people who have had back labor or who can just help!?

Question

can anyone explain signs of how back labour may start, this is my first baby so dont have a clue what to expect in labor but i have a dull back ache ive have it for 3 days its not a come and go pain its always there constant also when i walk ans the top of my legs. ive been to see my midwife and she has said the babys head is not engaged so could i be in early stages of labour or not emmm need help and advice.

Answer 1

I had horrible back labor. What you're describing is a constant pain or ache, whereas back labor is not constant but rhythmic, as it is contractions that you feel in your back. The pain is excruciating -- you wouldn't be walking around with it or describing it as a dull back ache (or a dull anything, for that matter!)

Lower back pain is extremely common in late stages of pregnancy -- much more common to have it than to not have it. Your body is carrying extra weight and typically our posture is NOT ideal during this time...we lean back to compensate for the extra weight we're carrying in front, and this puts strain on our lower backs. It also sounds from your description as though you may be dealing with inflamation around/pressure on the sciatic nerve: such issues very commonly manifest in lower back pain that radiates through the buttocks and/or the top of the legs.

Also, if you had any unknown/undiscovered back issues before, the stress of pregnancy would likely exacerbate it. I may end up putting my chiropractor's kid through college...and the back issues I'm having now were apparently in the works for years, but exacerbated/accelerated by pregnancy (and then, you know, carrying twins up and down the stairs!)

I recommend that you see a chiropractor who works with pregnant women -- a good chiropractor will teach you gentle stretches that you can do daily (or more frequently) that will help your back and that will NOT be in any way harmful for your back, your body in general, your pregnancy, or the baby. Another option is to see an acupuncturist (also one who works with pregnant women) but I would choose a chiropractor for this particular issue.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 2

It is hard to say whether you are having back labor or not. A sure sign that you ARE having back labor is, when you feel that the pain feels like menstrual cramps, only 100 times worse. Mine came on starting 11 minutes apart. It would last for 30-40 seconds, then it would go away. Went to the hospital and they said I was having false labor. Not true. The pain continued through the day getting closer together. By the next morning, the cramping came 5 minutes apart. It was all I could do to bear it. Went to the hospital (which I should have waited until they were 3 minutes apart) and didn't have my daughter until the following morning. It was brutal!

The baby may be sitting on your sciatic nerve. It hurts like hell and you can't really move without the pain staying there. Once the baby has engaged into Stage 1 you should notice a difference.

Back labor is caused from the baby's skull rubbing up against the tailbone and spinal area. Normally babies are born nose down, but they can be born sunny side up. I learned this in my lamaze class and it definitely explained to me what was going on. I wouldn't have known that if I hadn't taken the class. You might want to see if your midwife can tell which way the baby is facing. If you are getting a lot of kicks up to your ribs in the front of your belly, the baby could be facing up. It could also turn at the last minute as well.

Good luck and remember to breathe, breathe, breathe! Hope this helps.

Answer 3

It could be, but since the baby's head is not engaged, it sounds more like muscle strain. And pressure from the weight of the baby.
"Back labor" isn't so much a constant dull ache. It's a strong pain in your lower back that comes with the contraction. It subsides when the contraction ends, although there may be some aching in between, too. It gets worse as the baby moves down, until eventually the head rotates (hopefully) to the face-down position.

Try getting on your elbows and knees, with your head resting on a few pillows, and your butt in the air. This gets the pressure off your lower back, whether it's from labor, or muscle strain.

Answer 4

I had back labor with my first baby. Initally, it was a dull come and go pain in my lower back. I didn't think anything of it because it wasn't unbareable. However, as the night wore on, the pain continued and got closer and closer together. It was a dull ache and nothing like what I'd been told contractions felt like.

Anyway, we timed them and by the time I called the doctor, the pain was 3 minutes part. From everything I was told and everything I read, you need to be looking for contractions unless your water breaks. So, your baby might just be putting some extra stress on your back and legs.

If you are still concerned talk to your doctor. They can set your mind at ease.

Answer 5

You are probably not in labour.

However if you are concerned about back labour you should see a chiropractor straight away. I wish I had. Poor posture can cause baby to be facing the wrong way which causes back labour. Chiropractic care can really help. I just didn't want to admit anything would go wrong plus I didn't really have the money, but I wish I had I was in labour for three days before my baby finally turned and then wham everything went fast and easy.

You can find a list of some chiropractors trained in prenatal care at: http://www.icpa4kids.org

Answer 6

I had horrible back labor when I had my son, hot showers helped a lot, and actually the best thing was to sit upright in the recliner that was in my room. I don't know why but the pain was unbearable when I was lying down, I spent almost my whole labor in the recliner. I tried narcotics but they didn't work at all for the pain, so eventually I gave in and got an epidural, and it was the best thing I could of done I felt no pain, and actually got a 3 hour nap in right before I actually gave birth to my son. It was great, I was so rested and ready I was able to push him out in just a half an hour (which sounds like a long time, but actually isn't). Good Luck and Congratulations!

Answer 7

Well you're really not in labor until your contractions are very regular. I've had terrible back labor when I actually did go into labor. Before that I had very bad backaches because the baby's weight was too much for me to handle and the numbness or aching you feel in the top of your legs is the babys weight on your nerves . It did that to me too. For me when I was in labor....I had extremely bad menstual like cramps....contractions and of course major backache...Everyone's different though. Sometimes peoples water breaks ...mine didn't for all 3 of mine. With my first baby I wasn't even sure if I was in labor. My husband had to force me to go to the hospital and sure enough I was in labor. Only you know your body, if you really think you are I would get checked. Even if it's a false alarm...that's not a big deal. They have those all the time. Good Luck with the baby!

Answer 8

You don't say how close you are to your due date, but labor starts as a sharp contraction, that disappears and then comes back. Each time a little closer and eventually stronger and stronger and quicker. What you describe sounds like the early part of labor. Believe me, you will know when the full thing hits. I had four kids and even though each delivery was different, labor was the same. Good luck to you and give the baby a kiss for me!!

Answer 9

When i had my son i never had one contraction in my stomach, it was all in my back so i wasnt sure i was in labor until i noticed that the back pain would come in waves, dull then more intense then dull again then gone for about 10 minutes, as the intensity increased and ten minutes became 6, i started to think maybe i was actually in labor.
But if your back pain is constant it could just be one of the wonderful sides of pregnancy, or the way the baby is positioned.
good luck!

Answer 10

My wife and I had the back labor with our first child. She had had a back ache for 3 or 4 days but when I got home for work on the fourth or fifth day she could hardly do anything her back was hurting so badly. It didn't come and go and it was a constant pain, but it was so bad I called the doctor. I took her to the hospital and we had the baby within 8 hours. I hope this info helps... and best wishes for you and the baby.