SPD and back to back baby

[Chilli]

I'm about to have my baby anyday and the little monkey has decided to go back to back at the last minute I discovered yesterday. I was quite worried about the SPD, but now with this as well I'm terrified that things will go wrong and at best I'll end up in terrible pain for hours, at worst that something might happen to my LO. Al lthe advice I can find seems to be conflicting: have and epidural, whatever you do don't have an epidural, lie this way, lie that way, don't lie down.... does anybody have some first hand advice that really worked pleeeeaaase?

 

[Emzywemzy]

With my first, I had SPD and my LO was back to back too. I didn't find out she was back to back til I was well into labour though! It made the first part of labour very slow, it took me a long time to get to 4cm and I felt very uncomfortable. I was told it was because she was back to back and had to turn all the way around before she could descend properly. I have been told since that getting on all fours and trying to sit forwards as much as possible (ie not relaxing into the sofa!) could help a back to back baby turn the right way around. As for the SPD, I had it pretty bad, but I didn't even notice it during labour, it didn't affect things at all and as soon as she was born, the pain went away. Good luck! x

 

[Chilli]

Thanks Emz - I'm so glad to hear from someone about this. Yes I've heard the same things so am trying to do this as much as poss but it's tiring not being able to sit back. Have also been swimming as that seems to soothe everything

 

[ayeshasi]

My last baby was back to back and i had severe spd. Didnt know baby was back to back unti he popped out LOL. However, labour was longer and a bit more painful....SPD didnt really have an effect, so dont worry about that. I just would not get off the birthing ball as it really helped me.

 

[Rebaby]

Back-to-back labours do tend to be longer as baby doesn't usually descend as quickly and if he/she decides to turn on the way then that can take time too.

Toby was back to back and not engaged at the start of labour so it did take him a looong time to get moving, i found that sitting on my birthing ball leaning forwards over the side of the hospital bed really eased the back pain. Other than that i have no comparison to how a 'normal' labour would feel so can't comment, but i did keep feeling a lot of pressure in my bum which would make me want to raise my bum up in the air during the peak of a contraction

I did have an epidural later on in my labour with him, although not because of the back labour but because of the synto (hormone drip to speed things along- which wasn't given because he was back to back but because my waters had broken and i was group b strep positive and my contractions, although strong, were quite irregular)

I don't think spd should make a massive difference to either you or LO during labour, although research suggests actually an epidural is not such a good idea if you have spd as you may then be encouraged to open your legs wider than you can actually manage with the spd (iykwim?) or adopt uncomfortable positions when you have little feeling, and then end up hurting yourself without realising.

Water (i.e. a bath in early labour or using the pool for labour/birth) should really help with the pain from the spd and give you more freedom of movement and buoyancy. I had mild pgp with Toby but quite severe pelvic pain this time to the extent i can't really walk properly and i know when i go to aquababies with Toby every week the feeling of getting in the warm water is wonderful, i'd like to stay in there forever so i'm hoping labouring in water will have the same effect.

There are a few things you can try to get baby to tip so his spine is towards your abdomen, spending plenty of time on your birthing ball, or on all fours for e.g. and not too much time reclining backwards or sitting in a car seat. Ideally you want your knees to be lower than your hips as much as possible.

This LO was back to back for a while earlier on but seems to be behaving at the minute (for now anyway!) i have spent a lot of time on my birthing ball rotating my hips like i am doing hula-hooping Sometimes they just get comfy a certain way though and there's nothing you can do about it

Back-to-back labour is one of those things which can make a big difference to how labour progresses, in the sense it can definitely slow things down and make it more intense, but equally, there are lots of women who give birth to babies who are back to back and come out facing up, without even realising! I think sometimes it has a bad press iykwim?

HTH and helps to put your mind at ease

 

[Chilli]

Thanks rebaby and ayeshasi for you helpful comments and reassurance.

I had had similar thoughts about epidural and water births rebaby so I think that's what I'm going to aim for. Swimming is great at the mo, especially with this heat - my feet are like balloons!

Gosh we're so close now, I'd forgotten how scary yet exciting it is!

 

[lynnikins]

Rebaby has covered what i was going to say quite well,

i had severe pgp with EJ and delivered him lying on my left side on the edge of the bed with my OH behind my lower back supporting my right leg, unfortunatly my waterbirth was out of the question since i had been induced, i spent most of the labour on the birthing ball leaning forwards onto the edge of the bed or just sat upright on the edge of the bed

 

[Connah'sMommy]

I suffered sooo badly with SPD to the point where i couldnt walk! I was dilated with terrible back labour for over a week (basically the worst backache iv ever had for over a week :/ ) Then i went into labour naturally at 39+6 and he turned right at the last minute so dont worry too much. There is every chance your bubs will move and your MW will be able to show you certain things to do to help bubs shift a little bit

hth xx

 

[Chilli]

Thanks everyone - can barely walk today but at last check baby has turned a bit and is now back to side so hopefully will all be ok. I don't want to rush the poor little thing, but I'd like to get it over with now!!!!