Back to Back

[Lou]

Hi

I thought this thread night be useful here for the mums to be. I wanted to ask if any of you know why babies go back to back? and if you know of any way to prevent it happening?

Isaac was in a perfect position at the end of my pregnancy but when I went into labour he was back to back which resulted in a very long labour, near c-section and eventually an assisted delivery. If I have another baby its one of them things I'm going to worry about.

Can anyone shed any light on this for me?

Lou

 

[violet-glow]

I was back to back when my mum was pregnant with me, im told it was VERY painfull for her. I was born looking up as a result I had a sqashed nose, but it sorted itself out lol.

After I was born my mum had my brother 7 years later, no problems with him and no problems with my older brother a sister. I guess its just one of those things. I dont think theres anything to prevent it. I wouldnt stress over it hun, you'll just get yourself worked up and upset

Maybe talk to the midwife and tell her your fears?

 

[Lou]

awww thanks

I'm not upset its just one of them things that I worry about everytime I think about having another baby. (I'm not actually pg by the way)! And I thought who better to ask than you guys and that if I post the thread in the ask a mum section then my replies could benefit the pregnant girls for when they go into labour.

Lou

 

[Dee1985]

not sure why they go back to back??? Dior was back to back and it was sooooooo much more longer and painfull then Harley
it was like a knife in the bottom of my back being twisted and twised and my ass was killing lol

 

[Lou]

Thats it Dionne, put my mind at rest

Only joking. It was painful with Isaac but unlike you I have nothing to compare the pain to. You can compare it to Harley's birth. I did have an epidural at 3cm dilation though

They laid me on my side when I was in labour and Isaac did move but as soon as I went on my back he flipped again. Why I didnt just give birth on my side I don't know?

Lou

 

[Nicky_Jones]

At the antenatal clinic we were given advice on how to stop this. (Whether or not it makes any difference I have no idea). They said, from 34 weeks:

Avoid sitting back in chairs (ie relaxing back in a sofa).
Sit upright, or slightly forward as much as possible.
Sit on a dining room chair backwards leaning forward onto the back of the chair.
Sit on a gym ball.
Sleep on your side (preferably left hand side).

I have been trying to do these things reguarly, but there are times when I am tired that I just want to slouch on the sofa with my feet up, especially because of how swollen they are. At the last checkup (36 week one), she said that her back was to my left hand side but she was angling towards my back, so I have redoubled my efforts with the above instructions and sodded my feet, they aren't too painful.

NB Apologies if the ticker isn't working properly, I have only just tried to set it up.

 

[Urchin]

All that sitting advice is great....I was back to back with Mason and did all of that stuff when I was pregnant with Brody to try and avoid it.
I also spent lots of time on all fours, to try and make sure he was in the right position too. I think it must have helped as I had no problems at the birth. I also found these tips:

Self-Help tips to encourage the baby to lie correctly



*Try to keep as active as possible throughout the pregnancy.


* ‘Walk tall’, pushing your head upwards as if suspended by a string. Do not allow your lower back to slump into a very hollow position.


*Sitting slouched in soft chairs encourages the baby to turn into the back to back position. Where possible, sit with your bottom well back in the chair and the lower back supported. Better still, sitting on a foam wedge, or on a chair that has a seat that tilts forward, actively encourages the baby to lie correctly.


*If your baby is lying in either a breech or back to back position, then spending some time each day in an ‘all fours’ position can help it to turn.

 

[kellie80]

i'll be trying all these tips this time as aimee went back to back and the birth was so much more painful than jess who was in the right position. really scared of the birth this time!

 

[Keely]

oh thanks girls ... my boy is back to back and i only have a few days left!!!

now i am shitting myself!! haha

xxxxxx

 

[Strangeness]

I was told all the way through that my son was the right way until I went into labour and they felt his head and said he was back to back. I didn't progress past 4cm and had a section but don't think that was to do with back to back. Just thought it was weird how for ages they told me I was feelings his bum when I guess it was his legs lol.

 

[Lou]

Hi

I didn't do any exercises or sitting up tall etc, I just slouched on the sofa all day towards the end of my pregnancy like a beached whale! Thanks for your replies. I will definately make efforts to avoid it next time now
Oh and Keely they do say that back to back is more painful but they have good pain relief available if thats what you want. I had gas and air all the way through (even when I didnt need it for pain, just for my nerves lol) and the epidural is amazing! So you can be pain free but it might just take a bit longer than a baby that is the right way to come out.

Don't worry about giving birth. Its the best experience you'll ever have!

Lou

 

[Cat&Noah]

I was really annoyed with the midwife I had when I gave birth, cause I went all the way through labour without being told Noah was back to back, untill It was time to push, then they told me!!! By which time it was obviously to late to try to get him to turn. I have heard that you can do things like walking sideways up and down stairs, or going on all fours etc to try to get the baby to turn, which can be sucessfull.

I dont know how much its worth doing these things through out your pregnancy though as it seems that your baby can be the right way round throughout and just decide to turn at the end. It would probaly help more in which case to avoid labouring lying on your back, but option for sitting/squatting or going on all fours to discourage this.

 

[violet-glow]

I also spent lots of time on all fours, to try and make sure he was in the right position too.

pmsl! I wont ask why you were on all fours

 

[Lou]

lol

I was thinking today that maybe Isaac was back to back and stayed back to back because he had the cord around his neck when he was delivered so maybe the cord was pulling him into that position?

Lou

 

[Jadie]

i had been having contractions for 3 days, at a mlu. when i got moved to the big hospital. as oliver heart was slowing down. the first person to check said he was back to back. i always wonder how all those other midwife who had a feel up there had not relised!