im 26 wks ALMOST && i think im having symptoms of labor soon... can someone help ?

Nikki - posted on 01/01/2010

my son was engaged from 24 weeks and i didnt deliver him until a week later then his due date.

are you sure your not having braxton hicks contractions.? they can be mistaken for real pains. also you can get back pains as your hips will start to expand and the weight of the baby on your spine

is this your first baby? have you spoken to the doctor about your pains?

Danielle - posted on 12/31/2009

I'm pretty sure that a baby being head down doesn't mean that your going into labor. Back pains are just a part of 2nd and 3rd trimester. If your really worried about it I would talk to your doctor. He will look at your cervix to determine if they are just braxton hicks or if they are the real thing. Your body naturally wants to prepare for birth, and unless the "pain" gets exceedingly worse or to a normal timing I wouldn't worry too much.

Though I have a problem similar :-) I'm actually having strong contractions, but they're not regular. I have found that doing yoga or stretching helps with the back pain :-)

Brandy - posted on 12/22/2009

Those don't sound like labor symptoms to me. Your baby could just favor the head down position. Most babies spend alot of time in one particular position. As for the pains, it's probably just your pelvis and hips getting ready for labor. In order to do this, all of the muscles in the pelvic, hip and lower back area have to stretch and move. The abdominal pains are likely Braxton Hicks contractions and don't mean you are any closer to labor. It just means your uteran muscles are practicing for the actual labor which is a good thing because the more you have, the easier and quicker your labor can be. Real contractions will start at the top of your uterus (about where the bottom of your ribcage is) and radiate downwards into your pelvis. They will be pretty significant and will come and go in regular intervals and last for a regular amount of time (ex. 45 seconds each time it comes). They will usually be about 30 -45 min apart to start with and slowly get closer together. Other signs of labor: water breaking (could be a big gush or a slow constant leak) and vaginal bleeding. Other than those two things and contractions, you can't really predict when labor is going to start. Hang in there, only 14 more weeks!

Lori - posted on 12/22/2009

I don't think it's too early because the baby is small enough still that he can change positions easily. Also, the back pain could be from the position he is currently in also. I know with my daughter, there are certain positions that just kill my back! Good Luck!

Rachel - posted on 12/22/2009

hi its def not too early to be head down.they can be in that position at 14ks.with all my boys they lay very low in pubic area and head down.

Erin - posted on 12/21/2009

with my first pregnancy my daughters head was down just after 30 weeks and i had the back pain n felt very uncomfortable all the time and it was painful but my baby was delivered a week after my due date

Kelsey - posted on 12/21/2009

well i have been having lower abdomen pains. and uterus pains.. ! ! and i do have a good ob.. also i went at 20 wks and he was head down . and at 25 he was head down still..

Staci - posted on 12/21/2009

In my first pregnancy with my daughter, she got in a head down position around 25 weeks and laid head down along the right side of my belly until delivery. She found her sweet spot in there I guess. Did you discuss the pain with your doctor? If there is no sign of effacement or dilation, you may be having some sciatic pain...does your rear end almost burn with nerve pain when your back aches? Sciatic pain is pretty normal in pregnancy and the burning sensation is one of the hallmark signs of the sciatic acting up. I had really bad back labor with my daughter (she was facing up instead of down) and even with that, my labor pain was equal in the lower abdomen when I first went into labor...if you don't have painful cramping in your lower abdomen along with the back pain, it's most likely not labor...Meanwhile, try to stay off your feet and rest your back whenever you can. A nice recliner is great for bad sciatic pain...and moist heat works great too.

Sheryl-ann - posted on 12/21/2009

don't fret first off u should hathe baby have told ur dr about the back pain. u hv a midwife or ob? i went into preterm labor at 31 weeks went in hosp for 1 week then bedrest for an additional 4 wks. got the surfactant shot too. u want that if they offer ot only if ypur in real preterm labor. remember baby has more then a 75% chance of survival. i went 1 cm dialated for 6 wk made it to 36 almost 37 wks my daughter is fine. it might just be braxton hicks or nothing at all don't syress it if u hv a good care provider u'll be fine

Stacy - posted on 12/21/2009

I don't think it's too early for his head to be down. My kid spins himself around like crazy and at one visit he was down and two weeks later he was up and I'm almost 35 weeks. As for the back pain, that's probably just the weight of the growing baby. I know my hips and back started bothering me around the same time. If you have menstrual-type cramping in the front and a burning sensation in your back, that's closer to labor. I was having false labor contractions last week and the pain in my back was a burning, cramping feeling with cramps at the top of my uterus (under my ribs) and down the sides of my uterus. I soaked in a warm tub, drank lots of water, and rested on my side...about three hours later all pain was gone and I was starving.



My guess would be baby growing pains...get used to them because it doesn't get better as you get bigger. But if you continue to be uncomfortable, take some Tylenol and call your doctor or discuss it with him at your next visit.