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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Contractions in my back? 38+4

10 replies

BabyLabyrinth · 28/04/2012 10:53

Since yesterday morning I've had waves of backache (deep in lower back) that last around a minute and seem to come and go whenever they feel like it. I've just had two such waves in the space of ten minutes, and was woken up a few times in the night with them. Are these contractions? My tummy doesn't seem to be any harder during them. They are uncomfortable and feel a bit sore, but definitely on the milder side.

I've heard of back-to-back labours, but I thought that was when the baby's back was towards my back. According to midwife yesterday, the baby is lying head down with its back on the right-hand side of my tummy and legs/arms on the left. I'm not in the UK, and they don't talk about back-to-back labours as such here. I haven't had a show yet (although have been slowly losing mucous plug over the last few days, I think), but spent the last few days furiously nesting and feeling even more emotional than normal.

Any ideas? Is labour finally starting?!

OP posts:
Fraktal · 28/04/2012 12:38

DS was ROA at my final appt and turned back to back, the entire labour was as you describe. I only know he was back to back because I asked the MW - they don't talk about back labour either.

Good luck!

Chunkychicken · 28/04/2012 12:42

My Mum had back pains as the first sign of labour, but later went on to have normal contractions. It could well be a very early sign or it could just be a 'practice' run.

Keep an eye on baby's movements & get rest (if you can) in the meantime, it will happen when it's meant to happen.

Good luck :)

BabyLabyrinth · 28/04/2012 12:54

Thank you both! What is ROA, Fraktal? We just went for a short walk, and now I'm back on the sofa eating some lunch and trying to relax. These funny contractions are still coming on and off, but don't seem to be getting any worse or more intense. Guess it's just a waiting game now!

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misslinnet · 28/04/2012 12:56

They might be contractions.

DS was back to back, and the pain from my contractions was all in my back until I was almost at the pushing stage. Because I had no pain in the front and my tummy didn't feel any harder to me, I wasn't convinced that I was actually in labour until I went to the hospital and was told that I was 2cm dilated.
Although I did get more and more suspicious as the day went on and I kept having regular waves of really bad backache with no pain inbetween...

Maybe call your midwife and describe it to her?

Good luck Smile

rightontime · 28/04/2012 13:40

ROA is baby's back to your right. The most desirable positions are LOA, baby's back to your left, or back towards your front.

I think ROA babies are more likely to turn back to back than LOA babies but I may be wrong on that.

My back to back labour started similar to what you are describing but then so did my 'normal' labour. My normal labour just progressed much more quickly. I have never really felt contractions around my belly like other people describe.

rightontime · 28/04/2012 13:41

Oh, and if it is a back to back labour getting on all fours and keeping knees lower than hips should help encourage the baby to turn.

BabyLabyrinth · 28/04/2012 13:53

Oh ok, thanks for explaining, rightontime. Hmm no one here seems very concerned about baby's position, but maybe they just don't want to worry me ... Right, off to hang off birthing ball for a bit.

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Fraktal · 28/04/2012 14:25

Where are you?

No head down position is particularly 'concerning' IYSWIM. In France they practically expect you to be immobile with an epidural anyway, for example!

BabyLabyrinth · 28/04/2012 15:24

Germany. I actually asked about back to back a few weeks ago, and they looked at me rather blankly! They're happy for me to have a water birth as long as head is down, I think.

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rightontime · 30/04/2012 12:47

Was it labour?

If not then no I don't think back to back in itself is cause for concern as often the baby will turn during labour.

Personally my labour was long with a very slow build up. It ended in an EMCS because of foetal distress but I suspect had the baby turned and not been back to back it would have come faster and hence CS would have been avoidable.

For comparison Labour 1 was 23hours, labour 2 was 3hours.

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