What Does Back Labor Feel Like?
As if the prospect of going through labor itself isn’t nerve-wracking enough, you may lose sleep over the thought of experiencing back labor, an intense pain that some women feel during regular contractions. Everyone has their own threshold for discomfort, but most experts agree: You’ll know back labor pain when you feel it.
Unfortunately, back labor pain can be severe and unrelenting, but there’s no real way to predict if you’ll experience it. And while you can’t entirely prevent it, there are ways to ease the severity should you find yourself writhing with back labor pain while trying to have an otherwise positive birth experience. So exactly what does back labor feel like—and how can you push through if you’re among the 33 percent of moms-to-be who endure it? Here’s what you need to know.
In this article:
What is back labor?
What causes back labor?
What does back labor feel like?
Back labor vs. back pain: How to tell the difference
When to go to the hospital with back labor
Does back labor affect delivery?
How to ease back labor pain
Can you prevent back labor?
At some point during labor, you’ll probably feel some tightness, soreness or pain in your lower back. Contractions can rock your entire body and cause you to strain muscles everywhere. But back labor pain is more specific; it shows up as extreme discomfort in your lower back during active labor, with the most intense pain typically occurring during contractions, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
Another hallmark of back labor pain: It may not go away between contractions. “With back labor, the pain is constant and continuous; you don’t even get relief between contractions,” says Ashanda Saint Jean, MD, an ob-gyn and associate professor at New York Medical College. . “There’s no ability to take a deep breath.”
Back labor pain is mostly likely caused by baby’s position in your pelvis. In the most ideal situation for labor, baby is head down, facing your back, in what’s medically referred to as cephalic presentation, notes Cleveland Clinic. If baby is head down but facing your belly (occiput posterior position—casually known as “sunny side up”), the heaviest part of their head can put pressure along your spine and sacrum and press on the nerves in your back, says Elizabeth Sullivan, CNM, a certified nurse midwife with Stony Brook Medicine in New York.
That said, even moms-to-be whose babies are perfectly situated in utero may still experience back labor pain. According to Saint Jean, you may be more likely to experience it if you:
- Are pregnant for the first time
- Are obese
- Are pregnant with a larger baby
- Have a small pelvic outlet
- Are older than 35 years old
- Have experienced back pain during menstrual cycles
- Have had a previous pregnancy where baby was in the occiput posterior position
Pain is subjective, and giving birth is a wildly unique experience for every mom-to-be. Back labor tends to be centralized in your lower back and may feel like intense pressure or acute pain. Some women feel spasms or contractions in their back while also feeling them in their abdomen, notes Sullivan.
Other back labor signs and symptoms include unrelenting, consistent discomfort that doesn’t let you take a beat between regular contractions, adds Saint Jean. What’s more, the pain may intensify as your contractions get stronger.
Back pain and aches in general are very common during labor; it’s typical for contractions to reverberate throughout your entire body. You may also feel muscle pain, stiffness or aches in your back that accompany the strain of pregnancy. So how can you distinguish between regular back pain during labor and actual back labor? For starters, back labor doesn’t typically start until you go into labor, and it usually kicks into high gear during active stage of labor, says Sullivan. Another clue? The pain won’t subside and may get worse as things continue to progress.
The good news: Back labor isn’t inherently dangerous to you or baby, says Sullivan. If you’re full-term and baby is moving normally, there’s nothing to be concerned about.
Back labor doesn’t typically start until you’re in labor, so you’ll most likely already be in the care of your OB or midwife when you start to feel it. That said, some women may experience contractions that start in their lower back before regular labor contractions begin. Call your doctor or midwife as soon as you feel any type of labor contraction so you can make a plan to head to your hospital or birthing center.
If you’re experiencing other unsettling symptoms like vaginal bleeding or heavy breathing, or if you suddenly can’t feel baby moving, call your provider immediately, advises Saint Jean.
Other than being painful, back labor itself won’t impact your delivery. Many babies facing their moms’ bellies will rotate on their own during contractions and can still be delivered vaginally, says Sullivan. That said, the chief cause of back labor (baby being in an unfavorable position) may prolong delivery, as it can make it harder for your little one to move down through the birth canal, explains Saint Jean. An extended delivery also increases the chance of you having a c-section. “Sometimes, because baby is in that position, it’s unable to get under the pubic arch, and they’re unable to descend no matter how long the patient pushes,” explains Saint Jean.
The best way to ease back labor is to get off your back, notes the American Pregnancy Association. You can also try and coax baby to shift into a better position by leaning over a counter, couch or bed, or by getting onto your hands and knees, advises Sullivan. Other ways to try and get baby to rotate:
- Sit on a birthing ball
- Walk, squat or do some mellow lunges
- Wrap a rebozo or shawl around your midsection and have your support person hold up the edges to provide support as you squat
- While on your hands and knees, have a support person shimmy a rebozo or shawl back and forth across your belly
Of course, you can also opt for several pain management methods if you’re in the hospital. Ask your doctor if you want to explore the options, including getting an epidural. Other medication-free ways to ease the discomfort of back labor pain include:
- Hot and cold compresses. Alternate between using the two on your back. Be sure to use a barrier between heat and your skin, advises Saint Jean.
- Have your support person apply direct pressure to your lower back. Also try having them press the heels of their hands into the tops of your hip bones as you lean over a chair or bed; this may relieve the pressure off your back. “The double hip squeeze is like magic, it’s my secret weapon!,” says Sullivan.
- Try hydrotherapy. Warm water may soothe you and your back, says Saint Jean. Sit in a tub or under a shower.
- Roll something across your lower back. Try a water bottle, tennis ball or rolling pin.
You can’t predict whether you’ll experience back labor pain, but there are a few things you can do in your third trimester to help optimize baby’s positioning and potentially mitigate back labor pain. For starters, pay attention to your posture—don’t slouch, even when driving or sitting at a desk; instead, try to stick your butt out so that your tailbone is pushed out. What’s more, being active throughout pregnancy helps. Try “walking, stretching, prenatal yoga—anything to prevent that sedentary slouching,” says Sullivan.
The idea of labor and delivery can be intimidating on its own. Learning that the pain could be made even worse by back labor adds insult to injury. But try not to stress out—for starters, you don’t know that you’ll experience it in the first place. And if you do, there are effective pain-reducing strategies you can try. “Back labor is really hard, but people do it all the time,” says Sullivan. “You’ll certainly get through it.”
About the experts:
Ashanda Saint Jean, MD, is an ob-gyn and associate professor at New York Medical College, where she also earned her medical degree.
Elizabeth Sullivan, CNM, a certified nurse midwife with Stony Brook Medicine in New York. She is a graduate of the Yale University School of Nursing.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
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