my wife is almost 37 weeks pregnant(will be tomorrow) she is having back pains(upper back)?

Question

she is having back pains(upper back) that is constant and her stomach feels hard like harder than it ever has. does anyone know what is causing either and how to relieve the pain??

also does the baby get less active when its close to delivery time

Answer 1

Talk to your doctor, could be sings of labor.

Yes, all my babies were less active towards the end. By that time they didn't have alot of room to move around in, considering they were 9lb babies. :)

Answer 2

Usually pain from contractions is on the lower back, and contractions by definition are intermittent, increasing in intensity and length and closer together if she is going into labor. What she probably experiencing now are Braxton-Hicks contractions, which causes the stomach to feel very hard intermittently, and are like 'preparatory' contractions, not the real deal. They should get better if she changes position, like lying down if she standing, or viceversa. However, if they don't seem to stop, you should call the doctor. Ditto for her back pain if it does not get better with some tylenol. Babies DO get less active closer to labor; they have less space to move around.

Answer 3

When a woman is pregnant, her body releases hormones that causes all the ligaments in her body to loosen. This is so her pelic girdle can "open up" allowing her child's head to fit through the birth canal. Unfortunately, it effects ALL ligaments, including the vertebrae in her back. This pulls her lumbar vertebrae forward somewhat as she gets heavier and heavier. Her upper back moves to compensate for this. The abnormal motion that results tends to irritate both the facets and the intervertebral discs in her spinal column. These refer pain to her back muscles and can cause them to spasm. It can even effect her neck, causing neck pain and headaches. It can be quite painful.

Since she is due any day now, she should probably rest alot more than she probably is and not be on her feet so much. You can use ice on her upper back if it is really painful (don't put ice anywhere on her lower back or her abdomen). Use common sense.

She will likely recover quickly after she gives birth (haha if she hasn't already by the time you read this).

As always, that's just the most common thing that causes what you are describing. Talk to your OB-GYN to make sure that's all it is.

Answer 4

When a woman's belly get hard like a rock, it is showing signs of preparing for labor. Back pains can happen with braxton hicks contractions. I had false contractions for 3 weeks prior to my son's birth. Breathing through the pain helped me lots. You don't want to massage the pain as there are pressure points on a woman's body that can cause pre-mature labor.

Your wife is at point where labor can be expected at any day. Just keep her comfortable. Sometimes, gently rolling a cold orange across the shoulders can help.

Answer 5

Yes, baby gets less active because of less room to move

The backache and firm belly are the usual effects of being 37 weeks pregnant...it means her body is getting ready to deliver!

Best relief I had was floating in the pool, but you need to ask her OB if it's not too late for that. If she is dilating, you shouldn't go in the pool.

I also liked when my husband lifting from under my arms from behind. Temporarily took the pain off the upper back.

Answer 6

No way the baby should stillbe as active. Her tummy on the other hand, I just found out I was having contrations(38wks pregnant) and don't even feel them. My doctor said my tummy gets real hard and then releases. Thats probably what that is. The back pains she will have probably for a while now. She is carrying a baby so it's normal. Good Luck!!

Answer 7

sounds like her boobs are big and full, and shes sore from their weight.

Iam only 4 months and already went up to a DD, my upper back has been hurting non stop.

As long as the baby is moving all should be well, although i have heard that as the baby drops and moves into position for labor it becomes a little less active at times.

I would make sure the heart rate is normal, check with your doctor if you have any concerns, thats what theyre there for.

Answer 8

Is she having Braxton Hicks contractions? Call the doctor and just check in to make sure all is well. The Baby tends to get less active as the weeks go by because they have less room to move around in there. Good Luck!

Answer 9

upper back pain is not related to pregnancy , she might have been sleeping in the wrong position ,or sitting for too loing in one position ,or reading for too long , or watchin television etc , these thgings strain the muscles ,
get a hot water bottle and wrap it in a towel anput it on her back , or use moov gel , but dont massage , or use eucalyptus oil (only a few drops , ) and massage her back as she will not be able to do it herself, also use some painkillers your gynaec will prescribe for her
37 wks means that the tummy will get harder , and it only means that her tummy muscles are quite toned and the uterus is contracting, which happens throughout the pregnnancy and more so now when she is preparing for delivery

Answer 10

It's very normal. The best thing you can do is rub her back and put a heating pad on it. She should not take hot baths though. It's not good for the baby (body temperature wise). In the end the baby has less room to move around. So yes she will feel less movement.

Answer 11

The questions to ask are...

1. Does the stomach get hard then soft again?
2. Does the stomach get soft when she lays down with her feet raised?
3. Does she have any lower back pain and radiation dow the leggs?

If the stomach gets soft again, it could be labor but it could also be braxton hix.
Upper back pain doesn't mean labor. It means she needs to sit down and rest.

Good luck.