Natural birth and Back labor

charlotteL · July 2010

Does anyone have any tips or tricks for getting through back labor with out meds? I would really like to have a natural birth this time around.

melrrr · July 2010

Hypnobabies? I'm not a good one to listen to though because I gave up on it and got the epi at 8cm because the back labor was so bad.

https://www.hypnobabies.com/

LisaK2b · July 2010

I got the epi without even being dilated, so I don't know from experience if it works or not. But supposedly,there are some movements that you can do on the big ball that should help a little.

houstonkdw · July 2010

You can do it! It is truly a mind over matter game. When it is at it's worse, it's almost over. Do it! You will feel great afterwards. Such a different experience.

horn_jm@hotmail.com · July 2010

Bradley method ... DH's fist in my lower back, hot pack after hot pack.

KNJepp · July 2010

jeneric04:
Bradley method ... DH's fist in my lower back, hot pack after hot pack.

Since I did 99.9% of my laboring at home, I honestly have no idea if I had back labor or not b/c there wasn't anyone there to tell me. I am, however, a HUGE Bradley proponent after our experience. I can't recall off the top of my head if any of our Bradley materials (either from our course or the other materials we read ourselves) covered back labor specifically, but I think the relaxation it teaches would be of huge benefit.

BritanyV · July 2010

KNJepp:
jeneric04:
Bradley method ... DH's fist in my lower back, hot pack after hot pack.
Since I did 99.9% of my laboring at home, I honestly have no idea if I had back labor or not b/c there wasn't anyone there to tell me. I am, however, a HUGE Bradley proponent after our experience. I can't recall off the top of my head if any of our Bradley materials (either from our course or the other materials we read ourselves) covered back labor specifically, but I think the relaxation it teaches would be of huge benefit.

I'm guessing you most likely didn't have back labor because you KNOW you have it, no one tells you!

I was induced and I was having horrible back labor, I never felt anything in the front. I also had an epidural after about 7 hours of labor and I was barely at 3cm. I don't want to know how much worse it would have gotten if I hadn't got the epidural!

Erika&Brian · July 2010

I had back labor with both kiddos. First I got the epi at 9 cm, 2nd I was not able to get an epi (not by choice) due to him coming so fast. I think it really needs to be in your head that you want to be drug free so that it's not even an option to think about drugs. Make sure nurses, dr's, hubby, family know that is your wish so it's not even offered to you in your weakest moments. I personally don't think there are any magic positions etc. that will make things better - when you're in that much pain your body just does what it wants (curls up and screams LOL). :-).

If it weren't your 3rd kiddo, I would tell you to labor at home longer, but with #3 risk of coming so fast is very high so you need to be at hospital as soon as you start labor!

On the bright side #3 should come so fast the pain won't be as long lived. I agree with HoustonKdw that the recovery without drugs is absolutely 100x better all around.

kat.in.the.hat · July 2010

I think this is where a doula comes in so handy. They have an encyclopedia of positions for laboring that when you're in the throes of labor just don't occur for you to try. Also, like Erika said, they'll be constantly able to remind you that you can do it and just really encourage you not to even let the thought of meds enter in your head.

Also, check out the website for spinningbabies. You might consider seeing a massage therapist or acupuncturist closer to delivery time to help get the baby in a better position. If I remember correctly, isn't back labor mostly caused by the baby facing outward instead of towards the mom's back?

KNJepp · July 2010

BritanyV:
KNJepp:
jeneric04:
Bradley method ... DH's fist in my lower back, hot pack after hot pack.
Since I did 99.9% of my laboring at home, I honestly have no idea if I had back labor or not b/c there wasn't anyone there to tell me. I am, however, a HUGE Bradley proponent after our experience. I can't recall off the top of my head if any of our Bradley materials (either from our course or the other materials we read ourselves) covered back labor specifically, but I think the relaxation it teaches would be of huge benefit.
I'm guessing you most likely didn't have back labor because you KNOW you have it, no one tells you!

I have no idea. I was all-around quite uncomfortable b/c someone was coming out butt-first and we didn't know it. It turns out I also have a really high pain threshold...

BritanyV · July 2010

KNJepp:
BritanyV:
KNJepp:
jeneric04:
Bradley method ... DH's fist in my lower back, hot pack after hot pack.
Since I did 99.9% of my laboring at home, I honestly have no idea if I had back labor or not b/c there wasn't anyone there to tell me. I am, however, a HUGE Bradley proponent after our experience. I can't recall off the top of my head if any of our Bradley materials (either from our course or the other materials we read ourselves) covered back labor specifically, but I think the relaxation it teaches would be of huge benefit.
I'm guessing you most likely didn't have back labor because you KNOW you have it, no one tells you!
I have no idea. I was all-around quite uncomfortable b/c someone was coming out butt-first and we didn't know it. It turns out I also have a really high pain threshold...

Oh wow! That's why I said "guessing"....hmmm, butt first...I have no experience with that. What happened? How did you deliver him?

Mason was "sunny side up", which is usually the cause of back labor.

KNJepp · July 2010

BritanyV:
KNJepp:
I have no idea. I was all-around quite uncomfortable b/c someone was coming out butt-first and we didn't know it. It turns out I also have a really high pain threshold...
Oh wow! That's why I said "guessing"....hmmm, butt first...I have no experience with that. What happened? How did you deliver him?
Mason was "sunny side up", which is usually the cause of back labor.

