Induction and back to back

[Sophierella24]

Hey, I'm being induced on Wednesday at 38 weeks. Iv seen the midwife this morning who has told me the baby is back to back - has anyone any experiences of this? Iv heard it can be a more painful birth.

Basically for my induction, due to health conditions once my waters go I'm being put straight onto the hormone drip and then have 24 hours to give birth otherwise i will be given a section.

Any positive stories would be lovely 🌼xx

This is exactly what happened to me but it wasn't preplanned like this and I had an emergency section. I took all the drugs they offered me and would advise you to do the same. I'm not trying to scare you but it does hurt.x

Hi hon, why are they inducing you?

No positive story from me (sorry!) but sit tight, inductions seem to be a mixed bag and there are always positive stories on these threads x

I'd insist on an epidural, my drip induction was OK but only because of the epidural. Would have been like something out of Saw without it.

I went into labour naturally but needed the drip to get things moving as wasn't progressing past 3cm after a number of hours. I had an epidural at the same time as the drip and whilst it did slow things down a lot, I dont think I could have managed without one as I was already in a lot of pain at the 3cm as there was no let up in the contractions- they were just one permanent backache rather than waves. I ended up with an episiotomy and ventouse delivery and midwife reached in an turned baby as I was pushing as she was getting a bit stuck (pushing stage was 2 hrs). The ventouse was a last resort before being taken to theatre for a section (there were more urgent cases in theatre so I didnt get priority). Whilst I dont think this sounds like a "positive" story in terms of ideal deliveries, I dont look back on it being a bad or traumatic birth or think there was anything I could have done differently.
It's likely I'll be induced for my current baby and I'm not put off by the idea.

Good luck!

I’ve had 2 back to back labours and they are pretty painful (as opposed to my one regular labour, which was a cinch ). I would definitely consider an epidural, it was a lifesaver for me first time around. I ended up having forceps with one of them. My second back to back was born completely naturally but it was hard going. Sorry to not be more upbeat about it. That said, baby could turn before you’re induced, lots do. Good luck x

I had same, waters broke then drip with back to back baby weighing almost 10lb. It was fine! No pain relief, I just kept active and moving and changed position every 30 minutes.

It was a little frustrating as despite strong contractions I didn't dilate much as the right part of his head wasn't pressing against my cervix. Our lovely midwife suggested I lay on one side for 15 min then swap. I didn't like being on the bed as I couldn't deal as well with the feeling of pressure but it worked. I went from 2cm to 10cm in minutes and pushed him out in 9 minutes, no tearing.

It was absolutely fine!

I had a back to back labour without the drip (they wanted me on one to speed things up in labour but I refused). Just took forever. Wasn't offered an epidural so didn't have one but if I had the drip, I would've had an epidural before consenting to them starting.

@SnuggyBuggy

I'd insist on an epidural, my drip induction was OK but only because of the epidural. Would have been like something out of Saw without it.

i remember now that my midwife had warned me in advance to ask for an epidural as soon as it began to hurt...she warned me that if I didn't, then it might quickly become too late to get one....this was 16 years ago but don't think that's changed. They took ages to come with one so things had advanced by the time they got to me too....if I'd left it, I wouldn't have had one at all.

It was good too because it turned out my pelvis is oddly shaped as well as small and the surgeon came to see me later and told me I'd never have got a baby out naturally...not in a year of trying.

If you're on the drip have an epidural!

I was induced and put straight on the drip, went from 3cm to 6cm with no pain relief (just my tens machine) but then had an epidural and wish I had from the start.

The drip means that you get full blown contractions from the start rather than them building up gradually naturally so they're more painful. With an epidural you will be fine and just have to wait it out! I was in labour for 19 hours!

@Sophierella24 Hey, I was induced with a back to back pregnancy with DS1. My waters were broke and hormone drip put in straight away. My labour was 3.5 hours from start to finish with gas & air only. Unfortunately due to other reasons I was not able to have any other meds not even paracetamol. However it was manageable and my labour progressed very quickly. Thankfully DS1 turned just before he delivered. I was told only 4% of babies don’t turn in labour, I’m not sure how true this is.

Everyone is different, just do what you think is best as your labour progresses. Hope things go ok.

I was induced at exactly 38 weeks and baby was back to back. He was born (finally) at 38+3 I bounced on the ball for 72 hours 😂 but he didn't turn. I had to have manual rotation and forceps delivery in the end. Good luck! X

I had a back to back with induction. I found it very painful, until they finally gave me an epidural. I had to lie on my back and wasn't allowed to move though, due to monitoring which may have made it worse, I don't know. Eventually I was given an emergency c-section. From my personal experience I would never agree to an induction again, but everyone is different. I found the rapid acceleration of contractions very painful and out of par with what the baby/my body could deal with (slow dilation) and wished I'd not been scared into the induction. I also wish I'd known how painful it was going to be so that I could have got pain relief when I first needed it.

Hello! My little girl was back to back and I was induced with drip. Induction started around 9.30/10am and she was out by 2.35pm same day! I am not sure if it hurts more than any other way, but it was pretty painful! Gas and air reeaaaalllly helped and when they did my epidural, it was too late and didn't even work, so I managed to get through it all on just G&A.

Wishing you the best of luck! xx

I had an induction, only when the pain started did we find out baby was back to back and yes it was agony however once they suspected back to back they advised epidural and I took it and that changed my pregnancy to a more positive one and by that I mean I could actually chat to the midwife and not just growl at her, I felt better able to make decisions etc. They gave me epidural then put me on the drip to progress things which happened quickly, due to being back to back he was stuck, went in to theatre where consultant manually turned him and I went on to deliver with forceps for assistance. In Total from having pessary inserted to baby arriving it was roughly 23 hours xx

I would really encourage you to get an epidural if they’re putting you on that bastard drip. I didn’t get any pain relief ( long story) and IT. WAS. HORRENDOUS. It was my second. My first i’d gone into labour naturally and also did it drug free but it was totally different. The pains on the drip induction with my second... I swear I saw God. Totally different to natural labour contractions.

My second baby- went into labour naturally, managed at home for as long as I could. In hospital because it was in midwife led unit there was no option for an epidural, just had gas and air, was in labour at the hospital for about 3 hours before he was born. He turned himself as it progressed and at that point I was screaming that the gas and air wasn’t enough but it was the pain of him turning that I think caused that, once he turned within 15 minutes he was born. If I was being induced and had a back to back labour to look forward to I think I’d ask for the epidural if it was available but I’ve never been induced and I’ve heard that it can result in a more intense labour.

I had a pessary induction & was back to back. My contractions didn’t show on the monitor & like a PP, had constant backache rather than waves so didn’t have a break in between.

I begged for an epidural but was told I wasn’t far enough along (they didn’t examine me, just went off the fact there were no contractions showing). After 9 hours, I told them that I needed to push & it turns out I was fully dilated!

My contractions then stopped (I think my body caught up with my brain after not being “believed” and given more pain medication than just codeine) so was given the drip and gas & air.

I would definitely, definitely ask for the epidural.

Epidural saved me during back to back labour. I was induced too and over contracted. They didn't believe me when I said contractions where in my back and got his position wrong so I held out on pain relief.

Don't do that lol