How to reduce your risk of back labor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a midwife and also a mom who’s had malpoisitoned babies every time (and therefore back labor). Spinning babies and the Miles Circuit are great suggestions. See a chiropractor and get accupuncture. Stay active and eat extremely well. But, sometimes there’s nothing we can do to change baby’s position. Going into labor on your own vs inducing gives them time rotate. If not, strong contractions and time in labor generally help with rotation. Choose a provider that will give you time and that offers sterile water injections (if you don’t want an epidural).

I did all of this. Rebozo. Curb walking. Stair lunges. A malpositioned baby and swollen cervix and CS was the result. SROM twice with malpositioned babies, two VBAC's after with no SROM. I agree, you can try and you can be smart but sometimes it just is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Choose a provider that will give you time and that offers sterile water injections (if you don’t want an epidural).

I did sterile water injections when I delivered with the GW midwives, and they did absolutely nothing other than burn like hell. Did they help anyone else? A meta-analysis seems to show a reduction in c-sections and reduction in pain between those who have the injections vs. a placebo, but interestingly, no difference in willingness to do it again.

I *did* want an epidural, but was told I couldn't have one even though I never got past 9 cm (they had me just push without ever getting to 10cm), but that's another story...

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2009.02221.x/full

I also used my prescribed TENS unit that I brought with me, but it didn't provide much relief once back labor got intense. (It did help though during the initial stage.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a midwife and also a mom who’s had malpoisitoned babies every time (and therefore back labor). Spinning babies and the Miles Circuit are great suggestions. See a chiropractor and get accupuncture. Stay active and eat extremely well. But, sometimes there’s nothing we can do to change baby’s position. Going into labor on your own vs inducing gives them time rotate. If not, strong contractions and time in labor generally help with rotation. Choose a provider that will give you time and that offers sterile water injections (if you don’t want an epidural).

I did all those things and baby seemed to be in optimum position, but when I actually went into labor, baby had turned posterior and I had back labor. 30+ hour labor with no epidural - highly recommend an experienced doula - she was able to guide me into positions and exercises to get the baby to turn. I also got the sterile water injections, which are incredibly painful in the moment but helped relieve some of the pain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Choose a provider that will give you time and that offers sterile water injections (if you don’t want an epidural).

I did sterile water injections when I delivered with the GW midwives, and they did absolutely nothing other than burn like hell. Did they help anyone else? A meta-analysis seems to show a reduction in c-sections and reduction in pain between those who have the injections vs. a placebo, but interestingly, no difference in willingness to do it again.

I *did* want an epidural, but was told I couldn't have one even though I never got past 9 cm (they had me just push without ever getting to 10cm), but that's another story...

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2009.02221.x/full

I also used my prescribed TENS unit that I brought with me, but it didn't provide much relief once back labor got intense. (It did help though during the initial stage.)

I thought they worked nicely to distract from the back pain and instead focused on the pushing feeling of the baby moving down. So, no, they don't really take any pain away, but it lessens the focus on the back.

[Anonymous]

My baby was perfectly positioned.....and then my water broke to kick off labor and he spun around. Thank god for precipitous labor, because it was brutal. I still ended up pushing for 2 hours. I cursed everyone and demanded an epidural about ten minutes before he was born. (Obviously, I didn't get that epidural!)

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to add a little reassurance/encouragement for the moms who had difficult back labors with their first births and are nervous to do it again. My son was OP (posterior) and I had a very challenging 50 hour first labor with lots of back labor (which continued even after he turned OA about 35 hours in). With my second I was terrified to have another posterior labor, and I did chiropractic visits all through my third trimester, acupuncture, never reclined or slouched, etc. I was devastated when my midwife told me my daughter was still posterior the week of my due date (I think that's just how my body carries). However, I had a MUCH easier labor with her (8 hours total, 4 hours active labor). She also flipped to OA during labor, and while it was still very intense I felt like I could keep on top of contractions in a way I couldn't with my first labor. So I know it's scary to go into it again, but don't despair that your second experience will be a repeat of the first, regardless of positioning at the onset of labor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wanted to add a little reassurance/encouragement for the moms who had difficult back labors with their first births and are nervous to do it again. My son was OP (posterior) and I had a very challenging 50 hour first labor with lots of back labor (which continued even after he turned OA about 35 hours in). With my second I was terrified to have another posterior labor, and I did chiropractic visits all through my third trimester, acupuncture, never reclined or slouched, etc. I was devastated when my midwife told me my daughter was still posterior the week of my due date (I think that's just how my body carries). However, I had a MUCH easier labor with her (8 hours total, 4 hours active labor). She also flipped to OA during labor, and while it was still very intense I felt like I could keep on top of contractions in a way I couldn't with my first labor. So I know it's scary to go into it again, but don't despair that your second experience will be a repeat of the first, regardless of positioning at the onset of labor.

I appreciate this story, PP, thanks! I'm going to do everything I can to avoid another posterior baby, but good to hear it may not be as bad second time around.

[Anonymous]

Midwife here again, I didn’t mean to reply and of those things are a cure all, which is why I said I had back labor myself. Similar to a PP, I had a CS for my first and two VBACs.

I think the sterile water helps 75% of the time, but when it does it can change everything! Also, thanks to the PP who mentioned doulas—that’s the best way to navigate a hard labor!

[Anonymous]

I had 100% back labor but had a successful vaginal birth with no epidural. It helped that my transition phase was relatively fast for a FTM. I survived and had a really positive, euphoric experience. I'm pregnant again and will be trying to go epi-free again if possible because my experience was really great. I would not worry too much about back labor. THe key to a successful labor is to try and reduce your own stress and worries

I later learned that the main reason I had back labor was because I have a tilted uterus. Not much you can do about that.

I used a TENS unit and had DH pushing HARD into my lower back. This worked to keep me focused during labor.

[Anonymous]

My sister in-law swears that acupuncture helped turn her baby from sunny side up to face down two days before giving birth!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had 100% back labor but had a successful vaginal birth with no epidural. It helped that my transition phase was relatively fast for a FTM. I survived and had a really positive, euphoric experience. I'm pregnant again and will be trying to go epi-free again if possible because my experience was really great. I would not worry too much about back labor. THe key to a successful labor is to try and reduce your own stress and worries

I later learned that the main reason I had back labor was because I have a tilted uterus. Not much you can do about that.

I used a TENS unit and had DH pushing HARD into my lower back. This worked to keep me focused during labor.

Is that true — that a tilted uterus is more likely to result in back labor? I too have a tilted uterus and had terrible back labor despite a well-positioned baby.