We had no idea he was breech until he was coming out (the previous morning at my appointment he'd been head-down). He decided to come at 37 weeks. What everyone thinks happened is that he flipped around that evening and, in doing so, kicked a hole in my bag of waters (since my water breaking was the first indication we had that anything was happening). We delivered with midwives at a birth center, so even though it was a surprise, they viewed it as a variation on normal. What they thought was a bald head ended up being a butt (which they figured out when they saw a scrotum!).

Since we weren't at a hospital, I was allowed to deliver him vaginally with no issues (I didn't even tear!). Had we been in a hospital, they would have pushed him back in and c-sectioned me, which would have caused him a great deal of trauma.

Fortunately, my midwife has a great deal of experience with breech presentations, so it was no big deal to her. She performed some sort of maneuver to help get his legs out so I could then push out the shoulders and the head. I will say that pushing a baby out the wrong way hurts like a son-of-a-gun, but I managed. Once they realized he was breech, I had him out within 4 minutes.

Suzi-G- · July 2010

I did end up w/ an epidural but I labored at home for a day and had back labor. Cooper was sunny side up and tied in such a knot his head was not going in the right direction. I spent a lot of time in the shower, on my hands and knees, and rocking (the forward swing in the chair made him shift just a little and helped). It was only unbearable when his heart rate bottomed out and I had to stay in bed. I also had an AWESOME doula. Let me know if you want her contact info.

KelleyA · July 2010

stay out of bed! My labors were way less intense when I was out of bed and moving my hips, swaying and relaxing. I decided to get the epi this time right as things were getting intense...it never took. I could still move and felt everything but wasn't allowed to to get out of bed. If only I had known it wouldn't work...I wouldn't have tried and would have found so much more relief in walking/swaying.

I also found that when DH pressed on my lower back it relieved so much pressure in my spine and hips.

BritanyV · July 2010

KNJepp:
BritanyV:
KNJepp:
I have no idea. I was all-around quite uncomfortable b/c someone was coming out butt-first and we didn't know it. It turns out I also have a really high pain threshold...
Oh wow! That's why I said "guessing"....hmmm, butt first...I have no experience with that. What happened? How did you deliver him?
Mason was "sunny side up", which is usually the cause of back labor.
We had no idea he was breech until he was coming out (the previous morning at my appointment he'd been head-down). He decided to come at 37 weeks. What everyone thinks happened is that he flipped around that evening and, in doing so, kicked a hole in my bag of waters (since my water breaking was the first indication we had that anything was happening). We delivered with midwives at a birth center, so even though it was a surprise, they viewed it as a variation on normal. What they thought was a bald head ended up being a butt (which they figured out when they saw a scrotum!).
Since we weren't at a hospital, I was allowed to deliver him vaginally with no issues (I didn't even tear!). Had we been in a hospital, they would have pushed him back in and c-sectioned me, which would have caused him a great deal of trauma.
Fortunately, my midwife has a great deal of experience with breech presentations, so it was no big deal to her. She performed some sort of maneuver to help get his legs out so I could then push out the shoulders and the head. I will say that pushing a baby out the wrong way hurts like a son-of-a-gun, but I managed. Once they realized he was breech, I had him out within 4 minutes.

You're my new hero!

mrs.littlejeans · July 2010

I'd like to go naturally this time around, too, and I also had back labor with E. I dilated very quickly with her and was already at ten when the epidural was offered to me. I really wish I would've continued to stick it out since I'd already fought half the battle. I'm looking into the Bradley Method.

KNJepp · July 2010

BritanyV:
You're my new hero!

Hahaha! It was...an experience (and on Christmas morning!). I really hope the next one comes out the "right" way, but I figure I can handle just about anything!

april16 · July 2010

BritanyV:
KNJepp:

jeneric04:
Bradley method ... DH's fist in my lower back, hot pack after hot pack.

Since I did 99.9% of my laboring at home, I honestly have no idea if I had back labor or not b/c there wasn't anyone there to tell me. I am, however, a HUGE Bradley proponent after our experience. I can't recall off the top of my head if any of our Bradley materials (either from our course or the other materials we read ourselves) covered back labor specifically, but I think the relaxation it teaches would be of huge benefit.

I'm guessing you most likely didn't have back labor because you KNOW you have it, no one tells you!

I was induced and I was having horrible back labor, I never felt anything in the front. I also had an epidural after about 7 hours of labor and I was barely at 3cm. I don't want to know how much worse it would have gotten if I hadn't got the epidural!

Ditto...you would so know if you had back labor. I had maybe one mild contraction(without meds yet) and it was nothing compared to what I felt in my back. Tyler landed right on my siatic nerve and I woke up out of a dead sleep screaming my head off and by then I had some pain meds. I could not get in a comfortable position and my heart rate went up. The pain was so intense that I had contractions going down my hip and leg.

I did not dialate at all after being induced. Not even past a 1!! But, he was sunny side up so that explained my pain.

KKMMex · July 2010

Was your second labor a lot shorter than your first? I would say your best bet is to go into labor naturally, then hope for a super short labor since this is your third pregnancy.

The only reason I was able to resist the epidural the second time was because I dilated so quickly. Plus it was on a Saturday and I went into labor spontaneously at home. By the time I got to the hospital I was already 6 cm dilated. There was only one anesthesiologist working that day and he wasn't available. So I quickly made the mental adjustment, knowing I would have to manage the pain and there was no choice.

I loved loved loved my natural birth but it was completely unplanned. My recovery was so quick and wonderful! I hope you get the birth experience you're wanting. Careful though - those subsequent babies come super quickly! I seriously thought I was going to deliver in the car. Eek!

charlotteL · July 2010

Joshua was 5 hours from start to finish. Gabriel was the same, but only two hours after they broke my water.

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