Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Back pain as a sign of early labour?

44 replies

littlelamb · 13/05/2008 20:34

Is back pain generally a sign of an imminent labour? I am 37 weeks and its not the kind of ache you get just from the weight of everything iyswim? It is a constant pain not unlike the sort you get with a period, really low down and achey. I've had it since yesterday. I have been having lots of tightenings on the bump, but no pain ont he front, and the pain doesn't really worsen in my back, it is there all the time. What's making me wonder is that I saw the midwife yesterday and she sent a urine sample off as there might be an infection, but she has said this for the last month, I've had 4 samples sent off and each time it has come back clear. Could a back ache like this just be more indicitive of an infection?

OP posts:

mustsleep · 13/05/2008 20:38

i had a like periody ache down the bottom of back and in my bum too with both ds and dd

good luck with your labour if you are

Original poster

littlelamb · 13/05/2008 20:43

mustsleep- did the pain last through the whole labour? This one is back to back, as was dd but I don't reember this kind of pain with her (was induced as overdue and had epidural sharpish!). I have been having period type pains low down at the front for about a week but it is only since yeaterday that this back pain haskicked in, and it is really horrible

OP posts:

mustsleep · 13/05/2008 20:50

def had periody pains in my back after being induced with ds but it was so awful ican't remember much else

had periody pains with dd for a few days and thought nothing of it as i was a week early and expecting for some strange reason to go again

on the third day with dd my waters broke and the pain came round to the front more i think but it was really quick thankfully

Oumasrusks · 13/05/2008 21:33

I had back pain all day the day I went into labour with DD1. I didn't experience contractions or anything - just had constant back pain. I went into active labour that night!

Original poster

littlelamb · 13/05/2008 21:41

OUmasrusks- without wanting to ask a silyl questin, how did going into active labour feel different? I am now sittign with little doubt that this back pain must mean something, and having regular tightenings in my bump, I am just a bit put out that the only place I can feel anything is my back. WIth active labour did the contractions start to get painful or move away from your back? Do you think if I am still like this tomorrow I should ask to go in for a trace?

OP posts:

Ecmo · 13/05/2008 21:46

mine was all backache and no it didnt move away from my back it just got more and more painful.
My dh had rubbed all the skin off my back by the time dd was born. He had to go down to the hospital shop to buy more baby lotion to stop his hands getting sore. My back was really raw the next day

Original poster

littlelamb · 13/05/2008 21:48

ecmo did you 'know' it was labour then as it just got more and more painful? I feel silly for not being able to say one way or the other Have had a dodgy tummy today as well which is supposed to be a sign that things are imminent and the back pain is not easing up- if anything it is now spreading to the front, but not in waves, just a permanent ache. Am going to put lots and lots of oil in my hospital bag now

OP posts:

Ecmo · 13/05/2008 21:52

yes I did know it was labour, I had not really suffered backache during pregnancy and it just didnt feel like a sprain sort of ache. Also no matter what position I was in it didnt go away.

Ecmo · 13/05/2008 21:54

oooh I'm all excited for you now!

emma1977 · 13/05/2008 21:58

I had really bad hip and lower back pain the night before I went into active labour. Exactly the same as what I usually get the day before a period starts.

Fingers crossed for you.

Original poster

littlelamb · 13/05/2008 21:58

I am not excited I am panicking! I still have so much left to do and I can't make myself comfortable enough to do any of it! When I am standing up and my bump hardens it is difficult for me to stay entirely upright, but there is no pain?! Should I start timing the tightenings? I know midwives must see this a lot, but I will feel such a numpty if I have to ring up and say, yes, I think I'm in labour butI can't actually feel any contractions

OP posts:

Ecmo · 13/05/2008 22:05

don't panic. Time them to take your mind off worrying!

mummypig · 13/05/2008 22:05

hi I had back pain at the start of both of my labours. With ds1 he was back to back and I did lots of crab-like walking up and down stairs to try and shake him, and he must have moved during labour as he ended up in a good position. I didn't think I was in labour initially, I took paracetamol and had a bath but that didn't help (in fact I had to keep standing up in the bath as the contractions made it uncomfortable sitting down).

With ds2 I thought it was just because of driving too much. This was a couple of days before I went into labour proper but I now think it was a good sign that things were going to happen.

Both times the midwives didn't think I was anywhere near going into labour.

Also people say you 'know' when it's real labour contractions and not BH, but for me, both times, the contractions in early labour seemed just the same as BH and I managed getting through them with just breathing exercises.

