Contraction pains in back - only in back to back labours?

[IWantToGoToThere]

I am 37.5 weeks with number 2 and had a very painful and long labour with my first. I went into labour at 40+8 with DS and prior to that at all the midwife appointments, he was lying head down with his back to my left hand side, so in the optimal position. But when I went into labour, the pain of my contractions was all in my back and it was excrutiating. I had the occasional (like one every hour or so) pain in my stomach and it felt like such a relief compared to the back labour pain.

I have read my labour notes from last time to specifically find out if DS had moved back to back during my labour but the notes make no reference to that so now there is no way of knowing - and at the time, I didn't think to ask.

The reading I have done suggests that if a baby is back to back, contractions are mainly felt in your back and I am desperate to avoid it this time as it was just so painful last time compared to the stomach contractions I had. But I just wondered if back pain is only felt in back to back labours, or whether maybe that's just the way I laboured last time (or, God forbid, that's just how my body 'feels' contractions).

Anyone know?

[pinkandsparklytoo]

I had two different labours but neither were back to back. For DS1 the contractions were mainly going across my stomach inti my pelvis. With DS2 they started as a mild back ache which got continuously worse, as well as the ones on my stomach.

[ash979]

I had excruciating pain in my back when my dd was back to back, some pain in hips but manageable, had to have epidural cos of back. Don't know if that answers your question?!

[leannac]

My dd was back to back & contractions were hideous in my back but a relief whenever I felt them in front as nowhere near as bad. I'm 35 wks with dc2 & hoping this one will not be back to back so I will keep you posted!

[Loislane78]

My DD was not back to back and the majority of my pain from contractions was in my back. Felt like my back was breaking in two so goodness knows how painful actual back to back is.

[MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic]

No idea as I've only had back-to-back labours, but I just wanted to ask what position you laboured/gave birth in? I found that lying down was horribly painful, but moving around and staying upright was infinitely better (gave birth to DS1 and DS2 on my knees, holding onto the headboard of the bed!)

[supergreenuk]

Both labours I have ALL my pain in my back. Neither were back to back.

[tickle33]

I had horrible labour pains in my back with my first daughter and she wasn't back to back. I honestly thought I had snapped my back in 2. I got into a birthing pool and that helped enormously, unfortunately I had to get out and the went up tenfold. Gas and air barely touched it I gave up with it in the end

[IWantToGoToThere]

Thanks everyone. Interesting then that some of you had back pain when baby wasn't back to back - which was what I DIDN'T want to hear!!

MrsDmitri I was in labour for a whole weekend so was in lots of positions - standing up mostly, spent some time in the pool, on ball etc. Lying on my back killed me (as did being strapped into an ambulance when I had to be blue-lighted to the hospital from the separate MLU I started off in due to meconium in the waters) but once I got to hospital I admitted defeat and got an epidural as was desperate for some rest but couldn't lie down as it was so painful.

I just really hope that this isn't the way I labour. I'm not sure if there's a link, but when I get period pain it is always in my back rather than my stomach. Hoping for 'stomach contractions' this time around

[ClaimedByMe]

My 2nd labour was back to back and I never had back pain in labour, I was in agony when pregnant and nearly 8 years later my back still suffers but the actual labour wasnt painful

[sheeplikessleep]

DS1 wasn't back to back, but I felt my contractions in my back (as though a steel rod was being hit hard across the middle of my back). I didn't feel it that bad, until I took TENS off to get in water and then with every contraction, I was arching my back in agony. I was out of the water in 5 minutes and TENS back on again!

BUT, contractions with DS2 were mostly around my stomach / thighs.

So with both labours, I felt the contractions very differently. To my knowledge, neither were back to back.

Labour 1 was horrendous 30 hours. Labour 2 was 6 hours in comparison.

[BinarySolo]

My ds was back to back and like others have said it was a huge relief to get the odd front contraction as they were nothing in comparison! I don't remember seeing back to back in my labour notes, but was definitely told I was if that helps.

Contrary to what others have said though, as my labour progressed the only comfortable position for me was lying on my back, but I'd really wanted to be moving about. Having a bath really helped so maybe consider a water birth.

[beckie90]

Ds1 was normal position, pains were in back and tummy, I thought that was painful, I was only in labour 4.5hr with 5 mins pushing. Ds2 was back to back (they didn't realise till he was coming) it was all in my back all my bottom hurt it was excruciating to try sit down or move. That labour was 100x worse than ds1, I was in labour 5 days and spent 2hr pushing and he was stuck so had to be assisted xx

[NAR4]

All mine were back to back and I couldn't bear to lay down at all or sit. Kneeling or squatting was all I could bear. With my last one I also had an intense feeling that my insides were literally being ripped out, which I found much worse than the back pain.

I am now 37 wks pregnant with number 5 and just hope I don't labour like last time.

Just to add that I briefly got in the birthing pool with my 2nd and it was a fantastic pain relief. Like a hot water bottle is for period pains.

[IWantToGoToThere]

Thanks everyone. I had a MW appointment today and asked if there was any rhyme or reason to it, and she said no, every labour is different. Well, here's hoping that is the case as I don't want to have that kind of labour again!

NAR4 interesting that you found the pool helpful. They wouldn't put the temperature up high enough for me to find any relief from water. I just sat shivering in tepid water feeling more miserable than before and the midwife wouldn't make it any hotter no matter how much I pleaded!

[emblosion]

My labour was back to back (rop position) and the pain was so bad I felt like I was dying - indescribable. I couldn't move or talk & it was like.the world shrank so it contained nothing except the pain.

I progressed v fast - 12 hours start to finish, do it was all v intense. I ended up with a spinal block (blessed relief) & keillands forceps which was a walk in the park in comparison to the previous 11 and a half hours!

But, one of my friends had back to back labour & delivered naturally, pain not toi bad - as others have said, every labour is different (i like to think my awful labour will save someone else from having one!)