Progression or normal joys of pregnancy?!

[Pizzaandsushi]

I’m just shy of 34 weeks in my first pregnancy and for the last week I’ve started getting lower back pain and pressure in my bum as well as that uncomfortable/achey feeling at the front you get right before your period starts.
I was wondering is this the next stage and my baby is moving down in preparation for labour or just the general aches and pains of pregnancy?
Right before I started getting these symptoms my baby moved pretty much nonstop for over 3 hours (never done that before so I phoned the assessment unit but they’re not concerned about too much movement) and I’m wondering if he’s moved himself into a lower position but is this not a bit early?
Plus I thought I’d feel more across my bump in terms of Braxton Hicks if things were progressing, not just aching below my belly button.
I am also on ferrous sulphate for anaemia so wondering if all this uncomfortableness is just related to that, even though I wouldn’t say I’ve been suffering from constipation.

I guess I’m after any sort of clarification and help with how to ease the pain. I’ve had pregnancy insomnia for months now and these new symptoms have made sleep even more unbearable, so any advice on what helped for you would be much appreciated. Not sure how I’m going to get through another 6 weeks!!

I feel that labour could be ahead hun when i was in labour i felt pressure in my bum like i needed a poo but it was baby making his way out x

Hi OP. I also experienced some dull aching period like pains towards the end of my pregnancy and I was worried and spoke to a midwife, it's perfectly normal it can just be your body accommodating and everything stretching. However if any pain ever worries you get checked out because better safe than sorry.
It can also be the baby moving down and getting into position and that could be the pressure you feel, but that doesn't mean labour is coming soon, baby's head can be down but usually when baby is coming soon it's head is "engaged"

@Pizzaandsushi Sounds absolutely normal to me OP! I questioned similar pain and discomfort and I’m sure I was told that baby usually moves head down and drops down lower into your pelvis anywhere between 32-36 weeks 😊 I was pretty uncomfortable after that stage too!
Are you working? I was doing 10hour shifts 5x per week in retail up until that point so I was on my feet all day but I had to cut that down at that point as I couldn’t physically manage.
Pregnancy insomnia is horrible - I had the same 😴 are you using pillows to help you get more comfortable at night?
You’ve not got long to go now, although I’m sure it feels like forever ❤️

@toxitears181 😬 good job I started packing my hospital bag last week!
That is exactly what it feels like, that I need to go to the toilet but I know I don’t. Is 34 weeks not too early or is this the sort of thing that will progress over the next month or so? It’s so hard to tell when you don’t know how everything should feel. I know things could still be a while yet, I jus thought it would be obvious when things started moving along.

Dont worry OP with your first pregnancy baby tends to engage their heads earlier. At your next midwife they will feel and tell you how engaged baby is!
So so exciting! Try and rest as much as you can - pregancy insomnia is the worst!

@tobi21 thanks for your reply! Ok so I don’t need to go into panic mode just yet then. I know he’s been head down for a while but something definitely feels different after his big moving session so maybe he’s moved a little further into my pelvis like you said. I feel like it should feel obvious when the babies head is engaged right? So don’t think I’m at that point.
I should hopefully be having my next midwife appointment some time this week so she’ll be able to check how he’s lying etc?

I don't feel like it feels obvious when the babies head is engaged, but the midwife tells you on examination how engaged they are. I remember with my first pregnancy around that gestation baby moving lower and things suddenly it being uncomfortable to sit in the car or go over speed bumps and things like that because of pressure lower down. As with anything worth speaking with the midwife and getting checked out with any worries.

@BDavis oh wow I didn’t realise they moved down so early! That’s comforting to know though.
I am still working and like you my job involves a lot of standing and walking around. I had hoped to get to 38 weeks before maternity leave, as I also have some intense training scheduled right before I leave but this last week has been especially tough I think I’ll have to see how I feel at the end of the month.
I do prop a cushion between my knees to help keep my hips in line but I’m wondering whether a proper pregnancy pillow might be of more use? I’m finding the increasing weight gain is causing me to sink into the mattress a lot to the point my hips are stiff and aching when I wake up.

I had no idea my baby’s head was engaged OP, my midwife told me when she checked at around 36wks (I think).

I wondered if things were happening from 36wks as I could feel pressure etc, but she wasn’t born until 41wks. You have to wait it out with pregnancy and birth, I tried not to look too much into symptoms etc.

Also, yeah I’d definitely say a pregnancy pillow is a great idea. I found it hard to sleep on my side after a while so would use it to sleep sitting up like an armchair in bed. I took it to the hospital with me and used it to get comfier there when I was in labour too.

I’m sitting propped up by it now because it’s comfy for feeding the baby for her early morning bottle, now 9wks old so it’s Gad plenty of use!

[quote Pizzaandsushi]@BDavis oh wow I didn’t realise they moved down so early! That’s comforting to know though.
I am still working and like you my job involves a lot of standing and walking around. I had hoped to get to 38 weeks before maternity leave, as I also have some intense training scheduled right before I leave but this last week has been especially tough I think I’ll have to see how I feel at the end of the month.
I do prop a cushion between my knees to help keep my hips in line but I’m wondering whether a proper pregnancy pillow might be of more use? I’m finding the increasing weight gain is causing me to sink into the mattress a lot to the point my hips are stiff and aching when I wake up.[/quote]
@Pizzaandsushi Definitely wait and see how you feel when it comes to work OP! And if you are struggling then STOP! I tried to push myself because it was a really busy time of year for us and we had some staffing issues and it just wasn’t worth it - I was so uncomfortable!
I wouldn’t say that you necessarily need a pregnancy pillow, although I did use one 😊 a decent pillow between your knees and one wedged under the side of bump to take some of the weight might help ❤️

@Cantgetausername87 I definitely need to stop thinking pregnancy is similar to what they show on tv 😂. I just assumed everything happened right at the end.
I should be having my next midwife appointment this week so hopefully she can clarify more then. I assume even if he has moved further down, it will be quite a few weeks before labour begins?
I’m nervous but very excited. I keep trying to imagine what it’s going to be like to finally meet this person that’s been growing inside me and I can’t wait!

