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Stomach cramps in early pregnancy

Aches and pains in early pregnancy are usually just a sign of your changing body, but when are stomach cramps safe, and when are they a concern?


Posted: 5 March 2011
by Kimberley Smith

Woman in early pregnancy holding onto her stomach during a stomach cramp
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Not all stomach cramps in pregnancy are a cause for concern

Not all tummy pains in early pregnancy are a bad thing and signal a miscarriage. There are huge changes beginning in your body right now so twinges and cramps in your belly are often just a sign of this. As soon as a fertilised egg implants in your womb, your body begins to change, and comes under the control of pregnancy hormones. Because of this, pregnancy stomach cramps and other aches and pains in your belly are perfectly normal.

The kind of cramps you get in early pregnancy aren't usually as strong as monthly period cramps can be and are often caused by the ligaments stretching as the uterus grows. If it feels more like mild tugging than a stabbing pain, then you probably have nothing to worry about.

Having a baby puts lots of pressure on your muscles, veins and joints, so it's not surprising that you're going to feel some aches. You're likely to find that you feel any early pregnancy stomach cramps more strongly on your right hand side. This is because, as your baby gets bigger, your womb has a tendency to tilt to the right.

Making love and achieving orgasm during pregnancy can sometimes bring on stomach cramps. Ease them by making love nice and slowly. And why not ask your partner to give you a post-sex back rub too.

Am I having a miscarriage?

More on abdominal pains and what they mean

What if I feel unwell and have pregnancy stomach cramps?

The tummy cramps you're experiencing could mean that you're sick with something that has nothing to do with your baby. A urinary tract infection, kidney stones, appendicitis or gall bladder problems can also cause stomach cramps.

What other aches and pains will I experience in my first trimester?

How can I ease pregnancy stomach cramps?

Try lying down on the side opposite to where you're feeling the pain. A warm bath might also help. You can sometimes also relieve the pain of pregnancy stomach cramps with a hot water bottle or a wheat bag that you heat up in the microwave.

How else will hormones change my body now I'm pregnant?

But could my pregnancy stomach cramps be something serious?

Find out when pregnancy stomach cramps are a cause for concern. If you're worried about othe pregnancy symptoms you might be experiencing we have more information on bleeding in early pregnancy and what to watch for and implantation bleeding and why it can explain light spotting in early pregnancy. Find out when you should contact your doctor or midwife

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Discuss this story

i am 5 weeks pregnant, just confirmed with my doc today.. so excited as we have been trying for over a year.  i too have had some slight cramping.. just like a period pain.. it worries me a bit but reading all hese comments help me fell reassured.  The docotor said my bloodpreussure was excellent and the sickness andsore boobs and tirdness were all okay.  Just signs of pregancy. 

Posted: 02/10/2007 at 16:17

Omg you do not know how relieved I am that I am not the only person with mild cramping! My doctor told me that its not normal! I too have sore boobs which I've never ever had before! Am 4 weeks 5 days today. (only found out lastnight and was on the pill!)

 Congrats to all of you!

Julz x


Posted: 04/10/2007 at 12:00

Hi Julz,

Dont worry I got no joy out of my doctors at all to begin with and I had mild cramps and what i can only describe as pain at times and none of them would ever say anything positive, however after a few weeks it all subsided and now the pains, aches, cramps, blood have all gone away and I feel completely normal and my baby is fine. I found it was actually my midwife who I met at approx 12wks that was excellent she put my mind at rest totally its just a shame you dont see them from the start. My boobs do ache now and then but thats about it and my stomach has shrunk if i eat too much boy do I know about it. But other than that try not to worry however I know exactly where your coming from. The weeks leading up to see the midwife were probably the scariest un-nerving weeks of my life to date.


Posted: 04/10/2007 at 12:52

Hey! Yeah I am a bit.... well, Petrified at the moment. Found out last night, which resulted in only 5hours sleep and an early trip to the docs thismorning, i think it's only just sinking in. Was shaking so much last night! lol. Will be our first. Yay. I'm concidering telling one of my sisters who is a nurse, atleast then I'll have some medical advice!! I know you shouldn't really before 3 months but I need to tell someone x

Posted: 04/10/2007 at 13:32

Ah honestly I was the same. I was petrified when I found out. I found out about the same time as you and when I was about 8 weeks my man decided to start telling people so by 10 weeks everybody knew friends and family as I felt bad that friends new and family didnt. But then that made me more nervous as I wasnt out of the danger period. So I was relieved when I got to 12wks and things were ok. But honestly I dont think it will be a bad thing if you tell your sister. This is my first baby too. Im 16 weeks next monday. Honestly I didnt sleep properly for a while but its only natural I had loads of mixed emotions and my hormones the first 12 weeks were all over the place. Crying and snapping at everybody. Ha! I felt like I was a monster but could'nt stop myself. I had implantation bleeding at 6 till about 8 weeks and that was scary. But now its all stopped and I feel absolutely fine, sounds stupid but now I dont even feel pregnant apart from my bump x

Posted: 04/10/2007 at 14:02

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