am i in labor?

Question

i am 38 weeks pregnant with my 4th child i am having alot of pain and pressure in my lower abdomen and severe back pain, i am not sure if i am going in labor or not, the contractions i have had with my previous pregancies didn't feel like this? am i going into labor, or should i wait it out, i dont want this to be my 4th unneccesary trip to the hospital

Answer 1

you better be calling your doctor and tell them your symptoms. the doc is going to tell you to come in. good luck!

Answer 2

LOL

Sorry, I just remember that feeling, and I'm GLAD I'll never have to have it again.

Wait it out a little bit. Lie down and rest, take some deep breaths, have some water (dehydration can cause early contractions or pain), and wait and see. If the pain doesn't stop, seems to come and go in spurts (naturally, having 4 kids, you're aware that if they become regular and come-and-go, those are real contractions), or if you feel a leak or gush of your water breaking (someone once told me I would know it when my water broke... they forgot to mention that a leak is a LOT less easy to detect), go to the hospital.

You might want to call your doctor or a nurse hotline right now if that will make you more comfortable.

Also, my mom told me (after my third false-alarm trip to the hospital) that this is not a baseball game. They're not going to kick me out after three "strikes".

Good luck!

EDIT: Marlene, I understand what you're saying, but ya know, at a certain point in pregnancy, pain just became part of the daily routine for me. If I had rushed to the hospital every time I had even a moderate "owie", I would have practically lived in triage, and I think my insurance would have said "NUH-UH!" and fired us.

Answer 3

When you are pregnant and having ANY pain, the ER is the place to be. Since it is your 4th child, you can deliver really, really fast and if the back pain isn't labor pains, it could be a symptom of something else like a bladder infection starting or kidney stones but do not sit home and type on this computer- go to the ER and I wish you the best. DO NOT WAIT IT OUT

Answer 4

It sounds like you may be in labor. Does the pain come and go or is it constant? If it is coming and going, then you may want to time it. Time the pain from start to start. In other words, if the pain starts at 2:10 and stops at 2:15 then starts again at 2:20 then your contractions are 10 minutes apart. You need to go to the hospital when they are about 10 minutes apart since this is your fourth child.

Answer 5

Every pregnancy and labor is different. Listen to your body and really get in tune with it. If your pain is coming like contractions ie: 5-10 minutes apart, Then most likely you are. If it is not consistent wait it out. You are safe to be in labor and with your 4th you will most likely go faster. Make sure you have gas in your car, bags packed and the other kids taken care of. If you have lost your mucous plug and have diarrhea then yea it could most definite be labor. good luck." Birth is safe , interference is risky " Hope this helps.

Answer 6

I would think it sounds like Back labor and since its your 4th child, I would want to go to the hospital just in case.
Even if the contractions arent regular, you could still be in labor.

good luck and I wish u a very easy labor and a healthy delivery and baby :)

Answer 7

Sound like back labor to me. I only had it once out of 4 times. Try lying down and monitoring it for a while. It may go away if its false labor. Unless you have really quick deliveries there is no rush to the hospital anyway where they are going to make you lay down and not get as comfortable as you can at home.

Answer 8

It could be that your baby has changed positions and is putting pressure on your back. If it's constant pain without regular contractions then you can probably stay home. But if you are having contractions every 10 minutes or sooner, I think you'd better get to the hospital.

Answer 9

You may be but you need to see your doctor or midwife to be sure, I hope you don't live to far from hospital but don't think its unnecessary, if you are going to the hospital its because you need reassurance of whats going on. Its better to be safe then sorry, Have you lost your plug? been your forth baby its not necessary your baby has to be engaged or any other signs before labour so if you are in pain or unsure ring the hospital and if they say come on up then go. Good luck and I wish you all the best.

Answer 10

Call the doctor theyll most likely tell you to come in it does sound like labor is your water leaking at all.??? Lower abdomen pain and back aches usually indicate labor!!! Good luck and Congrats

Answer 11

i think all you people should calm down with your get to the er now bussiness i want to tell you all its totally normal to be experiencing these symptoms days even weeks befor delivery im a midwife i see it all the time but also it could be labour but this poor lady wont die hundreds go through it a day.lay down if it gets worse or more frequent yes go to the er this is your 4th so you must have some knowledge on the matter if you have quik labours just be weary but you will be fine goodluck to you.