Contractions in your back

Hi ladies,

I am 38w3d pregnant with bub #3, last nigth i was getting contractions every 5mins lasting for a minute for just over an hour and they stopped. Today i have had a few pains again but this evening i have noticed my back is extremely sore, it's coming and going like the contractions i had last night but this time in my back .....i have never had contractions in my back before so i am not really sure as too if this pain is actually contractions or not, can anyone tell me what a back contractions feels like ?? Do they come at regular intervals liek a normal 'belly' contraction? Do they gradually become stronger? Does my belly have to be hard for it to be a back contraction?

Sorry for all the questions but i have no idea having only ever had the normal 'belly' contractions this is all new to me. Thanks in advance.

I have had posterior labours for all my babies, they started a bit irregular but soon became pretty consistant,often labour starts and stops, I have had to be induced to get it really going and 3 times my waters have broken, never really felt anything in my tummy pain wise, just an inmense pain in my back and bottom, feels I am lead to believe that you are much further along than you think. Sometimes bub will turn while you are in labour.. which I imagine would be a big relief? never happened to me.
Good luck, my best labour I got to about 5cms and requested an epi, took away a lot of the fear asscoiated with the pain and my labour progressed a lot faster from there. Only my personal opinion and in no way suggesting you should.

Try getting down on all fours over a bean bag. See if that relieves some pressure.
Hot shower or heat pack can help too.
Sounds like you are on your way to me :)

My labour was in my back - my right hip mostly and I felt nothing in my tummy. My tummy was hard though. I found that there was not much of a break between contractions and the best thing was leaning over a chair or bench and swaying my hips, or pacing up and down whilst jigging up and down. With contractions I also got my birth team to massage my lower back. It does sound like contractions to me!
ETA: Mine came at regular intervals, but can't remember if they increased throughout - just that it really hurt!

Both of my labours were posterior labours. My belly didn't get any harder during contractions at all, I just felt like my back/pelvis was going to break!
Mine were what I suppose you call 'normal belly contractions'. They'd start mild, then increase, and increase over time, lasting usually 60-90 seconds, then ease off.
You might want to check if bub is sitting posterior. If bub is, try and get bub to turn by always sitting upright, not slouching and labouring on all fours. Although you can have a natural delivery with a posterior bub (I have), it hurts like hell (in your back) to do so.

mine started off as belly contractions and then belly and back contractions at the same time, when things got really going they were just in my back they were the most painful things i have ever felt, what helped me was hot hot water and a hot water bottle
also kneeling over the bed or cushions

back labour pains are very real and ppl think they are only in your belly but its not the case

Another one here that had a back labour... Ouchie! Hot water/head packs... Hope something happens quickly for you :-)

Thankyou very much for all of your replies, i am still getting the odd pain in the back but not like it was whe i posted this thread so not sure whats going on....probably just all pre-labour, guess i will just have to ride it out and wait for the big day to arrive (which i feel wont be too far away now).
I said to my DH i think this will be the birth where i do get back pain which i know is going to be painful but at the same time 1out 0f 3 births isnt too bad and at least at the end of it all i will be holding my precious litte one :)

Hi Sweetie.. :dance:
That's so exciting that you are getting any type of contraction... I really hope that bubs turns for you though and that the back pains eases.. Maybe check out spinning babies website for some tips on getting bubs to turn... All the other suggestions abount being on your hands and knees and leaning forward are all good for this (I have read a fair bit cause my middie thinks I have a high chance of posterior labour due to placenta being at the front) Good luck Hun and hopefully I'm not too far behing...
Dee xoxo

Hi Dee, it sure is getting exciting ...i am so ready to meet my little one but i know i have to wait for him/her to be ready to meet me too :)
Bubby is laying off to the side so his/her back is to the right of my belly, bottom is under my boobs and arms and legs in the middle....the Dr/Midwifes have told me that the position is perfect but i agree that this is probably the cause for the back pains (contractions :) ).
Wishing you all the very best for the impending birth of your little man Dee, i hope everything goes really well and i can't wait to hear all about it. Take care x

Sounds like bubs might be posterior. I laboured with a posteriour baby and it hurt like hell! I actually had no idea I was in labour because I felt no pain whatsoever in my belly - just intense back pain that kept coming and going although even when it was 'going' it still hurt like hell! Doctors didn't realise bubs was posterior until she was born (c/s) then the midwife said 'oh no wonder your back was so sore your baby was posterior' :wall:

Sounds like the big day is almost here so I wish you all the best for a wonderful birth :D

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Sounds like bubs might be posterior. I laboured with a posteriour baby and it hurt like hell! I actually had no idea I was in labour because I felt no pain whatsoever in my belly - just intense back pain that kept coming and going although even when it was 'going' it still hurt like hell! Doctors didn't realise bubs was posterior until she was born (c/s) then the midwife said 'oh no wonder your back was so sore your baby was posterior' :wall:

Sounds like the big day is almost here so I wish you all the best for a wonderful birth :D

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Thanks,

Ouch it sure seems to be the case that posterior bubs are te cause for all this back ache.... isn't posterior when bubs is with his/her back against yours (mum's back)?
My bubs isn't or should i say at least wasnt last wednesday when i had an ultrasound at the hospital but maybe things have changed since then ...who knows!! I guess i will find out soon enough :) Thanks for your well wishes.

Hi Westy..
That's so funny because about 6 weeks ago my bub was laying in the same spot.. Off to the right that is.. And my MW said she would prefer him on the left cause when they turn to go down further and engage that they usually turn clockwise which for you would be posterior (mine changed sides so he's now on the left).. So many differing opinions in this whole birth thing isn't there... If you're still getting back pain (assuming bubs hasn't arrived yet) maybe some time on your hands and knees with bum up in the air on a soft surface like you bed for 10 minute stints at a time might help.. Apparently in that position the baby's spine is the heaviest part of their body and it will tend to swing to the lowest lying spot being your front.. You would have to do this on and off throughout the whole day to make a difference now but if he rolled and changed for you labour will be easier and quicker... Thinking of you sweetie...
Dee xoxo

DD was in the same position the week before she was born, and ended up being posterior. My MW said they same as Lilmiss's - that they turn clockwise so it seemed she turned and then stopped when she was posterior instead of keeping going to the front. I did get a lot of back pain, but TBH, because it was my first, I didn't realise it wasn't normal IYKWIM, so can't quite remember how the pain was. I do remember it hurt alot!! But I did manage it without drugs and assistance, and DD didn't turn at any point, so it can be done if thats what you want. Also, my labour started and contractions were really inconsistent and took about 15 hours after my waters broke for anything real to happen. If its not labour, but pre-labour, maybe see if you can take some panadiol forte.

Just had another thought, I remember with DD2 towards the end of my labour the midwife tried to get me to lay on my left side to see if bub would turn. It wasn't going to happen though as I was too far along and I needed to be upright. Just a thought though.