FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BACK PAIN AFTER CHILDBIRTH

Background: Back pain after childbirth is a frequent complaint. The pu rpose of this study was to determine the incidence of back pain 1-2 mo nths post partum and to identify the factors, including epidural anest hesia for labor and delivery, that may predispose to it. Methods: Wome n delivering a viable singleton infant were interviewed 12-48 h after delivery for a history of back pain that occurred before, during, or b oth before and during the recent pregnancy and for details of their de livery experience. Two months later, the women interviewed were sent a followup questionnaire regarding the occurrence of back pain 1-2 mont hs post partum. Results: Follow-up data were available for 1,042 (88%) of the 1,185 women originally interviewed. The incidence of post part um back pain in women who received epidural anesthesia was equivalent to those who did not (44% vs. 45%). Through stepwise multiple logistic regression, post partum back pain was found to be associated with a h istory of back pain, younger age, and greater weight. However, new-ons et post partum back pain was found to be associated with greater weigh t and shorter stature. No statistically significant association was fo und between post partum back pain and epidural anesthesia, number of a ttempts at epidural placement, duration of second stage of labor, mode of delivery, or birth weight. Conclusions: The overall incidence of b ack pain 1-2 months post partum in this population was 44%. Predisposi ng factors were a history of back pain, younger age, and greater weigh t. Predisposing factors for new-onset post partum back pain were great er weight and shorter stature. Epidural anesthesia for labor and deliv ery did not appear to be associated with back pain 1-2 months post par tum.