Baby back to back experiance

[snoopy18]

Hey all - at the last midwife app a few weeks back - she mentioned a few times that baby was back to back at the time.

I’ve been doing cat cow poses & pelvic tilts, hip circles etc sitting on yoga ball since then and being upright as much as possible.

I’m about to be 33 weeks - Going off movement I feel baby may still be back to back. I have midwife app tomorrow so will see what she says.

I’m not sure if my first was ever back to back although movement feels very similar to him although more active movement even with anterior placenta again.

Just wondered what you did to help baby get in a better position and not be back to back or whether baby turned during labour & delivery etc as I’ve read this can happen too if not before then.

thanks in advance

Both of mine were back to back and laying sideways all the way through. Had C-sections. They tried to turn the first one but soon gave up as she wasn't having any of it. She's still stubborn now! I have hEDS and apparently this is a pretty normal presentation in the circustances.

DS was back to back, I had a perfectly normal labour and all was well!

My first 2 labours were back to back. Both big babies, 9lb + and were perfectly normal labours. Third was back to back until a couple of weeks before then he turned himself. It must have been when i was asleep as i didnt feel a thing.

Back to back doesn't automatically mean problems or a terrible labour 😊 and you're doing the right things!

Look into Spinning Babies, they focus mainly on breech but also B2B. Also rebozo sifting could help you, rope your DP in to help 😊 but mostly, try not to worry. You may find you have a longer early stage of labour as your body moves baby into position, but things are more likely to be fine than not!

My first born was back to back, and I only found out half way through the labour. It made sense why it was a slow labour, and also explained the fact it was so painful (I obviously had nothing to compare it to, being my first labour, but the midwives explained this CAN make it more painful and increase the length of the labour). The epidural was my friend that day (and night, and day 😁!).

As shown in previous messages, everyone experiences different labours, so yours may be a breeze, regardless of whether or not baby is back to back.

My first was back to back, and I'm afraid to say it was a very long first stage of labour - but once I got an epidural baby boy turned and the last few hours were really straightforward and positive! I think the epidural meant I relaxed enough for him to turn!

My midwife said some people's pelvis shaped just make it more likely they'll have back to back babies, but my second was in the ideal position, so not sure how true that is!

Not sure about my first. I suspect she was, but turned in labour. However, my second definitely was.

Unlike my first he had an anterior placenta. He was also frank breech which was only confirmed at a scan at 36 weeks. I think he'd been breech for a while though. He also loved hanging out on my left hand side. All the better for him to kick my liver imo.🙄

Luckily he turned cephalic by himself, but stubbornly remained back to back. Unluckily I had pre-eclampsia, was in hospital, and was induced a couple days later. Wasn't much time or opportunity to try to turn him. Tbh I don't think any amount of spinning babies positions would have made him anyway. He's incredibly stubborn even now.

Labour was long, arduous and I needed an epidural. He didn't turn at all, and it eventually ended in a C-section where we found he'd also tipped his head back and got stuck. Wouldn't change him for the world despite all that.

Hopefully it all goes well for you.

DS1 was back to back. Don't think he ever turned. 24 hour labour, excruciating, needing an epidural which didn't help much, an episiotomy and a second degree tear.
DS2 was a doddle.

Injad anterior placenta with DS and queries back to back babies, more likely to lead to CS. I was basically told not to worry about it. As I got bigger I was encouraged to try various exercises and nothing worked. I had a very long first stage, failure to progress, didn't dilate die to his awkward position and ended up with a CS. DD was the complete opposite and a breeze! Prepare for the worst, hope for the best 🙏

Same here. I recall the doctor who had been asked to examine me telling me to shush as I was disturbing the other ‘ladies who were behaving much better than me’. I knew nothing about back to back labours, and after an horrendous 36 hour Labour she came out after a massive episiotomy that made my Dh faint 😂.
DD2 was a 2 hour breeze.

My ds1 movies to back to back during labour and then moved before he was born so was on a good position for birth. Back to back labour was really uncomfortable and made me want to push when I wasn't ready but didn't last for long and he soon moved round. I wouldn't worry they keep moving I know ppl that had babies move from bum down to head down in the last couple of weeks so anything is possible.

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences ❤️ I’m so glad many of you still had positive birth experiences although more longer / painful 😣 Will see how tomorrows app goes with midwife 🙈

My first labour was back to back, I didn't want pain relief (as a way of staying in control of my body) and although it was a long labour it was definitely manageable, and the birth went very smoothly

Just to offer some reassurance OP, my DD was back to back and I too had an anterior placenta, labour was just 3 hours and considering I had no pain relief wasnt as bad as I thought it would be!

You've got this! X

Longer labour can sound scary, but there are so many ways to manage it! Tens machine is super helpful, and especially helps with back to back labour because you'll feel it in your back. I loved being in the shower during early labour, or using a birthing ball. Movement can really help too, so if it's not too intense having a slow walk and take paracetamol too.

Think about your options once in hospital/midwife led unit too, and be aware of what pain relief you can get in your chosen birth setting (epidural usually can't happen on midwife led units etc).

But also - as much as the labour can feel all consuming in the run up, make sure you prep for your postpartum period too! I prepped so much for birth but definitely feel like I should have spent as much time preparing for recovery and the first six weeks.

I had a midwife app Friday and baby is still feeling back to back to her. Thanks for the tens machine recommendation too as I saw this is meant to help during labour but more so with back labour pains so I’m going to grab one off vinted or another platform 😀 I’ve revisited hypnobirthing this past weekend too as I’m now 33 weeks so I’m feeling positive about it all in general.

It’s good to know you had a 3 hour experience with this too OP so thanks so much for sharing this!

Its my second pregnancy but I’m not sure if my first was back to back as so far movement has been very similar - well - more movement this pregnancy though I have anterior again so it’s been less anxiety inducing! The first one was considered a quick labour & delivery so I do hope it’s similar this time & both of us are safe & sound.

I’m more on the ball with postpartum recovery this time too and have things to help this along so 🤞🏾!

Which Tens machine would you recommend?

I got the standard one from Boots - so long as it's a labour specific one I think they all work the same way!

Both of mine were, though DC1 turned as she was born. Long labour, very painful with a lot of back pain. The consultant assured me there was no reason for my second child to be back to back, but they absolutely were. I wish I’d had a CS the 2nd time; hindsight is a wonderful, useless, thing.

I hope all goes well - and congratulations btw! Just to reassure you - my first DC was back to back but I didn't know until delivery. A long Labour at 34 hours but I had no pain relief, a normal delivery and no stitches or tears. Labour was pain in the bottom rather than lower stomach but I felt absolutely no pain during delivery just dull contractions. My second DC was almost back to back but turned just before delivery. Good luck

Brilliant thank you I’ll have a look at boots one

Yeah I’m reading & hearing babies more often than not turn around in delivery so I’ll just be going into it all with an open mind same as I did with my first.

I feel my first may have been back to back as the movement I’m getting & pains and aches are very similar to what I had with my first - pressure in bottom / kicks feel like they are on bum / lower back pains & more. So perhaps he was but never was told - who knows! Can only do what I can do and hope for the best right 🙈