I'm sure they won't think you're crazy if you let them know what's happening.

anyway good luck whatever it is

Original poster

littlelamb · 13/05/2008 22:09

Mummypig I haven't heard about the crab walking thing, but will definately try it now, so thank you. Dd never did turn, and came out with her face up to the ceiling. All the midwives I have seen this pregnancy have made me feel very hardcore for managing it . Another question, but can you still feel baby moving when you are in labour? I guess the epidural last time meant I couldn't feel anything, but he is still rolling around in there. Would this stop when I am in 'proper' labour? And my bump keeps making odd creaking, groaning sounds?!! What on earth could that be??

OP posts:

Ecmo · 13/05/2008 22:13

mine went very quiet in the day before they were born (apart from hiccups) although I did feel dd2 turn round during labour.

TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 13/05/2008 22:17

I woke up with that dull lower back pain the morning I went into labour with DS1. I'm pretty sure it went away once the contractions were regular - but he only took 3 hours to arrive.

I didn't get the back ache with either of my girls, just waters breaking at 6pm-ish followed by contractions.

Babies do tend to stop moving during labour. No harm in you timing these contractions - if it comes to nothing at least you will have practiced and been kept occupied.

Good luck!

jessikart · 13/05/2008 22:21

I think I could have written the opening post in this thread and was just about to start my own thread asking almost the same question!

Started having strong BH on Sunday afternoon but since last night I've had a period-like cramping feeling at the front and bottom of the bump. It's not coming at particularily regular intervals, but some cramps are stronger than others and the bump has DEFINITELY moved down a lot from where it was on Sunday morning.

I guess it's a case of hurry up and wait now...

Original poster

littlelamb · 13/05/2008 22:26

Ooo jessikart come and hold my hand I think I am going to try to go to bed now but will be downing a few paracetamols first, as well as lolling about on my birth ball to try and get the pain away from my back. I do feel quite unwell, so I wonder if I am coming down with something as opposed to actually being in labour? I don't know. I am going to program the labour ward and midwife phone numbers into my phone tonight though so they are easliy to hand should I need them. Thing is, all the people who I am relying on in labour are poorly atm, so would not be the best time!

OP posts:

Ecmo · 13/05/2008 22:33

ooh where are you littlelamb... I'll come and help!

jessikart · 13/05/2008 22:34

littlelamb - I forgot to say I'm 37 weeks too, so we can be contraction buddies if need be!

I've felt a bit nauseous all day, but that seems to have gone now and I'm just restless instead. Think I'll go and have a root around in my hospital bag for a bit to give me something else to think about...

Original poster

littlelamb · 13/05/2008 23:16

I'm in Exeter and only a short way from hospital if needs be, but at this rate the only friend who is not too poorly to come with me is 35 weeks herself! I don't want to go to hospital and be sent home again (don't want to go to hospital at all if I am honest) but over the last hour this has got steadily worse, and I am sat here trying to distract myself, and getting up and walking around every now and then. I have always had a wierd thing in my body where my shins get really achey before I am really ill, so I always know it is about to happen, and thats happened now too. So I have a sore back and achey shins I don't know what to do with myself. I know I should be resting but I can't get comfortable and my mind is racing too. I will know when to call the hospital won't I? At least with dd being induced I was already there so there was no mad rush

OP posts:

jessikart · 13/05/2008 23:24

(((littlelamb))) - you will know when you need to call! Put your bags by the door and try and find something that'll absorb your thoughts for a bit. I'm thinking of having a bath to relax, but on the other hand keep thinking that if this isn't it yet then I really ought to get some sleep... but I feel too restless for bed!

My hospital's about 40 minutes away so I'm under orders to call ambulance, midwife and delivery ward (in that order!) as first labour was under 3 hours!

Original poster

littlelamb · 13/05/2008 23:28

I haven't been sleeping well anyway as I just can't get comfortable (not to mention that for the last few days its just been too bloody hot!) but I know I need to rest. Have been to bed twice now and got up after 10 minutes as it is too uncomfortable. Baby is awake though, and by the looks of things is trying to kick his way out via my bellybutton A bath does sound good, I might have a nice cold one and see if that helps. I have put everyone on alert, but I don't want to be doing that for the next three weeks as I will be like the boy who cried wolf (or in this case the silly woman who called labour)

OP posts:

jessikart · 13/05/2008 23:33

I'm going to make some sandwiches I think...if we don't end up taking them to hospital tonight/tomorrow morning I'll have saved myself having to make lunch for DS & nephew tomorrow!

Fingers crossed for you lamb!

Original poster

littlelamb · 13/05/2008 23:35

You too!

OP posts:

Flip

1 2