argh, so frustrated. I woke at 2:30 AM with terrible cramps and a low back ache. I got up to pee, went back to bed. Woke up again at 3:30 with both pains way worse but still no discernible contractions. So I ran a hot bath and just tried to relax for a little while, hoping that either the pain would subside enough for me to sleep or that contractions would come. I was out of the bath around 4:20 or so, pain was a little less but not enough to sleep, so I went online to google "back labor" wondering if that was what was happening. I had remembered reading some little things about it and how some women were in such pain from the back that they didn't notice any uterine contractions. I was basically just sitting and rocking trying to take the pain away while the internet (which has been sluggish all morning and night) tried to load helpful pages. I concluded that it most likely was some back labor right around 5 am when contractions started. As soon as they started they put a lot of pressure on me, but weren't terribly painful, and kept clocking every 6-7 minutes apart. Wheeeeee, I thought. Once the contractions started, I went and layed in a semi-upright position in bed, watching CSI and the clock. The position in bed helped the back labor, providing some counterpressure, and I was able to pay more attention to the belly. The baby would kick really hard (hard enough to move the bed) about a minute before each contraction. It was strange really. The contractions kept their regular pattern for an hour, and at 6 AM, I went to tell my just waking up mother to not plan on leaving today. She had been down, sure as I was that the baby was coming this weekend, so I wanted to make sure she didn't pack up and leave like her original plan. After telling her, the contractions continued for about 20 minutes but then stalled for another half hour. Jason woke up a little before 7 and the contractions had then moved to intervals of 15 mins apart. Since then, back pain and cramps have returned, and occasional contractions, but they have seemed to stall again. *big huge disappointed frown* I had the same problem with Lukas's birth, but since my water had broken already, they went ahead and used pitocin to induce the stronger contractions. So now I don't know what to do. Do I call the hospital and ask them if I should come in? Do I carry on and just wait for the next infuriating round? It's like my body just doesn't want to cooperate.

So at this point, I feel exhausted, tried to nap but it brought back major back pain and cramps and the insane almost fever like dreams woke me up crying. I guess I'll google "stalled labor" and maybe find out some tips. This is just so so frustrating!

Tags: baby
Stationed at: home
Feeling: frustrated