain way goes not mean your second will and you cannot influence it. When you are pg let your midwife know about your previous labour .