Back pain relief? Heat or ice?

GinnyJ2012

I've been having intense contractions off and on all day, but nothing consistent. Is it better to use heat for back pain caused by contractions or ice? With DS my water broke after my second painful contraction, and I went to the hospital, so I never had time to try back relief methods.

Raclla

I know showers help with contractions, so I would say moist heat.

If it's just in your back and feels like something pinched or inflamed, ice alleviates that type of pain better.

You could always rotate ice and heat. 15 on, 15 off and then rotate.

shevaCC

I don't know about heat or ice but my doula recommended the cat/cow stretches for back pain a while ago. Basically you get on all fours then alternate between a flat back and a curved back where you're tucking in your tailbone.

ETA - I've heard to do 20-25 at least, holding for a few seconds each

Allison7

It depends on what hurts...muscle pain should get heat. The heat relaxes the muscle and makes it more flexible. If it is a pinched nerve, then you want ice. And I second doing some stretches. I have found that prenatal yoga helps with both pinched nerves and tight muscles.