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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Back 2 back baby- your experience

48 replies

Lulusunflowers · 01/11/2025 13:33

Hi Ladies,
So i'm just shy of 35 weeks and have been informed my baby is lying back to back/sunny side up.
Midwife has said not to worry for now as I have plenty of time to see if baby flips over ectt
I've started doing pelvic exericises every day, including forward leaning on a ball and being more conscious on how I sit (no leaning back)
Just wondering if any of you have experienced similar and what week did your baby turn and stay put?
Or if baby was stuborn and stayed where they were, how was your labour?
I've heard mixed things around back2back labour with it being more painful/longer and more liklihood of tearing or needing intervention.
Please sure your experiences, good or bad. First time mumma so feeling a little anxious about it all
Thank you in advance xxx

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chocomoccalocca · 01/11/2025 13:35

My first was back to back and turned whilst I was in labour! It was uncomfortable when back to back as I felt like I wanted to push but wasn’t ready to, then he moved and it was much better!!

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 01/11/2025 13:39

I had two back-to-backs. I know DC1 was. I can't even remember whether DC3 or DC4 was the second B2B. I do know that the only birth which wasn't amazing was definitely not B2B.

Original poster

Lulusunflowers · 01/11/2025 13:44

@chocomoccalocca @Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies thanks so much for responding :)

OP posts:

RosesAndHellebores · 01/11/2025 13:46

First was B2B and turned in labour/at delivery.

I'd only contemplate a vaginal birth if I was guaranteed an early epidural because I don't recall contractions/breaks between them. Just a continuous wall of pain and I had those for hours on a public ward.

My labour was timed from when my waters broke so recorded as 8.5 hours. However, the two days at home on all fours was discounted.

He was born naturally and without stitches but it was touch and go not because of the b2b position but the fact that he had the cord wrapped tightly round his neck and the midwife didn't recognise the warning signs. I was given one more push as an assisted birth was readied. He was too far out to be pushed back by the time they realised and the cord was cut before he was born.

Insist on review by a consultant

2 insist on being delivered by an experienced and trusted midwife

Insist on an epidural.being available
Request a scan before birth to check position.

Any problems with any of the above, request an elective caesarean. Follow up your requests in writing.

Catsonskis · 01/11/2025 13:49

Both of mine were back to back. First time sorry to say wasn’t ideal, but could have been made worse by any number of things (my anxiety from multiple losses before, it was Covid so was labouring alone so that was stressful, baby pooped in womb so had to get baby out quick, I have a bad back and the pain in my back was bad. Ended up being put on the drip as baby wasn’t progressing and they were concerned with heart rate etc. ended up with spinal block and forceps in theatre. All my labour pain was in my back, all of it, felt nothing around my stomach.

all the above being said, it was ok. And once I was in theatre having forceps it was great, spinal block meant no pain, music on, lots of people smiling and relaxed. I weirdly felt instantly at ease despite it being a quick decision to get to theatre and hubby being stripped off in the corridor and man handled into scrubs.

i took pain relief and labour wasn’t that long (active labour anyway). Had a few stitches, it was fine.

second labour also back to back 2 years later, was barely in labour for an hour, gave birth no drugs etc on all fours 10 mins after arriving at hospital just with breathing. It was incredible, not as painful as the first time. What a difference having no drugs made to my recovery!!

but both kids developed absolutely normally, no problems in their infancy, no recovery issues for me, breast fed both to 17 months (usual battles of learning to breastfeed with number 1). Both happy and healthy 5 and 3 year olds.

SureLook · 01/11/2025 13:57

I had back to back on my DD. I don't know when she got in that position as it was never mentioned to me before then. The midwives on the ward were bloody useless and never properly checked me. The pain was relentless and never really eased up. But once I got to the delivery suite and got my epidural it was lovely. I slept for two hours. There was salt lamps and candles and our playlist was on. I had to go on the drip as my contractions slowed down but that was fine. Once it came time to push she had turned the proper way! They thought I was going to need an episiotomy but I managed to push her out in 15 minutes. I had a superficial second day degree tear and needed some stitches. I had no issues after delivery and basically no pain.

KaleQueen · 01/11/2025 14:18

Mine were both back to back. Both turned during labour. No tearing, no stitches, used just gas and air. Had an ‘active’ labour though (deliberate choice) so I basically didn’t lie on a bed at any point I stayed standing or on a birthing ball until it was time to push. Moved around constantly. Used birthing pools to deliver, so on knees during labour. Was very lucky to have the pool facilities etc so appreciate that’s not always available. Best advice for labour - if possible stay up, move, walk, be active as much as you can. It’ll help turn the baby. Good luck!

Gruffporcupine · 01/11/2025 14:53

4 day labour, full dilation, emergency c section. Everyone is different but be prepared for a long slog. Wishing you and baby luck x

spiderlight · 01/11/2025 15:07

Mine was back-to-back at delivery but I didn't even know until the midwife said 'Oh, he's back-to-back!' literally as he was on his way out. I had a slow, gentle 19-hour labour at home, 30 minutes of pushing, and then he popped out all in one push. Slight graze but no tearing. Sounds as if I was very lucky! Like @KaleQueen,I walked and bounced my way through it all.

