back labor?

a_chance2007

can anyone explain to me exactly what back labor is.. ive heard about it.. i just dont think i understand what it is

shannynhall

Generally when the baby is in the posterior position or "sunny side up" and the contractions are felt in the back much moreso than in the front. It's quite painful and the best way to relieve the pain is with warm water or getting on all fours to get the baby to come forward more.

manda_mullins

I think it's when the baby is facing posterior and puts pressure on your spine/tailbone.?

?

I'm probably wrong though.?

*Caress*

I experienced this the other day.

First, I was having constant pain that wasn't going away. It lasted for about an hour and went away (some what) then the sharp pains started every 15-20 minutes.  They were sharp pains, kinda hard to explain but very different from normal back pain.  I couldn't sit through it, I had to rock my body back and forth to feel a bit of comfort.

I went to L&D and I was contracting...

They told me to drink more water, take it easy and no intercourse for 5 days.

 HTH.

meddy1977

I just got back from childbirthing class, so the explanation we got is fresh in my mind!

It's when the baby is turned so that it would be face up coming out. I've heard it called "sunny side up" but our instructor called it posterior. Most of the time the baby is facing towards your spine/tailbone when it comes out of your pelvis/birth canal. When its head is turned towards your spine instead, the back of the baby's head is harder and causes a lot of pain in your back/tailbone area.

 We learned stretches/lunges and positions to try to turn a baby that is facing that way. She also taught us to use something round and cold to press in the tailbone area to manage the pain (like an iced can of pop). I can't imagine what it actually feels like though the instructor said we should all hope we don't have it!

 

angeltex

shannynhall:

Generally when the baby is in the posterior position or "sunny side up" and the contractions are felt in the back much moreso than in the front. 

Exactly!  I had this with DD.  We didn't know until she was crowning that she was sunny side up. 

a_chance2007

angeltex:

shannynhall:

Generally when the baby is in the posterior position or "sunny side up" and the contractions are felt in the back much moreso than in the front. 

Exactly!  I had this with DD.  We didn't know until she was crowning that she was sunny side up. 

was it as painful as everyone says?

angeltex

a_chance2007:

angeltex:

shannynhall:

Generally when the baby is in the posterior position or "sunny side up" and the contractions are felt in the back much moreso than in the front. 

Exactly!  I had this with DD.  We didn't know until she was crowning that she was sunny side up. 

was it as painful as everyone says?

Once labor got going really strong it hurt like hell even through my epi.  At first I just thought my back was hurting really bad.  That I had hurt the muscles when cleaning (nesting).  This baby is also sunny side up and I am already having bad back pain.  Plus baby is transverse.  C/S next Friday will relieve this pain. 

a_chance2007

angeltex:

a_chance2007:

angeltex:

shannynhall:

Generally when the baby is in the posterior position or "sunny side up" and the contractions are felt in the back much moreso than in the front. 

Exactly!  I had this with DD.  We didn't know until she was crowning that she was sunny side up. 

was it as painful as everyone says?

Once labor got going really strong it hurt like hell even through my epi.  At first I just thought my back was hurting really bad.  That I had hurt the muscles when cleaning (nesting).  This baby is also sunny side up and I am already having bad back pain.  Plus baby is transverse.  C/S next Friday will relieve this pain. 

yeah, i have been having some back pain but idk if its to early to know or not.. some days i get these sharp pains and some days its a constant pain.. but then there are days where i have no pain.. my mom told me i should read up on back labor just in case thats what it is.. but idk if its to early to tell i mean im only 30 weeks.. lots of time for baby to move around.. right? lol

good luck next friday

DaisyAdair

I had back labor with my 1st and she wasn't posterior.  I just got lucky.

To be totally graphic, I thought she was going to come out of my a$$.  At one point, I screamed that "my a$$ is going to tear open and I'm going to need a colostomy bag".  

I never, ever thought pain like that could exist.  It felt like someone was tearing my spine out through my a$$.  

To top it off, back contractions generally come piggy-back, so there is no break.  I was screaming....why is there no break?  Why are they coming so close together??

That monitor that they stick on your stomach sometimes won't work if you have back labor.  It didn't read any contractions because my stomach never got tight.  I needed an internal monitor.

It was hell and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.  All I could do was lay on my left side and clutch the bed and scream....it was like one long contraction that peaked and eased and peaked and eased, but it never stopped.  

I also never had any "early labor".  Just, all at once, mind-blowing pain coming 3mns apart.....an hour later....1mn apart....got to the hospital, right on top of each other.

Thankfully, I didn't have it with my 2nd.  I pray and pray I don't have it with my 3rd because my epidural was USELESS through the entire thing.  That's interesting to see another poster had back labor and an epi that didn't help the pain.  

I was begging God to take me....or at least let me black out.  I was screaming at everyone - told my OB "if you can't manage my pain, you're going to have to come up with another way to get this baby out of me!"

I look back and still can't believe that pain and have no idea how I got through those 22hrs.  

I would recommend reading up on it.....I had no idea that could happen and was totally unprepared and horrified with the experience.  

jayslea

"it was like one long contraction that peaked and eased and peaked and eased, but it never stopped"

That's exactly how it was for me with my first; she was also posterior. Fortunately for me my labor was only 3 hours long. Although it was quite painful, I managed without an epidural; I used breathing to help cope and relax. If you feel that your baby may be posterior, check out this website:

www.spinningbabies.com

teiaj

I would like to piggy back on what the moms' who have gone through have to say. I had back labor with my first son and the pain was ridiculous. I didn't have any meds and i just thought i was going to tear either the baby or the spine out but one had to go. I tried every thing imaginable and nothing easied the pain other than a shower. With back labor you are not trying to hear anyone tell you to get on all fours or any other position because when that type of pain hits you are in state of shock, pain, and it is never ending until the child is born!