OMG this back ache is awful!!!

[Nazz10]

38 weeks and my lower back has been absolute agony for the last 2 days. I've hardly been able to move.

I was cleaning low down to the ground 2 days ago and thought that may have been the reason but now I don't think it is that..

You know that awful feeling of your back needing to crack.. that's what it feels like. Or sometimes feels like a lot of pressure. And then other times feels muscular.
But it's super low down at the base of my back.

Any suggestions as to how I can relieve this pain?

A bath is the only thing that helps mine

Definitely second the bath suggestion! If you're up on your feet a lot have you tried a pregnancy belt? I find they help a bit.

If you're sat down then a yoga ball can take the edge off I find, or putting a soft pillow under your bump to take some of the weight off.

If that still doesn't help then lying on my side with cushions under my bump and in between my legs has helped a bit but nothing has worked as well as a bath, I tend to stay in for about 2 hours at this point!

A physio may be able to help more but at 38 weeks it's doubtful you'll get an appointment then prescription before the birth, I'm at about the same stage so have gone into grin and bear it mode!

I’m 7 weeks and tore a ligament in my back last Sunday. That’s what the gp I spoke to said. The pain it spasms has been unbearable.

Don’t get in the bath as you might not get out. Get some peas and lie down with them on your back.

I have been using crutches to walk. Phone your gp they might prescribe you something. I’ve got codine but not sure that’s ok for late pregnancy.

I really feel for you, it’s the worst pain ever but all you can do is rest and move x

Bath and lots of rest! Don’t exert yourself as you’ll want it to be better by the time you go in to labour (I say this from bitter experience!)

Thanks all. I doubt I'll be able to get in the bath. I can barely just make it up/down the stairs. I have a waddle but it's not because of the 'ball between my legs' feeling. It's because of this god awful pain
I would usually use deep freeze/heat but I don't think you can when you're pregnant can you? I know deep heat has ibuprofen in which is a no during pregnancy
I really hope it goes or at least gets better over the next few days

You can’t use deep heat.

Phone 111. I did last week and they were brilliant. They’ll prescribe you any painkillers you can have. Also, ask for crutches. They’ve been a life saver x

Hot water bottle on your lower back might help. That's what I do for my hips and it really helps. Also rest as much as you can - don't try and push through.

When I had a bad lower back in pregnancy it actually turned out to be a kidney infection! Some people also feel contractions only in their back. Might be worth speaking to a midwife or GP if it continues.

I had awful back ache at 36 weeks and it turned out to be a UTI, worth getting checked out

I'm not sure this is kidney/UTI related. It's not in my flank area. It's much lower than that. It's only on one side and I'm struggling to weight bear on that side. Pain is only when I move. I'll contact my GP today anyway
Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

@Nazz10

I'm not sure this is kidney/UTI related. It's not in my flank area. It's much lower than that. It's only on one side and I'm struggling to weight bear on that side. Pain is only when I move. I'll contact my GP today anyway Thanks everyone for your help and advice!

Could it possibly be PGP? Mine is often one sided and I struggle to bear weight and get up the stairs and stuff. Even laying down hurts.

Good luck with your GP.

@SnooperTrooper12345 I was thinking that it could be PGP.. I have an appt with GP today and have also contacted midwife who seems to think it's baby's positioning.
It really is agonising. I've never had back pain like it before.
It also radiated round to my front for a few minutes earlier this morning

I have a very similar pain - lower back/hip/upper glute. I think mine is to do with a back injury I had many years ago, it's always been a bit of a pain but in the last few weeks it's upped to a while new level. I wake myself up rolling over in bed as it feels like someone's taken a hot knife to my back. This is my 3rd full-term pregnancy (currently 32 weeks) and it's not like the PGP I suffered in the other two pregnancies.

I've bought myself a physio-type cushion to sit on, it definitely helps but unfortunately being pregnant, good pain pills and a heat treatment is just off the cards. Try to keep moving, and maybe get a pregnancy pillow as well.