Back pain and Braxton Hicks

Had my first introduction to Braxton Hicks over the weekend.  I actually think I might have been getting them before then but put the discomfort down to just baby's position and a bit of back pain.  Two weeks ago I was starting to struggle with being uncomfortable at work and in bed at home.  I figured it was just from bad posture and sitting in bed reading or surfing the net.  Anyway, Scouts mum and dad brought us an old recliner of theirs for me to sleep in when needed and after that things seemed to get a bit better.  I had a session with an Osteopath who gave me some exercises and advice which was all good but then a few days later the back pain returned worse than ever.  Saturday morning I was really struggling so I decided to go to the pool and just walk up and down in it while the girls had their lessons.  It helped a bit while I was in there - but getting out was a rude shock to the system and by the time I got home I was completely exhausted.  Somewhere in between swimming and getting home I realised that it wasn't just back pain I was feeling, it was stomach cramps.  I could hardly sit or lie down for the rest of the afternoon even though I was dead on my feet, and it was only at the end of the day that I finally asked Scout to blow up the fit ball so I could sit on that and rest my head on some pillows at the side of the bed.  It was probably one of the longest and most uncomfortable days I've had so far during this pregnancy ... And to be honest it scared me a bit because part of me was starting to worry that it might actually be more than just Braxton Hicks considering how intense it was and how long it went on for.  Anyway I really should have called the midwife (which Scout asked me to do repeatedly) but for whatever reason I decided to just wait a bit longer to see if it got any worse and fortunately by Sunday morning I was feeling fine again.  To be honest, I can't believe I went from being in that much pain and discomfort one day, to being relatively mobile and pain free the next!  At least I'm much more aware of the cramping that seems to accompany the back pain I've been getting now, but I'll definitely be mentioning it at my next midwife appointment.  

Baby has been moving heaps lately so that's put my mind at ease and we have our 32 week scan tomorrow to check on the position of the placenta so we'll also get to check in on baby then.  Will be interesting to see how much she's changed since the last scan!  Anyway - as long as she's fine and she stays in there for at least another 6-8 weeks I'll be happy. My reflexologist seems to think I'll go early but I'm hoping to prove her wrong.  4 more weeks left at work now and I'm counting down the days till I can just focus on stuff at home and getting ready for bub.  I feel like I'm spreading myself a bit thin with the limited energy I've got right now cos my patience with the girls hasn't been the best.  I feel guilty about that and even had a bit of a cry last night because I feel like a bad mum when I get cross with them for little things that wouldn't normally make me snap.  They are such good kids and I am just a cranky old mole right now trying to keep all the balls in the air.   The hot weather and fires haven't helped, so we probably all just need a weekend away together to relax once things cool down a bit.  Anyway ... I'll post again soon ... hopefully with some more pics of our little one after I've had the scan :)