Hey

You both had back-back labours didn't you? Just looking for some advice, I'm 36+4 and at the moment the baby is back to back. I've also got some mild symptoms of SPD (no where near as bad as what you had Carly), I go to a pregnancy yoga class and my teacher yesterday was telling me how horrendous things will be for me.... I see physio on Tues for the SPD, hoping she can give me some help how to cope with labour. I'd like to birth in water if I can because I suffer a dull ache around my hips (like period pains) most of the time and the only time I don't hurt is when I'm in the bath....

Am I really in for an awful experience?

Hello hunni

My bubba was back to back right up until labour... the contractions where getting pretty intense and the pain was all in my back so the midwife told me to lay on my side to encourage her to move and she did!!!!

So what i am saying is your baby could move right up until you need to push so try not to worry too much x x x

[Modified by: tallkatie2 on October 12, 2008 10:00 PM]</p>

Hi.. Hope you don't mind me crashing.
My delivery was back to back, wasn't picked up before-hand, either that or lo turned as he dropped down!

You hear people say its more painful/different type of pain but as it was my 1st i have nothing to compare it with.
My pains started fairly soon after my waters broke and were pretty intense straight away, no gradual build up. Pains were in lower back and bum, a friend had recommended getting in the bath to help with early labour, however i couldn't sit down! They came in peaks and troughs.. i'd get 3 contractions close together, then go 5-10mins between, which is apparently typical too. I spent early part at home on all 4s! (car journey to hospital was interesting!). I used a tens which i'd recommend, as much for distraction as anything else!
I'd heard b/b labours were longer, my waters broke at 2am ish, regular pains started bout 4.. went to hospital for 8.30am (i'd been in earlier when waters broke and as pains were infrequent sent home). When got to hospital i was 5cm dilated and fully dilated by 1. I didn't think this was long for a 1st labour. I had pethidine about 11ish, which reduced pain, then had gas and air once fully dilated waiting for lo to move down!

Nobody can lie and say it doesn't hurt, but it is totally do-able, and quite empowering, if that makes sense! I don't look back and think of it as awful and actually feel i coped better than i expected to!
I know its easier said than done but try not to spend the last few weeks stressing too much.. try and relax.

xx

[Modified by: Spedshaw on October 12, 2008 10:18 PM]</p>

hi there...

i have had 5 children. 1 breech vaginal, 1 induced. 1 back to back, 1 fast and furious and lastly 1 section.
The back to back took longer than i would have expected since he was my 3rd. The pain is no worse it is just in a different place so feels worse. It is in your lower back and bum. Normal labour is across your tummy and into your pelvis.

I felt the need to be on all 4's as mush as I could and walking around helped with the pain. I found been in the bath a bit overpowering as the pain was in my bum and it hurt to sit in the bath. When I was fully dilated i pushed and pushed but was not getting anywhere. If you look at a babies head they normal present the top of their head down the birth canal . With back to back they present the back of their head which is a much bigger circumferance. Thats why this part takes so bloody long!!! They called my consultant to come and do forceps etc.. Suddenley I felt this urge to lay down. The mw's were encouraging me not to but I shouted I needed to. I lay still and my contractions stopped and you could see my bump moving around. I felt the massive urge to push and a few pushes later he came slippering out. He had moved the right way during the time I lay there. Goes to show sometimes we do know best!!!! I tore and needed a fair few stitches.

On comparision it was a more sensitive pain as pain in the back always hurts more. It is no worse though..just different. The pushing stage is harder and you need to make sure you listen not only to mw but also to your own body. Gas and air is fab but you need to focus on pushing and sometimes that stops it. A mobile epidural would be a good idea too.

