Causes of back pain
What some women do for backache
Treatments for back pain
Back pain after the labour and birth is fairly common. However, most women who suffer from back pain after they have had their baby also experienced back pain during their pregnancy. In one study, 33.8% of women reported to have back pain lasting at least 3 months after the birth of their baby. Of those, only 7.3% did not have back pain during their pregnancy. You may wish to read more in
backache and sciatica in pregnancy.
Some women notice localised soreness in their back after the birth, at the site where the
epidural or
spinal needle was inserted. This usually improves after a few days, to a week or so. It is now believed that the epidural procedure itself does not significantly contribute to long term back pain after the birth, but that the woman lying in an awkward position for long periods of time, can twist their spine, sometimes contributing to back pain. You may wish to read
epidural support strategies.
Back pain may also stem from the physical strain of the labour and birth, or if the birthing position placed too much direct pressure on the tailbone (such as sitting, semi reclining, or lying on the back for long periods). The pain tends to be in the lower back (or the 'small' of the back), where the pelvis joins the spine. Some women will experience strong, shooting sensations around their coccyx (or tailbone) area, especially if it was bruised, or injured, during the birth (for example after a
forceps birth). This can be quite painful, and may take a few weeks to heal. In rare circumstances, the coccyx bone can be fractured during a forceps delivery. Let your caregiver know at your routine postnatal check (about 6 to 8 weeks after the birth) if the pain persists, although this type of fracture usually just needs to heal on its own.