If you've had back labor...

evelyntaylor

I had horrible back labor with my son who was a true OP baby, coming out sunny side up. I ended up getting an epi after 12 hours. I could hardly stand and was put on O2. The epi really helped me relax, but I was aiming for no drugs and I am doing so again. Any mamas who have had 2+ births not have back labor again? And if you did, were you able to cope w/o drugs? If so, how? TIA.

aylafsu88

I am not a STM but I did have pretty bad back labor with my LO.  I found that hands and knees in the tub with H/doula pouring hot water over my lower back really helped. When I was in triage waiting to check in they used a lot of counter pressure to help with the pain. I do not think I would have lasted if I was in the bed or walking around.  Remember every labor is different so you may not experience the same intense back labor like you did before!  If you do have back labor again try lots of different things/positions to find what really works for you. GL!

bdutton0005

What PP said plus you SO or nurse putting counter pressure on you saccral area. And I've been told someone using tennis balls to message your bac is a big help also.

tokenhoser

Hip compression and back counterpressure helped me a lot last time; my baby was born OP but my labour was only about 14 hours, with really only 7 hours of hard labour and 90 min of pushing in there.

I do plan on being a little more diligent on the spinning babies exercises near the end of my pregnancy to try to get baby in a better position this time.

wifeofadam

#1 was OP and like you, I ended up getting an epi

#2 was easy as pie and I did it med-free

#3 was OP again but I was able to do it med-free (although if I hadn't been at home I may have begged for the epi)

Praying #4 isn't OP too, but I think my pelvis just likes OP babies

shortstuff15

I had an OP baby with number 1 and she also came out sunny side up and I also had back labour and an epi with her.  In fact make the 12 hours 24 and you and I have an almost idential story.

With #2 I made sure that I was sitting properly throughout my whole pregnancy, did lots of hands & knees time (easy when you have a toddler running around!) and did a lot more reading in regards to natural birth.  I ended up with back labour only during the car ride to the hospital and I was able to stand leaning over the bed while in triage to move it back to my hips/front.  I also delivered on my hands and knees.  I did have laughing gas for a while (going from 4 to 5 cms) but once transition started (it started for me at 5 cms) I ditched it and went oh natural.  It was hard but recovery was much easier and I just felt a lot better from the get go.  However that may also be because #1 was a 30 hour labour and #2 was 7.  Lot of factors played into it and so I don't know exactly what made the difference, but I was able to go natural with #2 with almost no back labour.

barnwife

I have had back labor with both LOs. Both were med-free homebirths. 

Was back labor awful (okay, horrendous)? Absolutely. Was it manageable? Of course.

The thing that I find most helpful in dealing with back labor is counterpressure. DH applies pressure in just the right 2 spots on my back. And when I say he applies pressure, I mean he pushes as hard as he can without knocking me over/pushing me off my chair/whatever. 

Being free to change positions also helps me. I also like thinking that no contraction can overpower me because they are a part of me. I also try to picture exactly what is happening (in this case, the cervix opening).

With A., I also enjoyed being in the tub (she was a waterbirth). FWIW, though, water did not appeal to me at all while in labor with J. 

All of that helped me to manage my back labor both times. While neither LO was OP, J. was born with a hand by his head. 

GL!

Dman85

I had back labor with my first. Haven't had my second yet, but I was able to do it all drug free. DS was delivered sunnyside up as well. What really helped was getting in the tub, it took a lot of pressure off and my body was able to relax and be less tense. I had my husband doing the pressure point on the back as well. I am planning a water birth this time around "crossing fingers" that I won't have back labor though! Good luck!

Celyn

I had an OP with back labor the first time, and a perfect little painless LOA the second time.

 

abell77

My first was a true OP baby, nearly three hours of pushing and he came out sunny side up.  I managed to make it through without an epi, and I think it was in large part due to our preparation with Bradley method.  My husband was a great coach and helped me to stay motivated.  Also I was at a hospital that allowed for water births so while I did not end up actually delivering in the water, I did a large part of my laboring in the water.  Before a tub was ready for me I straddled a chair in the shower with the water pointed at my lower back.

