What is Back Labor?

Filed in archive Childbirth on April 22, 2008

© chippenziedeutch

My first baby was born in what is called the occiput posterior (OP) position, also called the "face-up", "stargazer" or "sunny-side up" position because the baby is delivered facing up, towards the mother's abdomen, instead of down towards her spine. Where the baby's head faces as it travels through the birth canal has an impact on where the mother feels most pain during and after contractions. In OP babies, moms feel most pressure and pain on the lower Back, just above the tailbone. This is what is called the back labor.