Any thing you can do about back labor?
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My doula training suggests placing a foot on a chair and lunging towards the side baby's back is on during a contraction (or in between if that is uncomfortable). Also pelvic rocks and abdominal lifts. Hands and knees is a good pushing position for a posterior baby, if you feel so inclined. As with most things UC, I plan to listen to my body (I have had to OP babies, one was born that way. My chiro thinks it's an anomoly with my pelvis). Counterpressure and heat on your back can really help the back pain associated with an OP baby.
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I read labouring hands and knees, ass up encourages the baby to turn and takes pressure off your spine....I had back labour bad before and made to lay on my back, and I did not like it. so I worry for this as well.
I;m a chiropractor who learned a neat technique for handling back labor. It's hard to describe, but is written up in Midwifery Today years ago as "Posterior No More". The midwife who learned how to do it has been unsing it for 10 years and hasn't had a posterior birth in all that time.
You can also find it described in a book called "hands of love" by Carol Phillips, published by new dawn publishing.
Basically, back labor happens when the baby is descending the birth canal with Occiput (back of the head) posterior. So as they descend, the baby's nose and brow meet the pubic bone, and they pull their head back, right into the sacral nerve plexus on the front of the sacrum. That means their skull is pushing into 8, count 'em, 8 nerves, some as large as your pinky. It's not pleasant.
Things you can do - make sure your spine is in line. Get checked by a chiropractor regularly during your pregnancy. If your sacrum (triangle bone at the bottom of your spine) is misaligned, then it pulls on the broad ligament, that attaches to the front of the sacrum and the uterus, pulling your womb a bit crooked. That crookedness can effect the baby and how well they line up when the birth comes.
Get daily exercise, walking is fabulous.
Consider a cranial-sacral therapist if you have ever fallen right on your bum. That kind of fall can put tension into the fascia, which can effect the pelvic floor muscles and also the position of your womb, which then effects your baby.
Last of all, if you are having back labor, get on all fours,and have your knees up about two steps (like stairs-steps) higher then your head. Put your head down on the floor and hang out for a few minutes. Sometimes this can result in the baby actually backing up, shaking its little head, and realigning properly.
If you want more info about the technique I learned that is described in that book, feel free to pm me or email me. If I get the time, I could try to type it out here, if there is interest.
All the best
Lisa
You can also find it described in a book called "hands of love" by Carol Phillips, published by new dawn publishing.
Basically, back labor happens when the baby is descending the birth canal with Occiput (back of the head) posterior. So as they descend, the baby's nose and brow meet the pubic bone, and they pull their head back, right into the sacral nerve plexus on the front of the sacrum. That means their skull is pushing into 8, count 'em, 8 nerves, some as large as your pinky. It's not pleasant.
Things you can do - make sure your spine is in line. Get checked by a chiropractor regularly during your pregnancy. If your sacrum (triangle bone at the bottom of your spine) is misaligned, then it pulls on the broad ligament, that attaches to the front of the sacrum and the uterus, pulling your womb a bit crooked. That crookedness can effect the baby and how well they line up when the birth comes.
Get daily exercise, walking is fabulous.
Consider a cranial-sacral therapist if you have ever fallen right on your bum. That kind of fall can put tension into the fascia, which can effect the pelvic floor muscles and also the position of your womb, which then effects your baby.
Last of all, if you are having back labor, get on all fours,and have your knees up about two steps (like stairs-steps) higher then your head. Put your head down on the floor and hang out for a few minutes. Sometimes this can result in the baby actually backing up, shaking its little head, and realigning properly.
If you want more info about the technique I learned that is described in that book, feel free to pm me or email me. If I get the time, I could try to type it out here, if there is interest.
All the best
Lisa
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Hi, sorry its been so long since i checked back. Thank you for your replies.
I had back labor the whole time exsept for the last few mins. It was like her head had gotten past the pressure point.
I also had had a lot knotted up muscles in my hip/butt area while pregnant that caused sharp pain when I moved. Do you think that could have been a sign of a messed up back or just normal pregnant stuff?
I almost went to see a chiropractor several times and never made it.
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Im deffanantly planning on it next time.
I had back labor the whole time exsept for the last few mins. It was like her head had gotten past the pressure point.
I also had had a lot knotted up muscles in my hip/butt area while pregnant that caused sharp pain when I moved. Do you think that could have been a sign of a messed up back or just normal pregnant stuff?
I almost went to see a chiropractor several times and never made it.
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Without planning on it I did everything you suggested, Chantel, exsept the foot on chair lunging thing. I've read about that before and I'm still not sure I understand how its done or what it does. Maybe I'll have to spend more time reading about it.
It's amazing what a body does when one is left to do what feels right. The counter pressure, heat on back, pelvicrocks, being on knees hanging on the side of tub were all a big help.
I have one friend who has had back labor for all of her 7 kids exsept the last one and she said the difference was an ennema. I had never heard of that but what do you guys think? I guess I always thought that BM was loose during childbirth so shouldn't be that big of a deal.
It's amazing what a body does when one is left to do what feels right. The counter pressure, heat on back, pelvicrocks, being on knees hanging on the side of tub were all a big help.
I have one friend who has had back labor for all of her 7 kids exsept the last one and she said the difference was an ennema. I had never heard of that but what do you guys think? I guess I always thought that BM was loose during childbirth so shouldn't be that big of a deal.
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I also had back labor except for the last few minutes of the birth. At the time, I didn't know what back labor was, what caused it, or about any of these techniques, so I didn't try them. If I weren't butt naked in front a bunch of people, more may have come to me intuitively, like the hands and knees position. One thing that my body liked, was having dh put his hands on my lower back and hips, and just shakes them back and front, with a lot or force. He thought he was going to hurt the baby, but I really wanted him to do it. The baby came out anterior in the end.
I also had had a lot knotted up muscles in my hip/butt area while pregnant that caused sharp pain when I moved. Do you think that could have been a sign of a messed up back or just normal pregnant stuff?
That describes me perfectly. And yes, chiropractic helps that. My back was out of wack a few weeks ago and the muscles in my hip/butt got so tight my husband tried to massage and all I could do was flinch away from his touch. I had shooting pains up my back and down that leg. I saw my chiro and 20 minutes later walked out of there pain free. I think that's sacrum related but I'm not sure. I know it's low back and he said one leg was longer than the other at that point too. I highly recommend good chiro care throughout the preg to keep you inline so the babe can be lined up.
hands and knees helped me in labor too
good luck
violet
That describes me perfectly. And yes, chiropractic helps that. My back was out of wack a few weeks ago and the muscles in my hip/butt got so tight my husband tried to massage and all I could do was flinch away from his touch. I had shooting pains up my back and down that leg. I saw my chiro and 20 minutes later walked out of there pain free. I think that's sacrum related but I'm not sure. I know it's low back and he said one leg was longer than the other at that point too. I highly recommend good chiro care throughout the preg to keep you inline so the babe can be lined up.
hands and knees helped me in labor too
good luck
violet
Mainly, don't lie down on your back once you're in labour, it hurts like H***.
I had back labour all the way through but she turned while I was pushing at the end and came out OA but as long as I stayed tilted forwards the whole time it was totally manageable. I did lots of standing leaning forwards against my kitchen counter and then got into the pool and leant forwards over the side.
I had back labour all the way through but she turned while I was pushing at the end and came out OA but as long as I stayed tilted forwards the whole time it was totally manageable. I did lots of standing leaning forwards against my kitchen counter and then got into the pool and leant forwards over the side.
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