I'm 34+3 @Pizzaandsushi and I started to get the period type feelings about the same time as you. Asked my midwife at my 34 week appt and she said it's my cervix starting to prepare for birth - not necessarily that it will be soon, but because this is also my first baby that our bodies start prepping early.

@NewtoHolland and @elenacampana this is comforting to hear. Sounds very similar to what I’m feeling now with the sudden pressure etc but good to know it’s likely normal progression but I just need to be patient and go with the flow more.
I think a lot of my worry is centred on finishing stuff at work before I leave and potentially letting people down if I have to go earlier but I’m starting to realise regardless of where the baby is at and trying to figure out timings of everything, if I can’t continue at the same pace I used to go at then that’s how it is.

@Gemster19 ahh that makes a lot of sense! I don’t know why that didn’t cross my mind. I keep thinking surely I should feel more over my abdomen since that’s where the baby and most of my uterus is now and completely forgot about the cervix which is silly because it must prepare in a similar way every month for menstruation and that’s the same sort of ache I’m getting now.

Yes, this sounds completely normal, I didn't feel any braxton hicks with my first and only a bit with my second cos I had a better idea what labour felt like and therefore what little practice contractions felt like.
Only thing that helped me was moving a lot, walking/pottering little and often, not sitting still too long and strategic pillows in bed. It's not much fun though.

I've been getting the same and assumed things were getting ready. Baby has always been in the right position so made sense it was dropping etc as I'm 35+6.
Had a scan yesterday and it's moved up near my ribs and now transverse . I think most of my pain is SPD or PGP as I suffered these in my first pregnancy but much earlier on.

I've been suffering with pregnancy insomnia too and it's so much worse than the usual insomnia I had before. Honestly don't know how I'm still functioning.

@TopCatsTopHat thanks for your reply. I did wonder whether I’d feel any at all, so it’s good to know that can certainly be the case. I keep seeing posts about women having lots of Braxton Hicks, leaky boobs and all sorts at this stage and wondering why I haven’t experienced any of that yet. Probably a sign to stop googling!
I’m about to search my house for more pillows to see if that helps at night. It will at least make me feel like I’ve tried something!

@PissedOffNeighbour22 ahhh why do they do this! I’m convinced mine has done a complete 180 in the womb and now facing the other way, like pregnancy isn’t worrisome enough, trying to guess if it’s the baby or just your pelvis having a meltdown. I have read Spinning Babies is supposed to be a good site if you want to try and get baby in the head down position but not tried it myself.

I understand that feeling completely. I genuinely don’t remember the last time I had a quality night sleep. I know they say it’s all in preparation for when baby arrives but quite frankly I really don’t feel like I needed to be prepared so early 😂. I keep trying to remember this WILL end at some point and we are getting close. Plus I know it will be worth it.

Op have you lost your mucus plug at all? If not it shouldnt be labour it could just be baby moving down getting ready to be born but could still take few weeks till baby ready if you have any contraxtions or excruciating pain definitely speak with midwife xxx

@Pizzaandsushi

You’ll be feeling things that they aren’t and visa versa. Pregnancy varies hugely between women and so does birth. I think it’s good to feel the twinges and the cramps, but not good to google them. You’ll either scare yourself or give yourself false hope that the baby is going to arrive a bit early or right on time. My midwife told me those are all good signs the body is preparing, but this preparation can take weeks.

Re work: go off when you need to. If you were to go into labour right at this moment, you’d have no choice about it and your work would manage just fine because they’d have to.

[quote Pizzaandsushi]@TopCatsTopHat thanks for your reply. I did wonder whether I’d feel any at all, so it’s good to know that can certainly be the case. I keep seeing posts about women having lots of Braxton Hicks, leaky boobs and all sorts at this stage and wondering why I haven’t experienced any of that yet. Probably a sign to stop googling!
I’m about to search my house for more pillows to see if that helps at night. It will at least make me feel like I’ve tried something![/quote]
Every pregnancy is unique. Spend less time on google and more time just quietly listening to your body, feel it's little changes, know that each one is because your baby is approaching full term, and you're doing it together. If you feel anything that doesn't feel 'right' don't dismiss yourself, but equally bits of this and that are because you are in a process of constant change the scale of which your body hasn't done since you were born yourself... Your body knows what it's doing, but the exact sensations are yours and your alone - and can be different from your first to your second. Don't compare yourself, you'll go mad trying to second guess what you 'should' be feeling. Handy to ask for a sense check on here, but don't pick away at it too often. Enjoy what you can, rest when you can, keep fit (in a heavily pregnany way) and enjoy things now you won't be able to when baby arrives like finishing a meal without being interrupted.

It sounds like it! That said you can been in this state for weeks before going in to labour.

For some reason I have had lower back and foof pain since about 33 weeks, but yesterday at 35+3 baby engaged almost completely and the pain has vanished! Bump has dropped noticeably (took a photo in the morning yesterday by change and by the afternoon the difference was very noticeable) and I have some mid back ache, but it's weird as usually it's engagement that causes the most hip and lower back pain

@toxitears181 definitely no mucus plug or anything other than the normal discharge so think it’s safe to say no labour! Although all weekend I have had what feels like stomach ache over my bump that I’m thinking might be BHs or just general moving and stretching of my uterus.