5 ways to counter back pain during labour

Try these tricks to ease back pain during pregnancy

By: Debjani Arora | | Updated: November 2, 2015 6:55 pm

When in labour, the one thing women want most is relief from pain. But imagine the plight if apart from labour pains, the labouring mother had to suffer from other pains. Often women in labour also develop back pain in the delivery room adding to their existing woes.

What causes back pain during labour?

While the baby gears up for the grand entry into the world, the head of the foetus can at times press against the mother’s lower backbone. This causes severe pain in the lower back in addition to the contractions of the uterus. It can also be excruciating than the actual labour pains.

What you can do?

While the uterine contractions that leads to pain during labour can be managed through some assisted medical interventions. Here’s how you can soothe your aching back:

Squeeze a sports ball with your back: Get a sports ball and keep it between your back and a wall, while standing erect. Gently push the ball backwards with your back. Remember to position the ball on your pain spot or the area where you experience maximum pain. The ball will exert pressure and probably help you gain some relief out of it. Try this for five to ten minutes. If you opt to do it lying down, keep the ball under your tail bone and lie on a foam mattress for the same amount of time. Do this under expert supervision of the doctor or the healthcare staff. Do not try it if your doctor advises you against it.

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of back pain.

Try acupressure: But only do it with a trained staff or an acupressure expert. Applying strong finger pressure just below the ball of the foot can help relieve back pain during labour. But inexperienced hands can lead to more troubles than relief. Remember though acupressure can give instant relief, pressing on the wrong points can lead to serious harms to the foetus. Check with the hospital before hand if such an option would be available for pain management. You can also include this option in your birth plan. Know how to draft a perfect birth plan.

Use alternate hot or cold packs: Ask someone from the family to help you with applying hot and cold packs to your back. Use a hot water bag or bottle wrapped in a towel or a heating pad alternating it with ice cubes wrapped in a towel or ice packs. This helps to alleviate pain.

Change your posture: With your back aching during labour, being stationed in one place or just lying down waiting to deliver will just worsen it. Change position, walk, squat, sit on a chair with your chest leaning towards the back rest or lie down on the bed on your left side with knees slightly flexed. Try any of these positions to relax yourself.

Ask for counter pressure: Counter pressure can be applied with knuckles or heel of the hand applying a firm circular motion on the lower back where it pains the most. If that is not enough, try pressing your back against your caregiver’s back. Your partner might be the right one to do it for you. But make sure he has learnt everything about it during your antenatal classes. If he hasn’t, its better you ask the hospital staff to help. Know about other methods to relieve you from a sore back post pregnancy.

Try back massage: Aromatherapy oils go well with labouring mother. Make a mix with 50ml sesame oil, 14 drops of clarysage oil, 6 drops of rose oil, 6 drops of ylang ylang oil. Lie on your left side with pillows under your head and between the knees. Ask your caregiver to apply the mix with thumb pressing on the two depressions just above the buttocks or to gently stroke each side of the spine with the heels of the hands.

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