The Ins and Outs of Back Labor

One of the unexpected aspects of labor involves “back labor,” intense pain in the lower back that typically happens when the baby is positioned “sunny-side up” with the head down by the cervix while facing forward towards the stomach (most turn to face backwards before delivery). This is also called occiput posterior position. While “normal” labor often feels more like menstrual cramps that come and go, back labor typically includes strong contractions concentrated in the back that don’t let up as much.

Read more