Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Bumping this again since I’m a different poster who had fairly traumatic back labor with a baby that was positioned fine.
With Baby #1, my doula had me do spinning babies/circuit stuff in the weeks leading up to labor (40 weeks on the dot), but it didn’t prevent anything since positioning wasn’t the issue.
Do core or back exercises help? I’m just entering my third trimester and having flashbacks to the two days of unmedicated (not my choice) back labor I went through, unable to do anything but stand for 48 hours, and I’m beginning to get anxious...
Oh this was me too. I’m so sorry you experienced that. I stood for two days as well, but eventually took the epidural to sleep and get off feet.
Have you seen a chiropractor? I’ve heard that that can really help with positioning. A massage therapist with experience in myofacscial release, specifically for the pelvis in pregnancy would also likely be if benefit (I don’t know one or would refer). You might ask for a pelvic floor pt consult too, but a good chiro experienced with prenatal care would be dynamite.
Keep moving and remember every pregnancy is different, it could easily not be an issue this time. I wish you well.
Anonymous wrote:Bumping this again since I’m a different poster who had fairly traumatic back labor with a baby that was positioned fine.
With Baby #1, my doula had me do spinning babies/circuit stuff in the weeks leading up to labor (40 weeks on the dot), but it didn’t prevent anything since positioning wasn’t the issue.
Do core or back exercises help? I’m just entering my third trimester and having flashbacks to the two days of unmedicated (not my choice) back labor I went through, unable to do anything but stand for 48 hours, and I’m beginning to get anxious...

Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I had back labor and yes, it was just hell. This article is very thorough: http://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/back-labor/
I think this article deals with back labor caused by fetal position, not unknown causes. Reading the complications, I pretty much had all of them (prolonged pushing stage, epidural, vacuum, and episiotomy). It was a long induction, so maybe some were unavoidable, but once she turned posterior during labor, I threw in the towel and got the epidural stat. Interested to read the other replies, as I do NOT want to do that again.
I had none of the above complications and still had 100% back labor. I had nothing during labor that felt like a menstrual cramp! FWIW, once I got the epidural, my pain went away completely, I progressed very fast & had a smooth vaginal birth. Baby was face-down, so she was in the right position. No idea what caused the back labor.
Anonymous wrote:I had back labor and yes, it was just hell. This article is very thorough: http://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/back-labor/
I think this article deals with back labor caused by fetal position, not unknown causes. Reading the complications, I pretty much had all of them (prolonged pushing stage, epidural, vacuum, and episiotomy). It was a long induction, so maybe some were unavoidable, but once she turned posterior during labor, I threw in the towel and got the epidural stat. Interested to read the other replies, as I do NOT want to do that again.