Back labor (less commonly called posterior laborMoore, Mary Lou & Ora L. Strickland, ''Realities in Childbearing'', p. 398 (1978) (using term "posterior labor")El Halta, Valerie
Posterior Labor---A pain in the back!
'', ICAN Clarion 1996; 2(1)) is a term referring to sensations of pain or discomfort that occur in the lower back, just above the

tailbone The coccyx (: coccyges or coccyxes), commonly referred to as the tailbone, is the final segment of the vertebral column in all apes, and analogous structures in certain other mammals such as horses. In tailless primates (e.g. humans and other ...

, to a mother during

childbirth Childbirth, also known as labour, parturition and delivery, is the completion of pregnancy, where one or more Fetus, fetuses exits the Womb, internal environment of the mother via vaginal delivery or caesarean section and becomes a newborn to ...

.Harms, Rogert W
Does back labor really happen?
mayoclinic.com, Retrieved 8 September 2014 Back labor may be noted when the baby is face up in the birth canal (occiput posterior), and not face down, so that the back of the baby's skull (

occiput The occipital bone () is a cranial dermal bone and the main bone of the occiput (back and lower part of the skull). It is trapezoidal in shape and curved on itself like a shallow dish. The occipital bone lies over the occipital lobes of the ...

) is pushed against the mother's

sacrum The sacrum (: sacra or sacrums), in human anatomy, is a triangular bone at the base of the spine that forms by the fusing of the sacral vertebrae (S1S5) between ages 18 and 30. The sacrum situates at the upper, back part of the pelvic cavity, ...

. However back labor can also occur when the baby is in a different position. The discomfort is often noted to be intensely painful, and may not completely abate between contractions.Klossner, N. Jayne. ''Introductory Nursing, Vol. 1'', pp. 190, 432-33 (2006) Whether back labor will occur cannot be predicted. Reports of how many mothers experience back labor vary,Lieberman, Adrienne B
Easing Labor Pain: The Complete Guide to a More Comfortable and Rewarding Birth
p. 17 (1992) (This 1992 book says childhood educators typically cite 25%) though estimates in the range of 30% are common.Curtis, Glade B. & Schuler, Judith
Your Pregnancy After 35: Revised Edition
p. 290 (2001)Melzack, R. & D. Schaffelberg
Low-back pain during labor
''Am J. Obstet Gynecol.'', 1987 Apr; 156 (4):901-05 (abstract) (1987 finding that "continuous low-back pain is severe and is reported by about 33% of women during labor.") Actions that have been suggested to ameliorate back labor include physical activity, changing positions,Simkin, P
The fetal occiput posterior position: state of the science and a new perspective
''Birth'' 2010 Mar; 37(1)l 61-71 back rubbing, water massage, application of hot or cold to the lower back, use of a birthing ball(25 July 2013)
Positions and comfort measures to easy back labor
allparenting.com and medication including an

epidural Epidural administration (from Ancient Greek ἐπί, "upon" + '' dura mater'') is a method of medication administration in which a medicine is injected into the epidural space around the spinal cord. The epidural route is used by physicians ...

.Murkoff, Heidi & Sharon Mazel. ''What to Expect When You're Expecting'', p. 367-368 (4th ed. 2008) Some research has suggested that injecting sterile water into the lower back may provide pain relief, but there is no consensus that it actually helps.

References

{{reflist, 30em Childbirth Midwifery

See also

References