Back labour- what was yours like

I put a post up yesterday after having pains yesterday and noticing that my cervix had changed. I should mention 2 weeks ago I was at the hospital for observation as I was having contractions, however they weren't causing me to dilate.

Since this morning I have been having back pain that has gotten substantially worse in the last two hours. Then about 30 mins ago I went to the loo and there was some blood. Not a huge amount, but a couple of little clots and some more when I wiped. Nothing substantial since then but the back pain is pretty bad.

I rang and spoke with my student midwife, the lovely Sara and she advised to call the hospital. I did and spoke with the most awful midwife who treated me like an idiot and talked down to me the whole time making me feel bad for being pregnant and interupting her night lol. She told me to take panadeine and if anything seriously changes to call back. Pffftt whatever nasty lady. Rang Sara back and she's happy for me to see how things go for a little while, so I am.

But I'm wondering is this what happened to you if you had back labour? With DS I was induced, however I did have similar back pain when I was labouring with him but I was there for 21 hours so I'm not sure what its like to have a naturally occuring labour.

Thanks for any help or advice, glad I can come here and ask for reassurance when a midwife isn't willing to give it...

Bump.

I experience labour in my back until the last stage, the contractions don't record on the monitor.

With dd1 I just thought my back was sore until my waters broke. Dd2 I had knew it was labour at 35 weeks so I was on medication until my waters leaked at 37 weeks. With ds I went to hospital with ctx, but got sent home after being monitored overnight. I had a sleeping tablet and only vaguely remember back pain but I was back the next day and had ds.

To me it's a really strong cramping, it rolls up my back as well. Does your pain come and go or is it constant?

My back was REALLY ouchy with DS. Felt very much like pinching. I ended up being induced with DS so it was worse but it was a little nasty from the start.
With DD it was a much more gradual process and my back didn't feel as bad from the start as she was right way round!

Don't let the horrible MW get to you, call back and ask for someone else if you need. You and your bub are the most important people here :hug:

Black rose- the pain is constant but waves of stronger pain come and go. It does roll up my back though. With DS I was induced and the site where they gave me the epidural is the highest point that the pain is reaching, its going from my lower back up to that point.

Enchanted- I won't let her get to me, just sucks that people like her are still allowed to practice. When I know that's going to be my profession it makes me even more mad. I'm going to try lying down and see how things go from there. If things ramp up I'll definitely call back again. They would have had a shift change by now, so at least I will get someone else.

I had constant sharp back pains and as I got closer to pushing the pain intensified more and seemed to wave down my back.

:hug: what a horrible MW. If it were me I'd just rock up at ED, but I'm a bit of a worry wart with pregnancy.

Ella, Sorry I cant give any advise on the back pain.. But I think you should call the hospital again and ask to talk to someone else..

Stupid m/w.. sorry you had to deal with that person.. They should know better that blood scares pregnant woman.. NO MATTER WHAT STAGE..

Could it have been your plug?

Just wanted to say good luck to you if this is big event, hun... how are you going now?? I had two back labours (one an induced normal presentation, second was spontaneous labour but bubs was posterior the whole time), it definitely does sound like you are experiencing what I did. No pain (no feeling?) at all in the front, waves of pain up the back and very sore in the pelvis/hips/bum? I hope it's just pre-labour and bub hangs in there for a couple more weeks until she's at term, but if you're still feeling lots of aching and soreness, give the hospital a call back and see what they say. Good luck hun!! xx

I'll be honest, my back pain labour was HELL! DD was posterior and boy did I KNOW ABOUT IT!! LOL!

I had quite a lot of stomach contractions too which were a huge relief compared to the backpain. I had planned on a drug free birth and surprisingly got to 9cm before I had my epidural but I will be honest, at that point I honestly thought I was going to die. Sorry, but the pain was unbelievable!! The epidural was amazing and I was so grateful for it. We had hoped DD would turn so I could deliver her after the epi had worn off but the pain was so much worse once the epi wore off and I pushed for over an hour with no head on show so they knew something wasn't right. A quick look and they confirmed that she was still posterior and stuck. They topped up my epi, turned her and vacuumed DD out - it took just three pushes.

Sorry, back to the point, my back pain was really unbearable. I feel for any woman going through a posterior labour. I really never imagined 'good pain' could be so bad. But hey, I'll be going back for more :lol:

PS: my waters broke naturally at 7.30am and DD was delivered at 3.10pm that afternoon. I didn't have my bloody show until midday just after my epi, so once I got to 9cm

Eng- I guess it could have been my plug, I've lost some more really thick CM this morning so I'm not sure.

