Manage Back Labor

Back labor occurs when most of the pain of labor is concentrated in the lower back. If the baby enters the birth canal face up rather than face down, back labor is more likely but it can also occur on its own regardless of the baby's position. There are a variety of ways to deal with back labor, from natural means to medications.

Steps

Managing Back Labor Naturally

1. Try a massage. If you begin to experience pain associated with back labor, ask your partner, birthing coach, or anyone else who may be in the room with you to give you a back massage. This can help ease some of the pain associated with back labor.
   • Have your partner apply counter pressure to your lower back with a balled up fist. Rolling something along the back, like a tennis ball, can also help.
   • The double hip squeeze is a massage position that many women find helpful during back labor. Lean forward and have two people apply pressure to your hips.
2. Take a short walk. Moving during labor can help ease the pain of back labor. This could also improve fetal position, making back labor less acute. Most hospitals will let you walk in the hallways during labor, provided there are no specific complications related to your pregnancy that would make walking difficult.
3. Change positions. Shifting how you are sitting during labor can help shift fetal position and ease the pain of back labor.
   • If possible, try straddling a chair and leaning forward slightly. You could also kneel against a pile of pillows or, if available, a birthing ball.
   • You can also get on your hands and knees temporarily as this eases pressure in the spine, a major contributor to the pains and discomforts of back labor.
   • Try lying on your side instead of your back when lying down as this can help change your baby's position and ease pains of back labor.
4. Apply heat. Applying heat to the back, hips, and sides can help soothe pains associated with back labor.
   • You can use a heating pad, as long as your hospital allows this and there is somewhere in the labor room to plug it in.
   • You can also bring in a homemade hot compress. You can usually just apply warm water to a towel until it's damp and apply it to the area that's experiencing pain. A nurse may be able to provide a compress for you.
   • Cold also helps ease pain. If applying heat is not working, try an ice pack or a cold, damp towel.

Seeking Medical Care

1. Use analgesic medicines. Analgesic medicines are a popular form of pain relief during pregnancy. Such medicines are usually injected into a vein or muscle to help ease pain during labor.
   • These medicines are usually used very early during labor and are designed to help you rest to save energy for later in labor. However, you can ask your doctor about use of analgesic medicines if you're experiencing back labor and see if she has any suggestions.
   • There is generally a low risk of complications when using analgesic medicines.
2. Ask about regional anesthesia. Many women use regional anesthesia to treat labor pains, especially those that come in the later stages of childbirth. Ask your doctor about what options are safe for you.
   • There are typically three types of regional anesthesia used during labor: epidural, spinal, and a combined spinal epidural.
   • In an epidural, a thin plastic tube is placed in the back and medicine is released when needed. The tube is left in place throughout labor and can be used to inject a stronger dose of medication if a caesarian section is necessary.
   • Spinals are usually only used in the event of a caesarian section. A single injection to the spine is used to administer medication.
   • In a combination of the two, the spinal injection is used but a tube remains in place in case more medication is needed.
   • It usually takes 10 to 20 minutes before regional anesthesia works. A lot of research has been conducted on the effects of regional anesthesia on the baby and it is very safe for you and your baby.
   • The obstetrician can also administer a pudendal nerve block, but this is usually done immediately prior to pushing and it is not as effective as epidural.
3. Consider drugs. There are a variety of pain killing medications available that are safe to use during labor.
   • A variety of opiates are safe for use during labor. They are usually given in the form of an injection. While they are safe to use for you and your baby, they may cause nausea and sleeplessness and a temporary depression in breathing.
   • Nitrous oxide is an odorless, tasteless gas that is inhaled and is often used to ease pain during pregnancy in the United States.

Preventing Back Labor

1. Exercise before labor begins. During the last stages of your pregnancy, a variety of exercises can be used to prevent back labor from occurring.
   • Try doing pelvic tilts. This is where you get on your hand and knees, curl up your back, and then straighten it out. It helps loosen ligaments and relieves back pain some experience during pregnancy. It can also help position the fetus to prevent back labor.
   • Invest in a birth ball and spend a little time each day sitting on the ball and doing light exercises with it. You can sit on the ball and rock your pelvis from side to side , rotate your hips from side to side, or lean over the ball in a kneeling position and rock your hips. Wait until you are at 35–36 weeks to try this.
2. Watch how you sit. How you sit in the months leading up to labor can have an effect on the position of your baby. Try to sit in a position that prevents your knees from being lower than your hips and avoid sitting too deeply in couches and recliners.
3. Move around during the early stages of labor. When labor begins, try move around as much as possible. This can keep the baby from getting into a position that would lead to back labor.
   • Try to avoid lying on your back too much during the course of your pregnancy. This can reduce your risk of back labor when you go into labor. During labor itself, try to sit up as much as possible. If you need to lie down, try to lie on your side.
   • Walk around the hospital during the early stages of labor and do some pelvic tilts.
   • Try sitting backward on a chair or toilet when you need to sit.

Tips

• Ask your attending nurse or doctor for pain medication to help manage the pain that occurs during and between contractions, while in the first stage of labor.
• Spending some time in a bath can also be helpful during labor.

Warnings

• Use caution with heat packs. If they are too hot, they can cause serious burns to your skin.

Related Articles

• Pack Your Bag Before Going Into Labour

Sources and Citations

See also

• Become a Doula in Wisconsin
• Write a Birth Plan
• Treat Postpartum Pain
• Recognize Contractions
• Deliver a Baby
• Speed Up Labor
• Have a Baby Boy
• Check a Cervix for Dilation
• Give Birth at Home
• Prepare Yourself for Labor and Delivery

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