Second labor was completely different.  Baby was in the right position, I pushed about 5 or 6 times total, entire labor was 3.5 hours start to finish.  Let me tell you, contractions feel so much different when you do not have back labor. They were manageable, I didn't feel like I was losing my mind.  Also, I saw a chiropractor for routine adjustments throughout this pregnancy to help optimize baby's chances of getting into the right position.  

So just stay positive and remember that no two births are the same.  Good luck! 

 

BLPL101

I was induced with Pit so I couldn't use the tub or shower (I had back labor). DH used counter pressure and it helped immensely. I pushed for almost 2 hours (still having terrible back labor). The only position during pushing that wasn't excruciating was on my back with rolled towels putting pressure on my back. I went med free and I think I'm a wimp!

pregokat

just had my first child, he came out face down & back labor was horrible.

i didnt use any meds... you just kinda have to go with it and know it will be over soon.

the position that worked best for me was having the bed up at almost 90 degrees & kneeling over it then swaying my hips, i had my mom rubbing my back between my ribs & pelvis... other than that you just gotta try to be mentally prepared

then like the ladies said each pregnancy & birth is different so just try to prepare as much as possible  

iris427

I had back labor with both of mine.  #1 was persistent OP position, ending in a c/s.  #2 baby was born anterior but I still felt most of my labor in my back, so who knows?  But it was a lot less painful the second time around.  Laboring in the shower and tub really helped me cope with the pain.

pinksweetpea2

Both of my labors were primarily back labor and since I gave birth at home with both I never had the option of drugs.   My first labor was long (40 hours), but she turned well before I pushed her out.  My second was relatively short (12 hours), but the last hour I did most of my dilating, so it was super intense and she was posterior until I pushed her out (we figure she corkscrewed her way out).  

I did a lot before labor to prevent my second from being OP, but it didn't end up making a difference.  My MW said that some women just carry their babies that way.  ::shrugs:: 

While in labor I spent a lot of time (with both) in the polar bear position (head down on the bed with my butt in the air) to help encourage the babies to turn.  

As for the pain- for me, water was my savior...both the birthing tub and also the shower.  I found sitting on a yoga ball in the shower while DH sprayed water on my back REALLY helped.  

In the end though I just coped because I had to and because my support team (DH and MWs) never questioned that I couldn't.  

 

kathleen02

It's good to hear some of these stories...not all LOL Seems like there are a lot of repeat back labors. My labor was very long too and baby stalled. I just wouldn't progress past 7cm. I didn't know I was having back labor and only my doula caught on but it was pretty late in the game so no one helped with massaging my back so the shower was my saving grace. The tub sucked and laying down in general sucked. I'll definitely be trying to prevent it this time around but I think some women are just built this way. My sister had my nephew sunny side up but her labor was only 12 hours and maybe a half hour pushing. I think I can deal with that, not the 40 hours again.

SunshineShades

I was induced and had a pain-med free birth with back labour and a Sunny side up baby. Luckily for me my labour was only 4 hours and I only pushed for about 30 minutes. Because her heart rate dropped (likely because she was Sunny Side Up) the doctors did use a vacuum on 2 or 3 contractions to help get her out faster.

My Aunt/Doula believes if I had been able to have her with my midwives (I couldnt because of a placenta abruption hence the induction at 37 weeks) and wasn't attached to monitors the entire time I would have been able to get on my hands and knees and do other things to have her flip around the right way.

With it being my first, and being induced I don't really have a completely natural birth to compare it to to know the difference. But like I said I was able to do it all with no pain relief.

ETA: In coping with the pain. Having my aunt there was a huge help. She had me focus on her (I would copy her breathing) and only on each contraction as it came, and not to think beyond that contraction. She also reminded me when each contraction started to 'grab a hold' of the contraction before it got a hold of me. This helped a lot. I also had an awesome nurse who stayed with me the whole time and basically worked as another birth coach to help me stay focused on my wish to not have an epidural.

evelyntaylor

Thank you ladies! This does help. I think I might be one of those women who just carries my babies OP. However, I am so much more prepared on how to help the baby turn if that is the case. No one helped me the first time, even though the nurse noted that baby was OP, she never helped me get baby to turn. Ugh.