Once back labor, always back labor?

[DeChRi]

With DD1 and DD2 I had HORRIBLE back labor. Does this mean I am bound for it in my next birth? It is from something structural with me?

[fruitfulmomma]

What was their positioning? I think back labor generally comes from the baby being back to back with momma. If that was the case with you, some fetal positioning exercises might help next time. You may want check out http://www.spinningbabies.com/ for some info on that.

[paxye]

My first two were Posterior babies, long, long labours with tons of back labour and stalling labour...

ds#3 was my biggest baby, LOA (optimal position) and was a short and easy labour with no back labour at all...

The Spinning babies site was great and I also believe that taking the stress out of the pregnancy and birth by taking charge of both helped completely...

[inkedmamajama]

no, i had back labor with my first, but not the others-so it really is different each time.

[wombatclay]

You might consider chiropractic treatments as well, just in case there is something tipping your babes towards a less tham optimal position. And the spinningbabies (or the optimal fetal positioning page which some people like better) is great as well for helping get babes lined up.

And perhaps look into belly dance as a prenatal exercise program... it helps with pelvic/lower back tone, and might help you loosen and balance your pelvis in case you're perhaps holding tension in the muscles that is causing back labor pain.

However... it may be that "back labor" sensations are just the way your body does labor. I had long back labor with dd1, totally "normal" labor with dd2, and insane whole body labor with ds. Each birth was very very different but I know women who follow the same birth pattern with each of their children. I don't mean to be a downer, and I think things like chiro, self hypnosis, spinning babies, active birth, belly dance, yoga, etc can make a big difference. But I also think that if you have back labor in the future it doesn't mean you've done anything wrong.

[callieollie]

I had horrible back labor with my first. He was most likely posterior, based on the back labor, the long labor, long contractions, where I felt kicks, etc. With my second, she flippped all around during the pregnancy but once labor started, she was in the ideal position and it was an easy 3 1/2 hours of birthing time. They were COMPLETELY different births.

[Turquesa]

nak like the op, I had two wretched back labor experiences. The second time, I even did my spinning babies and cat stretches and birth ball pelvic tilts religiously. No luck. OP, do you have a tilted uterus? I did and my mw said that that was likely the cause for me. The angle seemed to move my babies to a posterior position. Just a thought.

[muttix2]

I had back labor with my older two. My labor with my youngest hardly had any back labor at all. I drank a ton of RRL tea while pregnant with my youngest (I didn't drink any with either of my boys) but I can't point to anything else I did differently. I may have done more yoga but I'm not sure on that.

[Peony]

I'm the opposite, had regular labors for the first two and then the third was horrid back labor. I'm really, really hoping not to do that again if we go for a 4th someday.

[sarahn4639]

I think I have a structural abnormality that causes back labor as well.

My first was posterior despite chiro and good positioning techniques.

My second was anterior all the way through and in most of labor, it was totally do-able and felt really different. Transition was hard but not as much so as with my first. Then my water broke and he turned posterior. It was the same horrendous back breaking feeling as he came out. He actually presented posterior.

I think there is something about my pelvis or something that needs my babies to pass through posterior. I hope that's wrong and my next baby comes anterior, I can only imagine how easy that would seem in comparison!

[FreeRangeMama]

I think that some people just get back labour. I have had 4 babies. I have done chiro, spinning babies, belly dance, the works and I have had back labour with each one. Some labours were long (27 hours of hard labour, stuck baby with 7 hours in transition....) and some were short (3 hours and she just flew out - fetal ejection reflux anyone?). And some definitely hurt more than others (did I mention the 7 hours of transition?). But each of my births have come with mostly back labour.

I should mention though that all of my pain hits me in the lower back. Menstrual cramps, stress, and even viral illnesses cause me lower back pain. Chiro really helps a lot, but even my chiro has noticed this tendency based on what she feels during adjustments.

It was better after each birth, mostly because I was more prepared for it. And really, having babies just hurts sometimes. I don't know if other kinds of labour pains are really "better", just different

[LiLStar]

1st: LOA in pregnancy, turned OP in labor. excruciating back labor, it was like being in transition for over 24 hours. c/s

2nd: ROA in pregnancy, flipped OA in labor, NO back labor. The only time the pain compared to the first time around was during transition. vbac. Saw webster chiro weekly

[durafemina]

I think the key here is to balance empowering yourself with knowledge re: optimal positioning versus accepting a wide range of what 'normal' labour & birth looks (feels!) like.

My first birth, dd was posterior did a long rotation that took 20 hours and then was born OA with 45 min of pushing.
Second birth, he stayed posterior the whole time and was born after 5 hoursof hard labour and just 10 minutes of pushing.
Both times, the pain was definitely focused all in the front.

I've also had clients recently who experienced labour in their backs and babies were never posterior.

ah, the crazy wild world of birth!

[MsBlack]

Just to reiterate some points already made:

Yes, you may have structural factors that produce back labor, but maybe not--or maybe are correctable. See a chiropractor, look into spinningbabies, figure out an exercise program for yourself (get help if need be) to do what you can to avoid another back labor.

Otherwise, work on labor preparation and support--if you do have another back labor, maybe it need not be too awful if you are able to handle it differently next time.

And otherwise, I guess--not to sound too cavalier--just bear in mind that however much labor may hurt, it is pain with a purpose and it only goes on for so long (usually less than a day) and then is done. With a baby to love in your arms at the end of it all....

[belltree]

I am glad I found this thread. I am a bit worried about back labor (and this is my first) and was looking for mom's that have dealt with it, without epidurals to look for some encouragement. Where there specific positions your preferred during back labor? What helped you?

[kitkat5505]

I had back labor with my first 2 but not at all with #3.

[DeChRi]

This is such wonderful info. Thanks so much for all of the replies.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

i had back labours with all 4 of my lo's but all pregnancies/births are different so this doesn't mean yours all will be.
i think mine were due to the fact that i could only sleep on my back when pregnant.

[Girlprof]

I had back labor with both deliveries. The first time I was so pissed! Somehow I had figured that back labor was for other people, LOL.

To the above poster who asked, I got through it w/no epidural or other drugs both times. Second time I had pitocin as well. For me, counter pressure on my lower back was absolutely crucial. With baby #1, my husband sprayed my lower back with warm water. With baby #2, I had a massage therapist and then my doula took over. Both times I also did a lot of labor lying on my side. That just worked best for me. I think staying mobile is key so you can try different positions and figure out what works for you.

[AllofGrace]

Originally Posted by belltree

I am glad I found this thread. I am a bit worried about back labor (and this is my first) and was looking for mom's that have dealt with it, without epidurals to look for some encouragement. Where there specific positions your preferred during back labor? What helped you?

I've had two back labors with DDs1 and 2, and I can totally recommend counterpressure in the middle of your lower back during contractions. Really tires out even my DH's very strong hands, though! For DD2 my MW suggested sitting on the commode (to give DH a break), and it was marvelous! Most of the pain was in the front then, but that was much more manageable---not at all like the mid-numbing back pain that went from my shoulders to my knees.

For this third time around, I'm looking into going to a cranial osteopath to try to resolve a lot of neck/shoulder pain that seems to contribute to the lower back pain in pregnancy and labor.

Best wishes!