Cramping/back pain/decreased fetal movement

[Kimberlee_20]

Last week I went to L&D because I had a ton of pressure around my cervix area, and when I got there I found out I was having contractions, he's "settled into my pelvis" (still not too sure what that means, if he's lightened or not) and I'm 1cm dilated. They gave me a shot to stop the contractions. Lately I've been having really bad back pain, lower back, sometimes it's in my upper back too, and period like cramping. Also he hasn't been moving much at all lately. Should I call L&D? I don't want to annoy them and go if it's nothing, and usually when they hook me up to the NST he starts kickin up a storm! The only thing is I don't know if what I'm having is contractions because I didn't even feel the contractions at the hospital, so I'm still uncertain how real contractions feel. Any advice?? I'm 35W1D pregnant.

[Kimberlee_20]

Well I was in labor! I was having contractions 4 minutes apart, and they had a hard time stopping them, I'm home now on bedrest til sunday, after sunday they aren't stopping him from coming, he'll be 36 weeks and they'll give me a shot for his lungs.

Mumita - I am done work now, thank god! I wouldn't have went back after this anyway, I would have quit first!

[Lance06]

Yea. This is def something that you should go see L&D about. When i was 33w4d I had to go to the hospital for preterm labor and I didnt even know I was in labor. I went into the doc office for my visit and they checked me because I was having some pressure. She sent me straight to the hospital because I was in preterm labor.....I would have never guessed it bc I wasnt feeling them! I also got shots to stop the contractions, as well as shots to help the babies lungs develop just incase she did come early. I was pulled out of work, which you should be too..and I had to go to the hospital 2x a week for NST tests after that (i also had higher blood pressure which lead to preeclampsia).

Listen to your body hun......and if you think you need to go to L&D, just go. Dont worry about what they will think!

[Mumita]

Kimberlee- it seems that it is time for you to stop working, it really isn't good for you to stay on your feet and work all day specially when you are in pain and have already gotten a shot to stop your contractions.  Ask your doctor to put you on leave....you need it.

[worriedbabe]

abdominal contractions are unmistakable, you wouldn't miss them. what is mistakable is when you get all your contractions in your back. i wouldn't hesitate to go back to l&d anytime you have bad back pain in your position.

[Kimberlee_20]

Joy - I have no way to get ahold of my doctor, here we have to go to L&D and if they think it's necessary they call my doctor. The only thing I'm worried about is, the last contractions I was having were "real" contractions not BH because they were every 10 minutes, and they gave me a shot because it was changing my cervix, and I don't want it to happen again.

[megmil]

I had a back labor with my first and was just back pain, no contractions that I could feel. It's possible you are having contractions but that would have to be up to your doctor to decide if you should be seen or not. I would at least call. I feel the same.......I have high risk pregnancies and call about every little thing and don't want my doctor to get sick of me calling but everyone always tells me to just call when I'm worried about something because you never know what could be going on. Don't just assume it's nothing because although you are real close it's too early for baby to come, he/she could still have many problems if this early so my advice is to at least call your doctor.

[JoyRenee]

P.S. Call your doctor before calling L&D as your doctor knows your medical history and can tell you whether or not you need to visit the hospital.

[JoyRenee]

Drink a tall glass of water and eat something (half a sandwich, piece of fruit, etc.) and lay down. Count movements. He should have 10 in an hour but most likely it'll be too many movements to count. ANY movement counts- push, roll, kick, jab, flutter.

Baby can be engaged and you can be dilated for weeks before going into labor. It sounds to me like you're having Braxton Hicks. Definitely put your feet up because you want baby to "cook" a little bit longer before he makes a debut!