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I never had any contraction pain in my abdomen/uterus. It was all lower back, and later, when I was pushing, in my hips. It felt like...my lower back was being smashed with a sledgehammer spasm every few minutes. And it still hurt even as the contraction eased. I couldn't lay on my back at all. When the OB was doing the cervical check when I was being admitted I was barely able to stay on my back long enough for him to do it...I was crying and writhing.

Before I went to the hospital the only way I could bear it was to be on all fours or to bend over and rest my forehead on the kitchen counter. When my epi stopped working during transition I sat up in the bed and hunched over.

A sledge hammer to the back is a nice description. My whole lower back would tighten up. Only positions that worked was on the ground with my butt up in the air. While I was at the hospital I labored while sitting up.

@mrskc: You went without an epidural, right?

@mrskc: Same! I couldn't have answered better.

I too, had to sit up because standing was impossible and laying down only happened after the epi.
I felt contractions solely in my back; I felt nothing, ever, in my abdomen.
I also felt like I had to go #2, badly. But, I soon realized that was just because he was moving down the birth canal so forcefully. My contractions never went from mild-strong...They hit me strong from the first hour until the last.

How far along are you? Are you feeling anything that you think may be contractions? You can't mistake back labor for much else! It was nothing I'd ever felt before, or even close to it. You know how they say "you will know"? Well, they're right.

@coacheswife123: I hope you don't go through it:) But then again, I can't compare it to "normal" contractions so I can't say which is worse. I'm sure its all just lovely;) But so, so worth it!

@coacheswife123: I hope you don't get it. If you do tho the butt in the air position was very effective for me. When I was in that position the contractions moved to my lower abdomen.

I didn't have back labor with baby 1, but baby 2 i felt it!
feels like a pulled muscle/cramp.

I had a natural birth and back pain so bad before my water broke at 40 weeks I could barely walk. The pain was so bad during birth I can hardly remember it...I just think the body naturally blocks it out. I was having a hard time breathing and shaking very bad. It's really hard to describe the intensity of the pain! Someone whacking you over and over again in the lower back? Turns out he was sunny side up which caused the horrible back labor!!

A sledgehammer to the back describes it to a tee! It was the worst part of labor - I told DH it was waaaaaay worse than contractions itself. I went sans meds and was able to keep meditating/breathing through it until transition, then it became extremely hard to focus. It just felt like my back and spine were going to break!!! There was no relief from it even between contractions. I really hope the next one isn't sunny side up again.

It was awful! I've blocked it out, but I thought I was dying lol

also, in my opinion, for back labour from my experience there is no 'break' between contractions, only feeling in terrible pain and then worse pain during contractions

@cvbee: the no break part was the worst!!! Ugh I mostly blocked out the pain but now that I'm on the subject, it brings back very very painful memories. Thinking back I don't remember contraction pain - back labor totally eclipsed it!!!

Mine was terrible. The epidural worked at first but eventually failed to dull anything. I pretty much felt it all in my lower back as intense waves of pain. I can't really describe it any better than that except to say it was bad enough I literally screamed and cried.