PickASize · 01/11/2025 15:56

My first was back to back and to tell you the truth the pain was horrific, I constantly felt like I needed to push and if I could describe it felt like my spine was pulling apart.
It was an 18 hour labour and I took a while to dialate, thankfully ended in vaginal birth, but I did end up having an epidural put in around 7cm as I was in hysterics and baby wasn't coping with the stress. Once the epidural was in everything calmed down a bit and the rest of the labour went quite smoothly, pushing stage was 20 minutes.
I would say be prepared that it might not go as well as you think and have pain relief on hand in case you find it difficult to cope, however everyone's experience is different.

currentlybrunette · 01/11/2025 15:58

I had a B2B on my first baby. Born naturally with just gas and air for support. I did need some stitches but she was giant. Labour was more tiring but not more painful really. There were no break in the contractions so it feels much worse than it is but going on to have subsequent babies the pain is the same, it just gives you time to have a break between contractions.

DelurkingAJ · 01/11/2025 16:02

DS1 was back to back and this wasn’t spotted until I was 18 hours into labour and the new shift Dr asked what the scan said…and swore when told there wasn’t one. DS1 was hauled out, sunny-side up, as I was being prepped for a crash section. I didn’t have an epidural so the anaesthetist was quite stressed when called. But thankfully not needed. DS1 and I were fine, home that evening following a 4am birth, DH was traumatised.

piccalili · 01/11/2025 18:12

My DS was back to back I found the contractions peaked and then immediately seemed to peak again so there wasn’t a break between them like I’d expected there to be…! I felt like pushing before I was ready to. I was in labour for just under 24 hours. So it was long. He must have turned during the birth and id no idea he was even back to back until they mentioned it during labour. However amazingly no tearing and natural birth! I was home a few hours after giving birth. The pushing stage for me was by far the best bit and I was sort of dreading that the most.

Wowsersbrowsers · 01/11/2025 18:17

My first was back to back. Tells you how well it went that my second I was literally doing headstands at full term to disengage the baby so they could turn the right way (it worked). Look up spinning babies.

BritishDesiGirl · 01/11/2025 18:22

My first was back to back, the pain was indescribable. It radiated from my bum, l honestly thought l was being torn apart and put back together again. She did move into the right position. But the initial contractions were just horrific.

Tattletail · 01/11/2025 18:24

My first was definitely back to back. It was a 12 hour labour start to finish so it doesn't necessarily mean it will be a longer process. The pain was in my lower back, and after I had a very sore coccxy. I think my 2nd was also back to back. But all in all both labours fine. It isn't all doom and gloom. Good luck lovely!

Teacup40 · 01/11/2025 18:31

I had b2b babies first one meconium was present in my waters so I was put on a drip to speed things up it was painful I won't lie but this could of been because of the drip and I had just gas and air. 2nd baby tried everything to get her to shift position and when labour started I felt like I had contractions just from moving there felt no let up between them but labour wasn't quick and in both the pain was in my back but I'm a complete wuss and if I can do it on gas and air most people could!! You have time for baby to move my 4th baby was transverse at 37 weeks but had moved into place a week later do they can still move after 35 weeks fingers crossed for you! Good luck.

hiredandsqueak · 01/11/2025 18:42

My first VBAC was back to back, I had epidural anyway in case I needed another c section. I didn't feel a thing and it was probably my favourite birth. Dd was born face up after three pushes I had a small graze.

ScaryM0nster · 01/11/2025 18:50

Mine was tough going.

My biggest reflection is that forceps are pretty dire when they’re the ‘this isn’t working’ plan. Maybe fine for a wee bit of help, but not this baby isn’t shifting. Should have had c section at that point.

Bitzee · 01/11/2025 19:01

I might have had different advice because I went private but my first was back to back and the consultant floated an ELCS because as a FTM it would likely be a tough labour. I was erring that way anyway so didn’t need much convincing. The ELCS was great. No regrets.

me24x · 01/11/2025 19:16

Hello! My 2nd was back to back at 36weeks midwife picked it up. She also said the same as yours, there’s a lot of time for him to flip back etc but I was in a panic thinking this meant I must have a C section (defo not the case anyway!) Have a look at the spinning babies website I done exercises on there, I also read a lot on mumsnet about how you will feel the baby flip back (if they do) well I certainly didn’t! I had a scan at 39weeks and he was head down so not sure when he turned but he did and he stayed put.

Robin223 · 01/11/2025 19:20

Mine was back to back and the pain was horrific. As someone else said, like I was being ripped apart. Make sure you ask for an epidural quickly! All was good once I had the epidural though. Baby turned and the labour progressed fairly quickly.

Onekidnoclue · 01/11/2025 19:45

Two b2b which I had no idea was even a thing until my first was born.
first labour was horrific. 56 hours. I was incoherent with pain and as I couldn’t talk or think to ask for an epidural I didn’t get one. Utterly horrendous and contributed hugely to my pnd.
second was a breeze. From twinge to out in 1.5hours. Popped himself out the the waiting room with a cord wrapped round his neck four times. Unwrapped him and he was fine.
good luck. X

strangelytired · 01/11/2025 19:53

I HD 3 back to back around 30 weeks. My first was a horrific horrible labour. My second and third I did the spinning babies exercises and they turned before labour - worn were born in under 3 hours.

I honestly swear by those midwife exercises!

DemonsandMosquitoes · 01/11/2025 20:07

DS1 was back to back. It was a 24 hour labour, pushing for over two hours, an epidural, a second degree tear and an episiotomy. All the pain in my back, really really tough going.

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