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Pregnancy

Baby back to back - anyone had any luck turning baby?

16 replies

Doraemon · 18/01/2013 10:43

I had a growth scan yesterday which was fine, but baby is back to back. I'm 32 1/2 weeks so theoretically lots of time for baby to turn, but have history of premature labour (have actually never gone this far before without labour starting), baby's head is so far down the sonographer couldn't measure it, and I suspect she will be born within the next few weeks.
I know from experience that if she is premature, and I am therefore strapped to monitors for the whole labour, it is going to be really difficult to move around at all or to maintain positions in labour which will encourage her to turn, and I am getting a bit stressed that I am going to end up labouring on my back with a back to back baby and end up with an epidural and loads of interventions.
Am writing this leaning over my yoga ball and hoping lots of time on hands and knees might shift her - would be really encouraged to hear from anyone else who has managed to turn their baby before labour.

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leannac · 18/01/2013 11:24

I didn't manage to turn my back to back labour but did deliver her with no pain relief whilst lying on my back (eventually with emergency ventouse). No pain relief was due to midwife incompetency (wouldn't give me gas & air til was 10cm then told me couldn't use it whilst pushing so couldn't have it at all) rather than courage but as I'm now 34wks with 2nd back to back baby I'm clinging to the fact that I've done it once without pain relief!

DoItToJulia · 18/01/2013 11:33

My back to back baby didn't turn and I was induced, so I had the strapped to monitors, restricted moving labour. I had gas and air and it was fine! The baby wasn't born star gazing as he turned during labour.

It did hurt, but then labour does...but at least you get the best present at the end if it!

Fwiw, that was my second back to back labour and this time I had an overwhelming urge to push too soon. I read about this after wards and I read that this is to help move the cervical lip as there is not as much pelvic pressure from a back to back baby...might be worth reading into back to back labours so you are fully prepared?

Good luck!

NAR4 · 18/01/2013 11:33

All four of mine were back to back and I never managed to turn any of them. 36wks with number five and been told its also back to back. Aren't even bothering to try and get it to turn.

My 2nd and 4th were monitored throughout labour, so not active as I would have liked and had to deliver lying on my back. 2nd one was a short labour but difficult birth, 4th was a long labour but straight forward birth. I also had no painrelief for my 2nd, because by the time it hurt that much, I needed to push.

It doesn't always mean lots of intervention. My 2nd had shoulder dystocia (or however its spelt) which is why intervention was needed and my fourth was a 38 hours induced labour, but no intervention otherwise.

DoItToJulia · 18/01/2013 11:35

Oh yes, got totally sidetracked! No interventions here either!

Ninjacat · 18/01/2013 12:07

2 back to backs so far.
Aiming for 3rd time lucky (35 weeks)
spinning babies

WillowB · 18/01/2013 12:26

My DS was back to back all the way through my pg. Midwife told me that the vast majority turn at some point during labour. Waters went at 38 weeks. Contractions then started 3 mins apart & a min long. I was 5cm when I got to the hospital & sure enough baby had turned. While its wise to read up please don't panic as things could still change, especially at 32 weeks as I imagine baby still has plenty of space to move.

pollygolightly · 18/01/2013 13:33

Second was back t o back, not a problem, quick labour with no pain relief. Try not to worry!

Jakeyblueblue · 18/01/2013 15:41

Ds had turned back to back when I arrived at the hospital in labour, hadnt been all pregnancy. Anyway, I did have a very long and painful labour but ds was delivered in the correct position. Must have turned whilst I was pushing. So it's never too late for them to turn if they want to.

sillymillyb · 18/01/2013 15:45

Ds was back to back until a few days before labour. I spent literally every spare second on all 4's, not sure if it did any good, but he had finally turned at my appt just before I went into labour.

MW said they often turn in labour though, and not to worry. Good luck!

gruber · 18/01/2013 16:19

41 weeks today and baby is still turning from "correct" to back to back about once a day, I can feel it happen! It turns quite happily and I wouldn't worry, if this one can move at 41 weeks sure yours can. Hope you hold out for a bit longer and baby does turn.

SeeYouSoon · 18/01/2013 18:09

Mine was back to back on my lhs due to hr plummeting when ever I tried to move. Still managed with out pain relief ( gas and air just made mr feel awful) and local anaesthetic due to ventouse. It was fine :)

WocketInMyPocket · 18/01/2013 19:02

Mine was back to back at 34 weeks and I did the exercises everyday from Spinning Babies and it turned last week (37) so don't worry still plenty of time to turn! I actually felt it turn when I was on all fours reading a book

TinkyPeet · 18/01/2013 21:45

Both of mine were born b2b and apart from ds's cord bing round his neck a few times and dd deciding she was coming out at 4cm it really wasn't that bad, pushing less than 10 mins with both x

Iceaddict · 18/01/2013 23:10

My only advice would be to kneel with elbows resting on birthing ball. Sleep on your left side And keep active. Try not to stress about it, the anxiety will make your labour more painful and stressful. Just do what you can I.e trying to encourage a good position, but when it comes to it what will be will be. I had a back to back labour with my first baby. But think it was made so much worse as I panicked the whole time because I'd had people worrying me about it previously. Have you thought of trying self hypnosis techniques to keep you calm and minimise your pain during labour? Have a look on ITunes you can get podcasts etc on there If you want to try it. Good luck

Iceaddict · 18/01/2013 23:18

Also ds1 turned not long before I started pushing and part way through pushing, the midwife said hang on there's an ear where there was a nose before so he'd turned again. Think in some cases you can't control it

Doraemon · 19/01/2013 10:18

Thank you so much for all the replies, it's really reassuring to hear that it is possible to get a back to back baby out without a horrendous labour! I'll keep trying crawling around etc to see if she'll shift but if not then will try to keep in a positive frame of mind rather than assuming that it's going to be awful. My last 2 labours were actually pretty fast and straightforward (1st one was very traumatic but more for psychological reasons and c**p care than anything physical) and I did them both on just gas and air so fingers crossed this one will be OK. And whatever happens it will be a relief to finally get the baby out

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