Episode 77: Supporting Back Labor

There is no doubt that for clients, back labor can present a major challenge. Some experience intermittent pain, while for others it will be continuous. As doulas, it can feel intimidating and frustrating when presented with the challenge of supporting a client with back labor.

There are many approaches available for doulas to help our clients cope with back labor. At the same time, the cause of back labor often seems to be misunderstood.

Many doulas assume that back labor indicates that the baby is posterior. However, when we look at available data on back labor, it tells a different story. If we dig deeper into the whys of back labor there are actually several different causes. Available data also tells us that the majority of pregnant people will experience some form of back pain during labor. Yet a minority of babies are born in a posterior position.

Come join us as we explore the causes of back labor, and our favorite techniques for supporting back labor.