Is this what back labor feels like?

[ILovePie]

I keep having muscle spasms or something in my low back - right above my hips. They have the "shape" of contractions - they ramp up, peak, subside. It's not constant, but it is happening maybe every 10 minutes. My belly isn't getting hard - so I assume it's not actual contractions?

I never had anything like this with DS. It's really quite painful - I've even groaned a couple of times.

I assume the best relief for whatever this is would be heat on my back and being on all fours?

I am 37 weeks as of yesterday if it matters. So I'm fine if I go into labor - but I highly doubt I'm having this baby before about 2 weeks from now.

[Ellen Griswold]

Well, everybody is different. My back labor felt like my lower back was catching on FIRE. But, it was rhythmic. And, I never felt a contraction in my belly. It certainly sounds like something is happening for you to me, but I'm hardly an expert.

[rootzdawta]

Moved from I'm Pregnant to Birth and Beyond.

[lunarlady]

My back labor felt like my tailbone was being yanked from my body. I felt it all the way around to the front like a band. My belly stayed soft until pushing. Sounds like this could be it. Any bloody show?

[ILovePie]

No bloody show, no mucous plug, nothing.

I went and took a nap and it stopped.

Let me just say...if that is back labor, I want no part of it! It was much more painful that my early contractions with DS!

[Stitches]

My back labor felt like I was on the rack. Although I was feeling stuff in the front, it was almost unnoticeable in comparison. Hopefully you just have a backache, I wouldn't wish back labor on anyone.

[savithny]

Sounds like my back labor -- it came in waves that built until it felt stabby in my back, and then subsided. Took awhile for me to figure out that it was rhymthmic.

With #1, I never felt anything across my belly. The midwife put her hand on my belly and said *she* felt it tightening, but I totally did not (probably the back pains were distracting, or maybe I'm wired that way?)

Anyway, labor wasn't *that* bad, all in all, even with the back labor.

[Evelynmia'smom]

My back labor felt like really intense pain and pressure in my tailbone, lower back.....the only thing that gave me relief was dh's fist and body weight behind it on the area.

[lunarlady]

False alarm then, eh? Well, hopefully your babe will turn a bit in the next week or so and that will be the only back labor you endure.

[Xavismom]

The only thing that helped me get through it was my DH doing counterpressure on my hips. It was rough.

How is your babe positioned? If you still have some time to go, and your lo is posterior or othersuch, I would really focus on trying to get a better position. I know with my next one, I will be so vigilant about it... If it happens again I'll deal, but I will try my hardest to not have it again (ds was posterior)

I'd do a lot of hands and knees, pelvic rocking, and look for a good prenatal chiro.

GL mama

[ILovePie]

Originally Posted by Xavismom

The only thing that helped me get through it was my DH doing counterpressure on my hips. It was rough.

How is your babe positioned? If you still have some time to go, and your lo is posterior or othersuch, I would really focus on trying to get a better position. I know with my next one, I will be so vigilant about it... If it happens again I'll deal, but I will try my hardest to not have it again (ds was posterior)

I'd do a lot of hands and knees, pelvic rocking, and look for a good prenatal chiro.

GL mama

That's the thing - this baby is still totally rolling all around (but head down)! If I lay on one side, baby rolls so hir spine is to that side. Sometimes I think baby is posterior (and might have been for that part of today - I was feeling more movement on either side), but it's definitely still rolling! Thank goodness!

I really feel for you mamas that endured hours of back labor and more intense than that - it was really painful!