Good Luck...and try not to worry too much. Labour hurts but once you have that baby in your arms it is al worth it. Also, if you can push the baby out unassisted and without a section it is much better for your recovery.

d xxx

Hi hun,
My first was back to back and my second wasn't.
I didn't actually find labour much more painful althought things did take a lot longer, I was in labour for 18 hours first time and just 2 second time. I managed to 7 cms with just tens and paracetamol and then had diamorphine and gas and air. The actual delivery went very pear shaped but up untill then no one (me included!) noticed that Millie was the wrong way round! Most of the problems I had were caused by the fact that as well as being back to back Mille was trying to come out with her chin pushed forwards instead of tucked in so she just didn't fit.
I don't think it will make that much difference to your labour. There is still time for lo to turn round and there are things you can do to help him. Try not to lie down unless you have to and make sure you lie on your left side. If you can, sitting on a birth ball gives them more room to turn and taking rasberry leaf is supposed to make your contractions more effiecent giving you a better chance of turning him during labour. I think a water birth would be a great idea as it will allow you to stay moblile and upright which should help as well.
I think your stupid yoga teacher should have kept her mouth shut!! How many back to back labours has she had?
Kerry xx

hi sorry to crash. you are only 36+4 so there is still plenty of time for baby to turn. All mine were b2b up till the last few weeks J turned at 37 Isaac turned at 39+5 and Tyler turned at 38+ so pls dont worry. Also there are ways to try and turn baby both at home urself and medically.

Not too sure if any of these would actually work - some seem a bit far fetched to me but........................

1. Visualizing the baby moving down with the head very deep in your pelvis, several times a day; especially in conjunction with positions and exercises below.

2. Swimming as often as possible. This keeps your body and pelvis loose and relaxed. Do in conjunction with headstand below if you have help.

3. Headstand - with assistance and in a pool frequently as possible.

4. Breech Tilt - begin at 32-35 weeks gestation. Do 3 times daily for 10-15 minutes each time, when you have an empty stomach, and the baby is active. Prop one end of an ironing board securely on a sofa or chair 12 to 18 inches high (or may use slant board). Lie down, bend knees but keep feet flat on board. Relax, breathe deeply, avoid tensing. May also use pillows on a flat surface to raise hips 12-18" above shoulders. Gravity pushes the baby's head into the fundus, tucks it, and baby can then do a somersault to a vertex position.

5. CD/iPod headphones - place them inside mom's pants toward her pubic bone and play classical music for 10 minutes 6-8 times a day.

6. Flashlight - try moving slowly down from the top of the uterus toward your pubic bone while you are in a breech tilt position.

7. Massage - start with your left hand at the bottom of the abdomen and your right hand just above it. Move move your hands clockwise around the right side of your tummy. As your right hand reaches the top of your abdomen, slide the left one over your right and move it down the left side of your tummy. Your left hand leads as you you come full circle, continuing clockwise. Massage gently as you would to apply lotion. Massage for ten minutes or more up to several times each day.

8. Clothespin - place on the small toe of each foot at the outside corner of the toenail; sideways so that the toenail and toepad are stimulated for 30 minutes per day, this is an acupressure point that is a "moving down" point. You can also do this with just finger pressure as you remember to do it.

9. Motion Sickness band - place with the bead four fingerwidths above the inner ankle bone - another acupressure point that is used for stimulation of the uterus. Do not use this point if you are experiencing any pre-term labor.

10. Glass of orange or other juice - follow this with a side-lying position with your hips positioned higher than your feet. Babies move more after a sugar high!

11. Pelvic Tilt- with an ice pack on the top of your tummy on an empty stomach, 10 minutes twice a day. Do this while lying on your back on the floor with knees flexed and feet on the floor with three large pillows placed under your buttocks. Try this in conjunction with headphones and visualization.

12. Cat stretch - start with all fours, then lay your head and chest flat on the floor with your buttocks in the air, as you round your back and return to all fours.

13. Knee-chest position - by kneeling with hips flexed slightly more than 90 degree, but with thighs not pressing against your tummy and your head, shoulders and upper chest are flat on a mattress for 15 minutes every two waking hours for five days.

14. Belly Relaxing followed by Inversion - Partner places a shawl, sheet, towel or rebozo under mom's hips as she lays on the floor. Lift up on the corners of the cloth and shimmy her from side to side moving your hands up and down to wiggle her belly from side to side. These should be very small movements which mom should find very relaxing. Do this for about 5 minutes. Then mother kneels on the stairway landing. Walk your hands down 2 or 3 stairs into an all fours position; have your partner support your shoulders to balance you. Remain in this position for about 5-10 minutes or as long as comfortable. Also do this on an empty stomach.

The following techniques to turn breech babies to vertex involve the assistance of a specialist or medical professional:

15. Acupuncture - find a acupuncturist who is familiar with pregnancy and knows the points to stimulate for turning a breech baby.

