It seems I can't even grow a simple placenta in the right place

[TheProvincialLady]

With DS my placenta was transverse (to the side) and he was ROA and turned back to back during labour...which hurt, and meant that it was about 3 days longer than your average labour. It was not good.

THIS time I have a home birth agreed by the consultant and everything was going to be really lentilly. And now I have just got back from my 20 week scan to discover that I have an anterior placenta this time. So much more likely to have a back to back labour again.

Why can't I just grow the fecker in the normal place? Most people manage to whack them on the back of their uterus, but not me it seems.

And to make matters worse I thought I was expecting a girl but he's definitely a boy - I saw his little testicles Actually I don't mind really but I am a bit sad that I will never have a little girl, as this is definitely our last child. And he seems healthy. I spent the whole scan time worrying every time the sonographer lingered over an organ and when a nurse came into the room I was convinced it was because they were going to give me the bad news!

Anyway, here's to my new baby boy coming out the right way round this time and not causing me any undue pain.

Sorry, that was really self indulgent wasn't it?

I meant to say, does anyone have any experience of having an anterior placenta but a super quick, not too painful birth?

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Oh that is good news Pruners and hanaflower, thanks. I know most babies turn during labour - DS came out face down etc but the turning took a loooong time and was very painful. I was proactive with positioning etc too but it made no difference to DS (he is a persistent little man). I will redouble my efforts this time and hopefully my experience will be more like yours this time Pruners

With DS I had a posterior placenta but still loooong (40 hours) back-to-back labour, asynclitic position, eventual c-section.

With DD I had an anterior placenta, 5 hour labour, straightforward vaginal birth (and this a VBAC) with just TENS and a little bit of gas & air at the end.

ds1 was anterior placenta and my nicest birth

I had two v. long and painful back to back labours and there was no mention of my placenta being in an uusual position so I don't think it nec. goes hand in hand, so maybe you'll be ok? I'm just hoping to God I don't have yet another backache labour third time round, because I'm starting to think it's just the way I'm built!

i had anterior placenta and normal labour.

oh and my labour was 5 hours and ok painwise. my longest labour out of 3 lol!

The provincial Lady - I have had an anterior placenta for all of my pregnancies. All babies also back to back at the start of labour.

DD1 turned during a 13 hour labour which I spent on my hands and knees.

DD2 didn't turn and had to be turned by the midwives as she just wasn't coming out - but I still had a home water birth, albeit rather painful.

I'm now 32 weeks pregnant with dc3 ,and this baby is also clearly back to back and has been for several weeks. Again, anterior placenta. I have been given the go ahead for a home birth.

I am not particularly worried, but I will be spending this labour on my hands and knees.

OK so it seems it might be okay I really am going to put a lot of effort into trying to get the baby into the right position this time. I have a terrible habit of always sitting with my legs crossed up on my chair like a schoolgirl, which I am already trying to stop doing but it is hard to get out of these habits isn't it?

Belgo I spent literally 18 hours standing up in my labour and deep squatting during contractions. It was the only thing that was bearable. Good job I kept up the ballet

Re: Getting the baby in the right position, I tried like buggery last time, slept on my left side all the time (to the point of chronic pain, esp with the SPD) and lolled about on my birthing ball, did the hands and knees, sat forward on the couch etc etc and DD was still back to back. I'm not trying to discourage you, it is worth trying, but this time I wouldn't actually put myself through so much pain (I mean actual pain, not effort) as I just think what'll be will be. So what I'm saying is, don't make your hips sore sleeping on one side!!! .

OR, you can you what you like!

I got hip pain from doing that last time, it's really blooming painful isn't it?! I wouldn't go that far again either. I think where I need to improve is my general sitting and posture.

Poor you, after all that effort (in a sympathetic way)