Back labor? Should I call the Doctor?

[BTS1022]

I have had an incredibly stressful day today, I have probably had more stress today alone, than in the last year. I am trying to adjust to DF's work hours 5pm-5am....Thursday-Saturday. I am having to juggle EVERYTHING for these 3 days that DF works, and when I say struggle...I mean I'm really struggling. I wake up at 6am every morning Mon-Fri to get my 2 older children ready for school, on DF's days off he also get's up with me and helps with the morning routines. And on his days off he helps with daily chores.

Well on his days that he works...I'm up from 6am until about 11pm. He get's home at 6am when i'm waking up. We do our morning greets, hug, kiss I love you's and I get up to get the kids ready for school and he lays down until noon. While he is sleeping, I run errands such as grocery shopping, dropping kids off at school, paying bills and cleaning the house...all the while taking care of my youngest DS. When DF get's up he does help me with what's left over for chores, comes with me to pick the kids up from school ext...

I'm really stressed. And today I started having back cramps...their constant, and in my lower back, like period cramps. I also have legs cramps associated with these, and they have been going on since late this morning. I do have some lower abdomen cramping, but no tightness. I have never had back labor before, so i'm not sure what they feel like. I know I have had more period like cramping in my lower back with this pregnancy..it's not every day that I cramp, but it's at least once a week. But I have noticed that every time I start cramping, they are more severe than the last "episode". So...am I experiencing back labor? Is this something I need to call my doctor about asap, or can it wait until Monday? I'm 23 weeks pregnant, and this is my 5th baby.

[smjmekg]

Don't stress!!! That's the first no-no. I had contractions 5 min apart with DS at 25 weeks, and everything turned out fine. I went in, they gave me a shot of tributelene (sp?) and they stopped. You might jut be overdoing it too...I know you have a lot to do, but take it easy, slow down a little, so what if some laundry doesn't get done...how old are your oldest two? Are they old enough to help, yes they go to school during the day, but weekends...I hope it all turns out ok and they don't put you on bed rest. Just make sure you're staying hydrated, and don't overdo it. LOL I feel funny telling you to that since you're the one on baby number five and I'm on number two, but I WAS overdoing it that's why I was having the contractions five min apart...I wasn't drinking enough water and I was a waitress, constantly on my feet. Take care of yourself girly, house work not getting done isn't the end of the world!

[BTS1022]

Thank you... I will probably call my neighbor to see if I can borrow her van and see if she can watch the kiddos while I go in. I took a warm bath, drank a bottle of water and laid down, but the cramps are still there. I'm just terrified that if I am having back labor, I will be put on bed rest which will be impossible with 3 kids to take care of. I know DF will do what he can, but he needs to be rested so he can still go to work.

[smjmekg]

Better safe than sorry, I never went through labor, DS was a c/s (breech). But I would just go get checked out to be on the safe side. That's what drs are there for, I went in last Thursday cause I thought I was leaking when in reality it was just discharge that was watery...it's a good thing I did go in cause I found out I might have BV and was put on antibiotics...point being, no reason for going in is a stupid/silly one, and if you've been in pain that long I'd go ahead in...