I'm coming on 27 weeks and the last few days have been hell.  My back is killing me and my abdomen has been very sore and tight.  I'm thinking this is a growth spurt?  Definitely feel like I look bigger.  Up to this point I was looking pretty small (1st pregnancy) and suddenly I feel very strained if that makes sense.  Is this a normal time for a spurt?  How long should I expect it to last?  Just hoping it will die down a bit because the whole thing is very uncomfortable.  My mom says she doesn't remember anything like this during her pregnancies...though it was decades ago for her.