Pain in my, um, bottom side? (TMI warning)

[grace's voice]

I have to ask, as embarassing as it is, because its concerning me.

I've had quite a bit of what feels like rectal pain lately. Now, I'm no stranger to hemorroids (I've had IBS for 10 years), it does feel sort of like it could be hemorrhoids and I'm not having bowel movements quite as often as usual. But it really hurts when I have contractions (which is often). Could it be JUST the pressure from the baby's head? Could it be the pressure from the head on a hemorrhoid? Could it just be plain old hemorrhoids? Is anyone else having this issue? There's just so much pressure in my butt with contractions! I never felt that with dd (until I was pushing her out), though I did have some hemorrhoids during my last pg. Any ideas about what could be causing it or what I can do to help it? Its an internal pain, I haven't had any external hemorrhoids this pg.

Thanks! (And sorry about the grossness.)

[BelgianSheepDog]

Do you know how the baby is positioned? Because that does sound like pressure from the head to me, and I'd imagine it would be worse in certain positions.

[grace's voice]

He has his back to my front (occiput anterior?) and changes sides but is usually on my right. DD was in the same position.

[cymbeline]

Are you constipated? I've got LOTS of pressure down there, and it is worst when I am, ahem, "backed up," so to speak.

Second (or more) time mamas usually feel more pressure because the pelvis spreads more easily than it did the first time. As this is my third, the pressure is UNBELIEVABLE! The baby is literally a pain in my backside ;-)

Oh, one more possibility: I bruised my tailbone a few years ago, and I may have even stress fractured it. That could be another source of your discomfort, simply having a lot of pressure on the tailbone.

[augustmom]

Sorry you're experiencing this pain. SOunds like it could be the baby. Not to worry though, he'll be out soon enough