Glamourcide- yup thats exactly what it felt like. I always felt my period pain in my back so it was like that but stronger.

Update- So the pain was kinda bad through the night, it woke me up a few times. This morning it really hurt trying to get out of bed. The pain hasn't gotten any worse yet, but I have noticed that I have lost some more pretty thick CM. I'm just going to see how things go I guess. I don't take pain killers, so I won't be taking the 4 hourly miracle fix the idiot midwife told me would fix everything. Personally I would rather feel what is happening with my body rather than making it shut up... guess there must be something wrong with me lol

Thank you all for your advice and reassurance. I will let you all know if anything exciting happens!

Good to hear from you!! I was thinking about you this morning when I woke up :) Just another thought I had, could it be SPD?? I had horrible pain in my hips and back late in my pregnancies, from the ligaments softening up and spreading..? It caused me a lot of constant pain and trouble standing/sitting/laying down and getting dressed, climbing stairs was a nightmare. If you don't think it's the onset of labour just yet, see if you can pop into your GP or the local hospital and get checked out by a physio :) Good luck hun!

Glad to hear from you x

I hope nothing exciting happens for another 2 weeks :)

How are you today? Glamourcide could be on the mark, maybe it is SPD or just general back/pelvis pain which unfortunately comes with a lot of pregnancies, particularly in the later stages. My back pain was the same as contractions, so regular and increased in intensity and obviously got closer together as the labour progressed.

You can lose your mucous plug well before going into labour so there is a good chance you have been losing your plug but that doens't mean labour is imminent. However, the blood you experienced is a bit concerning given you're only 35 weeks. I'd be phoning the hospital again if I was you. It would be unlikely you'd get the same grumpy midwife you spoke with last time! You should really get checked out though, it does sound a bit odd and personally I wouldn't want to wait things out.

If it is just growing pains then panadol or heatpacks will really be the only things to provide some relief.

Good luck!

I just read up on SPD and I'm pretty sure thats not what its been. The pain has died off quite alot in the last couple of hours, but unlike SPD it was acute and not chronic and lasting for days on end.

I'm a bit hesitant to call the hospital again, I know I will get a different midwife, but the idea of sitting there for hours for nothing is unappealing especially with a 2 year old with me. I'll be keeping a very close eye on things though and at the first sign of anything I will be straight on the phone.

Thank you all agian for your care and concern it really is very much appreciated.

:hug: hopefully its just your body making a few preparations.

How is bubs movements?

Movements are ok, nothing unusual. Just had some fizzy drink to test and she's going bananas in there lol

If they slow down, please go and get checked out. Even if you sit up there for a few hours and it is for 'nothing' you'll have peace of mind and you'll have a better idea of what's going on.

Is there someone who can watch your DS?

Just spoken to a really nice midwife this time from the hospital. I told her everything that has happened and she was great and gace lots of good advice. She said I can come in if I'm really concerned but she is happy for me to stay home and monitor things. She gave me a big list of stuff that will mean I need to call back and go in.

Feeling much better now.

I can get DF and DS to come up with me if I have to go. My parents will be coming from an hour away to look after him for the labour, but we don't have anyone we can leave him with just for a bit to go up there. It will be ok though, hopefully everything will pan out nicely.

Sally you're so sweet to be concerned, thanks hun!

I am so glad you got a nice one this time :hug: I'm also glad your mind is at peace now too. Nothing worse than worrying about something :hug:

And you are more than welcome xx

That's great! Glad you got to speak to someone with a heart this time!

DD was posterior from the minute labour started so I only ever remember the awful, awful pain I got in my back every time a cx hit. The cx didn't bother me much, they were easy,!!! It was the back pain that was hard to handle.

Glad you're feeling much better about everything Hun :) was your DS early also?

DS was induced at 40 weeks so he was on time.

Everything still relatively settled. Keep having stinging pains 'down there' though, so thinking maybe bub's head is right in there now.

I wonder how long it will be till I go into labour. Feels funny. I got myself mentally prepared to deal with having a baby today and now things have settled down. Don't get me wrong I know its best for her to stay in there for a bit yet, but I'm just feeling a bit emotionally confused now and like I can't concentrate on my uni work cause I'm expecting something to happen.