During pregnancy, it's possible to experience mild contractions that help "prepare" the body for future labor (these are called Braxton Hicks contractions, described ahead).

A pregnancy ball is widely used for relieving pain, positioning the baby, and aiding in labor. Whether you're currently pregnant or preparing for that journey, a pregnancy or birthing ball is a ...

Despite what many women are taught about pregnancy, birth, and labor, labor pains don’t necessarily occur in or near the uterus. A woman might only have excruciating lower back pain instead of ...

Pregnancy complications such as UTIs and preterm labor can also cause back pain on the right side. With these, a person may experience other symptoms alongside back pain.

Non-labor contractions are specifically easy to mistake for actual labor pains. So-called "Braxton Hicks" contractions happen when the womb contracts and relaxes intermittently during pregnancy.

Certain pregnancy complications may also trigger severe back pain. The sudden onset of back pain can be a sign of preterm labor or a urinary tract infection (UTI).

“I was like, ‘I got a pretty high pain tolerance, I’ll be fine,'” she recalled. Holly Smallwood claims she went through labor pains because of the way her IUD was inserted.

This story originally appeared in The Mendocino Voice. The post Labor pains: Expectant parents on rural coast face limited access to nearby birthing centers appeared first on Local News Matters.

As the pregnant mother relaxes in a chair, a hose attached to the frame draws air out of the enclosure, reducing air pressure on the abdomen by as much as 3 Ibs. per square inch.