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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Lower back pain only - labour? 39 weeks

41 replies

Senners · 25/09/2019 23:04

I'm 39+2 ftm, since yesterday 4pm I've been having intense lower back pain right on the bottom of my spine, it kind of aches all the time but the strong pain/pressure feels like something is crushing my lower spine area for about 45 seconds, every 7, 10 or 20mins or so. At the moment it's around every 7 mins. No real pains in the front, no show, no waters leaking, no other signs till this and I was deffo not expecting just this kind of pain in my lower back! Saw midwife today she felt baby and said doesn't feel back to back.
Just trying to keep timing but wanted to know anyone elses experience of this, if it turned into real labour, if this is real labour and when did you know? Does the pain change or just closer together? I'm so confused! Thanks

OP posts:
HelC46 · 25/09/2019 23:15

Hi,
Can't speak from personal experience as I had no pain and waters went but my sister had back ache / pain for most of the day and she was in labour. If you are concerned/ unsure contact hospital. They are usually pretty good. I know I went in because baby was moving more than usual and they monitored me for a bit. All I know from my experience is birth doesn't always follow the text book so I would talk to the labour ward. Take care and hope all goes well for you x

DippyAvocado · 25/09/2019 23:22

Sounds like both my labours. Pains only in my back, frequency and duration as you described at the beginning then gradually for closer together and more intense. Neither of my DC were back to back, I just felt all my contractions towards the back. Do you get period cramps in your back? My contractions were like extreme versions of these.

You will soon know for sure. Good luck to you!

Doryhunky · 25/09/2019 23:24

Sounds like how my labour started.

Original poster
Senners · 25/09/2019 23:25

Thanks for your replies both - I have rang maternity unit this morning describing the above but they told me to stay at home, then went to see my community midwife at my doctor's around 2pm n she said to stay at home until it's regular. I just don't know when to go in because it's already been over 24 hours of this so I'm not sure if it's gonna get regular or not...

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IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls · 25/09/2019 23:32

This is exactly how my labour started...

Although i was not insightful as

IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls · 25/09/2019 23:35

I was not as insightful as you & literally was on all 4s on my bedroom floor all night just thinking it was really bad backache BlushBlush
I ended up being blue lighted to hospital early the next morning ...

Doryhunky · 25/09/2019 23:38

I remember thinking ‘this is strange back ache... it comes and goes.’

Original poster
Senners · 26/09/2019 02:33

When did you all know to go in to hospital?

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doofusdogandthecuriouscat · 26/09/2019 02:47

Another one who had back ache, thought it was the bed being uncomfortable 😳🙈, kept waking me up from sleep but I ignored it hbfil my waters broke a few hours later 🤦🏻‍♀️

schoolquandry · 26/09/2019 04:19

Mine were like this. I was being induced the first time and was being monitored on a machine, so had to stay in the same position for hours - i put the backache down to this. It was labour! Mine didn't feel like it came and went though, but baby was back to back, so don't know if this made a difference.

moregingerbreadplease · 26/09/2019 09:58

I had this, no pains at all in my front! You will know when to go to hospital - my contractions were never consistent, think 1 every 2, 3 or 4 mins when I went in but it felt like my back was in a vice and then thought ok it’s definitely time to go! When you can no longer talk through them is a good indicator

Original poster
Senners · 26/09/2019 10:08

Thanks everyone, makes me feel better knowing others have had labours which were mainly in the vack. I'm still having the pains the same not moving round to front. I'm gonna start timing n wait till I get atleast 2 in 10 mins. I'm not seeing my midwife till Tuesday for a sweep I would hate for this to go on till then!

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insanemumof3 · 27/09/2019 07:41

I had this when being induced with my 2nd. had to be kept in as baby had to come out that day but i remember getting on the ball and just struggling with the back pain. told the midwife and she just thought i was a pain in the ass she even took my gad and air off me when they started getting severe... when i got on the bed and needed to push she wouldnt believe me again... turns out with a good old proper check down there the babys head was starting to come out and i was rushed into delivery room. trust your instincts and believe in your decisions to know whats right for you and baby. good luck op hope everything goes as smoothly as possible :)

OhTheRoses · 27/09/2019 07:48

Might be worth going to see your gp. I had an atypical labour first time with a posterior baby. Went in when cd no longer cope with the pain. And they laughed and sent me home. My waters broke as I stepped into the lift so had to go back.

DamnaThatOnesTaken · 27/09/2019 07:53

I had back labour. If you haven't already try to get hold of a tens machine it helped my back labour massively. Mine went a bit slower. I'm not sure if this was due to back labour but just mentally prepare yourself for a longer labour. Good luck hopefully your baby will be in your arms soon!

Original poster
Senners · 27/09/2019 10:58

Thanks everyone, still about 10 mins apart lasting a minute in my back only. Been 3 days of this I'm so tired! Baths and paracetamol have lost their effect. I rang the birth centre at 4am and explained and as expected they told me they weren't close enough and just advised bath and paracetamol... Losing the will now. I'm gonna try and go in later. I've tried the usual methods to try and progress matters but can't. I just want to be examined or something.

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DamnaThatOnesTaken · 27/09/2019 15:43

Just in case you missed it in my last message try to get a tens machine!

IfIShouldFallFromGraceWithGod · 27/09/2019 15:45

That's all I had, lower back nothing at the front
DC was spine to spine which was bloody painful. But I had a very fast labour once I started with the back pain

Original poster
Senners · 27/09/2019 16:44

I managed to get examined and had a sweep, they think back to back and I'm 2cm ATM. The pains coming a little closer together but still not down to every 5 mins. Don't think I have chance to get tens now. I have got codene though. How long did any of yours take till you were ready to go into birth unit? Literally feels like the bottom of my spine is being crushed when I have the pain it's excruciating! I really didn't want an epidural but I don't know how much longer I can manage if this takes long to progress

OP posts:
DamnaThatOnesTaken · 27/09/2019 20:54

Everyone will be different lengths so try not to focus on that. It will be a bit longer because of position. But that doesn't mean you can't handle it. I was against the epidural. I ended up having it after 24 hours. It was so much better. But the gas and air really helped me too. So give that a go first once you're at 4cm. You've got this! The water helped me too. In the moment for me it felt like it was never going to end but now I would go right back and do it again so I can tell you it's worth it!! And yes I also felt like my back was going to break its completely normal for back labour. Try to keep calm. Its just a different type of labour but still ends in a baby!

Original poster
Senners · 27/09/2019 21:04

Thank you ♥️

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Original poster
Senners · 28/09/2019 04:43

Damnathatonestaken did your epidural work and you didn't feel the back labour (crushing bottom of spine) pain anymore? I'm in delivery now have had pethadine and codiene but neither have done anything to ease the contraction pain, it has allowed me to rest inbetween them though for a few mins at time . So tired as been doing this for 3 days really think need epidural, but I'm scared and also read they don't always work with back labour pain ...

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Starrynights86 · 28/09/2019 05:18

I had an epidural and it was magical, even managed to have a little sleep. I could feel pressure but no pain.

December2019 · 28/09/2019 05:54

Good luck op I've been following this thread
I had back labour and it really is painful 😩

DamnaThatOnesTaken · 28/09/2019 09:29

It felt so much better with the epidural. I still had to have gas and air as I was having break through pain but it was such a difference. I remember I agreed to it because I just wanted to sleep. I couldn't sleep because of needing the gas and air but I think when it goes on for so long it's just harder to cope with the pain. It feels like an impossible mountain atm but you are climbing it and you will get there one way or the other!