Stomach cramps in early pregnancy
Aches and pains in early pregnancy are usually just a sign of your changing body, but when are cramps safe, and when are they a concern?
Posted: 5 January 2010
by Laura Lee Davies
It is important to know that not all pains are bad in early pregnancy. Indeed, as soon as a fertilised egg has successfully implanted in the
womb, a woman's body begins to change, and the pregnancy hormones begin to take effect.
You hear of some women not knowing they were pregnant for months, and it's true that unless you have severe symptoms, you might go through
the first three months of pregnancy like a breeze. However, tiredness, sore breasts, nausea, bleeding and stomach pains can all be symptoms of
pregnancy. And even those last two - bleeding and stomach pains - don't always signal a cause for worry.
Click here if you want to know more about how to read signs of Bleeding in Pregnancy.
Stomach cramps in early pregnancy
Many women are used to having stomach cramps during their regular periods. The kind of cramps you get in early pregnancy aren't usually as
painful as menstrual ones and are probably 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.
When cramps are a cause for concern
Sadly, miscarriage does affect anything up to 15 per cent of all pregnancies, though if you have never experienced a miscarriage or have had a
successful birth previously, then the chances of enduring a miscarriage is only five per cent. Check the ThinkBaby article on Signs of Miscarriage.
Cramping can be one of the signs of miscarriage, and severe cramping (especially on one side), can be a signal that you have experienced an
ectopic pregnancy (where the egg has implanted outside the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes).
Even severe pain and continued bleeding does not always signal a miscarriage is taking place, but it is advisable to call your GP or midwife team (if
you have been assigned one already) if you experience one or more of the following:
- The cramps are accompanied by tenderness low down in your belly
- There is heavy bleeding like a day's heavy period
- You have seen some spotting either continuously or on-off, either recently or a few days before the cramps
started
- If the pain is severe and lasts for more than 24 hours or is more severe when you strain on the toilet or when you
move about
- There is a sharp pain particularly on one side Your doctor will probably ask you this, as speedy treatment if an
ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed can potentially save the fallopian tube
- If there are clots of pink or grey tissue in your discharge or you feel dizzy
If you have an ectopic pregnancy and the problem is not found soon enough, the fallopian tube can split and cause internal bleeding.
In this instance, other symptoms (as well as abdominal pain) might include feeling hot and feverish, and a pain in the shoulder caused by blood
aggrevating the muscles of the diaphragm.
If you are worried or in pain
If you do not know how to read the signs of your pain, call NHS Direct on 0845
4647, or call your GP surgery, which should carry an emergency number even when the doctor's office is closed.
If you have already had the pregnancy confirmed and have been referred to a midwife or midwife team (even if you have not yet had your first 'booking
in' appointment), you can call them on the contact numbers you have been given.
What can be done?
If your GP, midwife or another doctor at your local hospital feels there is a real cause for concern, there are many tests which can be carried out to
check whether or not your baby is OK. These include non-invasive treatments such as an ultrasound scan.
It is important to remember that the majority of pregnancies are seen through to a safe and successful conclusion. Once your doctor or midwife is
happy that you and your baby are fine, you will probably be advised to simply rest as much as possible.
If you have a miscarriage in early pregnancy, there is, sadly, not much that can be done to save the baby. However, it is important that you are seen by a doctor or at your local hospital to check that your body is OK.
Discuss this story
Hi Suz and Sandie, Thank you Suz for your advice on 01/08/07. Its all ok now thank god. I am now 15wks and am pleased to say that I just feel completely normal. However I am showing bigtime and i am finding it hard to eat large meals as theres definately not a lot of room in there. I had my scan at 12wks and that was an amazing experience. Sandie & Wendy Congratulations! I had the sore boobs, tiredness till 12 wks, pains and no sickness however between 5 and 7 weeks I had on and off spotting of old blood and obviously panicked at the time, I can remember one night I lost a lot of dark brown blood and had alfull pains all in one go and assumed that, that was it, I panicked and rang the NHS helpline! however I am now told that this was implantation bleeding and now everything is fine. Im now looking forward to feeling my baby move however I am told this can be anywhere between 16 and 20 wks so have a way to go yet.
Posted: 03/10/2007 08:32
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 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 12:52
I just realised WHY I cried my eyes out for no reason the other day, I cried for like 15mins then the word was restored to order again. lol That was before I found out. It does explain the strangeness off my mood the last week or so hehe. I think at 10weeks I will start telling people. The doc said 6-8 weeks is the main time for things to go wrong. I should really wait until 3months but I dont think that will EVER happen! lol I'm finding it hard to keep in! I'm actually going for a nap in a min cos the lack of sleep has properly worn me out, which isn't normal. Was planning on cleaning the house but just can't seem to do it today! Glad all is well with you  x
Posted: 04/10/2007 14:16
Hi Laura, Im nearly 16wks and I have had no sickness whatsoever! and Ive had scan and my babys fine. I had the bleeding about the same time as you however this seemed to be implantation bleeding and has caused no problem whatsoever I had it for a fortnight on and off and sometimes it was heavier than others but just relax as much as you can. Mine stopped eventually, made me panic at the time. But everything is fine now. My midwife said implantation bleeding around the 6 wk mark can be common.
Posted: 04/10/2007 15:47
My job interview got cancelled for some reason. I'm actually quite happy about that, although I did really want the job! It has given a bit more time to get used to things since I only found out a few days ago, and was getting quite stressed with interview looming! Does anyone wait until the recommended 12weeks before they start telling people. Am only 5 but going to tell OH's mum today for various reasons. (One of them being that OH's brother just got his evil GF preggers, which is really bad news for his mum! So we want to get in there first and have a few weeks of them being happy about it before he breaks the news too and sets a bad mood!) Sorry to ramble but running on low energy as lacking sleep! lol. Still having dull aches and wondering whether I am imagining this! I really hope I am as lucky as you Deborah with the lack of morning sickness!!! Good to see your baby is well! Julz x
Posted: 06/10/2007 10:00
Hi all, I've recently found out I was pregnant by doing a home pregnancy test - I wasn't fully convinced so went to the doctors to confirm, however, the doctor said as I had a positive result there was no need for him to do a test and referred me straight on to the relevant persons. I have since done another 4 tests all of which have been positive - I am feeling very nausious and am experiencing slight cramp like pains in my stomach - can anyone tell me if the pains are normal as they are slightly worrying? Look forward to a response. x
Posted: 06/10/2007 23:45
Gemma, left you a reply on your other post (may 2008) I feel exactly the same and I think a lot of other people do to! Your question was the same as mine when I first found out! But, it's completely normal to have the aches and nausia! Also you may find a lack of sleep. I havn't slept a whole night since I found out!! *yawns* x
Posted: 07/10/2007 07:40
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