|
QUESTION:
Is severe low back pain in the 9th month any indication of
labor starting soon? Or is it more of a YMMV thing where it doesn't really
give a clue? I'm getting close to 38 weeks. No contractions, not even much
BH lately. But late afternoon and on I've developed incredible low, low
back and pelvis pain. The baby started dropping 6 1/2 weeks ago, and it's
nothing like the pressue/pain of having the baby dropped.
ANSWER:
I wanted to get your opinion before I get my hopes up. I don't want to
think it's happening and then have to go another month. I realize that most
first-time moms go overdue, not early, so I'm trying to tell myself that it
doesn't mean anything.
I know that's not what you wanted to hear. The real situation is that
low back pain is a sign that the baby is moving lower, the pelvis is
beginning to expand, your ligaments are loosening, probably even that the
cervix is effacing. ALL of that is a good sign that birth is imminent. But,
unfortunately, for every woman who has low back pain and stands up and the
baby falls out (and there have been a good number of those) there are at
least a few who have low back pain for weeks on end. I mean, to a certain
extent there is no "real" sign that the baby is coming except when its head
is between your legs- look at Candy, who can go 5-7 cm dilated for days and
weeks on end before she actually gives birth.
Low back pain CAN be a symptom of labor- for some women, that's what labor
feels like. So if you have any doubt, or you start feeling pressure between
your legs, go to a midwife or OB ASAP.
If you are having back labor, thet's what you'd feel. I'm not saying
you're in labor, but that's what happened with my cousin. She actually had
no clue she was in labor until she was in so much pain from her back that
she had to go to the hospital. Also, I beleive first time moms tend to go
earlier (I may be wrong). And at 38 weeks, you're full term. Your due date
is actually a time span of 4 weeks, with the "due date" in the middle. Good
luck, I know waiting gets tough towards the end. I would give your OB a
call and see what they think.
I would have thought that it was just the baby dropping lower, except that
already did happen! At my ultrasound 4 days ago, the baby was so low, we
couldn't see much of the head. The tech told us that it is already *very*
low, and digging its way to China. However, an ultrasound cannot tell if I
am already engaged.
|