CHOICES IN CHILDBIRTH'S

BACK PAIN RELIEF COMFORT MEASURES FOR LABOR

Labor with the baby in an occiput-posterior position--the back of the baby's head presses into the mom's lower spine--may cause back pain and is usually referred to as "back labor".

Back labor is characterized by back pain both during AND between contractions. Back labor can be very painful and tiring because it may take a long time for the baby to turn to the proper anterior position and the unrelenting pressure and pain can be frustrating. However, even when the baby is in the anterior position, the laboring woman may feel back pain from the pressure of the baby's descent through her pelvis. Hands-on help from your Birth Partner and Doula is especially useful in this situation.

Try any of the following techniques for coping with back labor or back pain:

CHANGE POSITIONS FREQUENTLY--Try walking, climbing stairs, resting on your hands and knees, knees/chest positioning, kneeling or sitting while leaning forward with support or laying on your side. Any position that takes the weight off of your lower back can be very helpful if you are experiencing back pain during contractions.

PELVIC ROCKING---Try rocking your pelvis while standing, in an all-fours position (the "angry cat" posture), or while lying on your side in bed (your Birth Partner rocks your pelvis for you as you relax).

                                                                  Hands and Knees Pelvic Rocking

                                                                   "angry cat posture"

STAND OR SIT IN THE SHOWER WHILE YOUR BIRTH PARTNER DIRECTS HOT WATER ON YOUR LOWER BACK.  You can also sit on a birth ball in the shower.

RELAX IN A JACUZZI BATH IF ONE IS AVAILABLE.

YOUR BIRTH PARTNER CAN ALTERNATE HOT AND COLD PACKS ON YOUR LOWER BACK--hot packs may be made out of socks filled with rice or flax seeds, heated in the microwave and rolled or pressed on the lower back.  Make sure to cover your hot pack with a pillowcase or towel so that your skin doesn't get hurt or damaged.  An insulated ice bag may be filled with hot water and used as a source of heat as well...it has a very flexible shape that conforms to your body without pressure.  If you are using heat, make certain your Birth Partner or Doula cools your back off in between contractions with a cool or cold washcloth to avoid over-heating your skin.

If you prefer cold instead of heat on your lower back, make certain you cover your ice pack with a pillowcase or towel so that you protect your skin.

TRY SITTING ON A BIRTH BALL (A 65 cm. PHYSICAL THERAPY BALL)--the ball provides  flexible yet strong support for your back when you are carefully seated upon it. The ball can provide tremendous back pain relief by sitting upon it, rocking gently from side to side, or gently rocking your pelvis. You may also lean your upper body over it--while in a hands and knees position--to utilize a good position for back pain relief without carrying all of your weight on your wrists.

YOUR BIRTH PARTNER OR DOULA MAY APPLY COUNTERPRESSURE ON YOUR LOWER BACK with a firm hand, rice sock or massage tool during contractions.

YOUR BIRTH PARTNER OR DOULA MAY PROVIDE FIRM COUNTERPRESSURE WITH A REBOZO SHAWL OR A BED SHEET  ON YOUR LOWER BACK during contractions.

UTILIZE MASSAGE TECHNIQUES-- Your Birth Partner or Doula may use long, sweeping massage motions on your lower back during contractions. Give feedback for positioning and strength of the hands during massage.  Always use massage lotion or oil to increase comfort and decrease friction. 

TRY BACK PAIN COMFORT TECHNIQUES LIKE THE "DOUBLE HIP SQUEEZE", "STANDING/KNEELING LUNGE", "KNEE PRESS", "ABDOMINAL LIFT" OR UTILIZE THE "DANGLE" OR "ASYMMETRICAL SITTING/KNEELING/STANDING POSITION" (as described in the book "The Labor Progress Handbook--Early Interventions to Prevent and Treat Dystocia " by Penny Simkin, Jilly Rosser, and Ruth Ancheta , published by Blackwell Science) TO PROVIDE BACK PAIN RELIEF AND/OR CREATE ROOM IN YOUR LOWER PELVIS FOR THE BABY TO TURN.

YOUR BIRTH PARTNER OR DOULA MAY UTILIZE ANY MASSAGE TOOLS THAT GIVE YOU BACK PAIN RELIEF, such as a tennis ball, a wooden "Happy Massager" spider, or a emptied 20 oz. Soda pop bottle that is refilled with hot water.

DON'T FORGET TO KEEP YOUR BLADDER AS EMPTY AS POSSIBLE REGARDLESS OF WHAT COMFORT MEASURES YOU ARE UTILIZING. A FULL OR EVEN SLIGHTLY-FULL BLADDER CAN BE FELT AS BACK PAIN DURING CONTRACTIONS.

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