16. Webster's Breech Technique - see a Chiropractor who is experienced in this technique.

17. External Version - this can be done in the hospital at about 37 weeks; see an Ob-Gyn for assistance and more information.

hope this helps. xx xx if you have a birthing ball its suppost to be helpful too rock gently backwards and forwards , thats what i done. XX XX

[Modified by: Elaine&Boys on October 13, 2008 08:53 AM]</p>

Elaine, where did you get those from? I'm sure some of them work but headphones in your pants??? Handstands??? Lying on an ironing board??? LMAO!!! Thank you very much, I've had no sleep, I'm having a crappy morning but you've managed to make me giggle!!
xx

Hi, my baby was discovered to be back to back after I had been pushing for an hour or so, but I was induced which didn't progress very well anyway so ended up being preped for a c-section so didn't feel a thing! (had ventouse delivery)

I had a bad experience due to being induced but it really didn't matter once I was holding Louise in my arms. As other have siad, baies can turn at any time! I was only going to have my tens machine and gas and air but ended up with everything offered so just go in with an open mind.

Bedhead it WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SERIOUS!!! but glad your morning has been brightened a little. Have to admit my eyebrows were raised to a few! Wonder if the person that wrote that was a man????

I think a few of them would work though, swimming should as it relaxes you. Hope it hepls xx

Thanks girls, it's good to know that a back to back labour isn't necessarily a bad thing. Baby has been in this position for my last few visits, apart from a brief spell breech and then back to head down face up

At antenatal class the mw was saying the incidence of epidural is higher with these labours as you want to push sooner? So they often give them to stop pushing because even if your told not to your body takes over and pushes anyway.....? I have a birthing ball which I've been sitting on

Well you could always try the handstands ! LOL! hope he/she turns for you and if LO dosnt im sure you'll do just fine and will forget about it when u are holding ur baby in ur arms. Good luck hun and keep us updated xx xx

Hello mrs T,

hmmm.,..I cant offer any advice , except for it differs per person.

My actualy labour was 1hr 30mins. I didnt know my daughter was back to back until I was informned of it after I had given birth. Pain wise well um...I only had dissolvable paracetool at the very beginning. So Yeah it was a bit painful, but nothing like I expected it to be and I was on any labour pain killers! Probably helped that she was so quick. In addition, people say dont labour lying flat on your back as its not one of the best positions. Well guess what...I gave birth to my daughter on my back!8(didnt attend any antenatal classes...she was a month early and they were meant to start 3 days after she as born!!

this reminds me...5 mths later...I should really finishing writing and post on here my birth story. Ive gone over it in my head loads just not in paper! xxx

sam was back to back and then he turned at the last minute so there is always a very big chance your baby will do the same as alot of babys do this x

Mrs T.. its hard to describe but when you feel the urge to push it is really hard not to.. it is like you can't control it!
When i was fully dilated lo hadn't moved down enough so they gave me gas and air and said to breathe it out for an hour to wait for baby to descend! (He never did and i ended up in theatre for assisited delivery) but by then i had the urge to push and i had to concentrate so hard not to (really hard with the gas and air!).
xx

Hi all 3 of mine were back to back and all really fast first was 3hrs, second was 55mins and third was 1hr 10 mins from breaking my waters. I also never knew any of mine were back to back .

Lily was back to back and I didn't know. My labour was fast 1 hour and 46 mins. She turned as she came out so I had a 3rd degree tear. Pain wasn't that bad, but felt it in my back rather than elsewhere. I had 3 -4 puffs on the gas and air and then I had it taken off me! Everyone is different, so good luck!
xxxx

I think it's got to be up to you if you choose to have an epidural ot not. I felt those urges to push while only 7cs dialated, I dont know if lo was back to back by then as was told they thought she was after I got to 10cms. Personally I had to have an epidural for mine and lo's safety as it is dangerous to push when body not ready and very hard to not do so when feeling the urges.

I was talking to a friend yesterday who had a back to back baby who turned before delivery, she asked for an epidural but they said it was too late, she said that after the baby had turned the pain and the experience changed, was more painful and the pain was all in her back and bum until her lo moved. She has another labour o compare it to which I dont!

But as you can read from other posts, everyones eperiences are different!