Dull lower back pain? Could it be a sign that labor is coming?

[hopeful1]

Last night, for the first time, I got sharp shooting pains down my butt cheeks. It would start in the center of my lower back and radiate down my butt cheek???? Now today, I have had a dull cramping all the way across my lower back.... almost like period cramps.... but in the back. Also some cramping in the front. Is it possible that labor is nearing? This baby has been so low the entire pregnancy, but now he's even lower!!! For the first time last night since the beginning of my 3rd trimester I didn't wake up with rib pain. What do you mommas think???? My dh works out of town M-F and I'm terrified of going into labor without him...
Sorry, btw, I am 36 weeks tomorrow and at my last exam my OB said my cervix is softening and has moved forward.

[b_light]

I'm probably not much help as I'm a first-timer here, but I felt a pain similar to yours. I described it as "baby moving down my spine". I think my pain was the baby dropping. The next day I had several women tell me that they could tell I had dropped, and it was confirmed with my last midwife appointment.

Anyway, maybe it is the baby dropping.

[hopeful1]

That was what I was thinking.... that maybe it's just the baby moving down. Anyway, I've felt really bad the last couple of days... nausea, frequent trips to the bathroom (not to pee: ) and then the lower back pain accompanied by menstrual-like cramps in my lower abdomen. I'm really not expecting to go up to my due date. It's not like this is my first, but it's been so long since I've had a "normal" pregnancy (15 yrs) that I don't remember what going into labor or your body preparing for labor feels like.

[KIMBER1983]

I had back cramps that felt like period cramps for about 5 days. On and Off.
I haven't had any today yet. But I know they would come on after i would pee. So i think my full bladder would push the baby up and then when I emptied it the baby would move its head back down. Sooo I kept thinking it was pre-labor. but nopers.
I also get what i call "cervical zingers" where the baby is like pressing down and it feels like its gonna reach its hand out. Those can be uncomfortable.
Hang in there.