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Back on Track

Tips for Easing Back Labor

By Kendeyl Johansen

Some women find that changing position helps ease back labor. "Labor and delivery nurses will often have the laboring patient get on her hands and knees in bed or roll to one side or another," Dr. Curtis says. Phyllis Ring of New Hampshire was physically ready to deliver her daughter after 10 hours of labor, but she went through another 10 hours of back labor (sometimes on hands and knees) working to turn her daughter around. "My daughter and I still talk about the birth story and joke that we're both hard-working women," she says.

Of course, every woman's labor and delivery is different, but Dr. Curtis offers several tips for easing back labor pain:

• Try laboring on hands and knees. This position eases pressure on the back.
• Ask someone to massage the painful area of the back.
• Apply heat to the painful area.
• Try soaking in a hot tub.
• Request pain medications such as I.V. Demerol or ask for an epidural.

Lynne Anderson found massage helpful during her back labor. "My husband is a massage therapist, and he was able to massage my lumbar muscles and provide counter pressure against the force of the contractions," she says. Although she found walking difficult during contractions it also helped ease the pain.

Back labor isn't miserable for everyone. Teresa Smith of Texas feels tha her back labor delivery was easier than delivering her second child. During her second delivery, which was induced, she ended up with a Cesarean delivery because the umbilical cord was wrapped around her son's neck and he was stuck in the birth canal. "My induced labor seemed worse because the contractions didn't build gradually, and with my back labor delivery the pain disappeared immediately after the baby was born," she says.

Want to see more?

• Just in Case: Making a Plan for Cesarean Birth
• Speedy Delivery: When Forceps are Necessary
• Optimal Foetal Positioning: Rocking Your Way to a Straightforward Birth

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