20 weeks & Cramping

[Anonymous]

I've been cramping off and on for a couple of weeks. I've been to the doctor and I'm not dilated so there's not much that can be done. It's very uncomfortable and now I'm anxious that I'll end with a preterm delivery. For those of you who had a similar experience, was there something in particular that helped? I guess it doesn't help that I'm stuck in traffic 1-1 1/2 each way to and from work, often with a full bladder.

[Anonymous]

I cramped consistently for more than three days when I was about 22 weeks. They felt like mild menstrual cramps -- if I had my period, I would have taken a pain reliever and felt fine, but being pregnant, I was worried. I also had lower back pain, also fairly mild and similar to period back pain. On the third morning, I called the triage nurse at my OB's office and she suggested that I was probably dehydrated. She encouraged me to drink at least 2-3 liters of water a day (about a glass for every waking hour) and said that if I knew I was rested, well hydrated, and the cramps continued at a rate of four every two hours, to call back. Because they continued, I ended up in labor and delivery that night just to rule out pre-term labor. Thankfully, everything was fine, and after another day of drinking so much water that I thought I would float away, they completely subsided and have not happened since. I hope your cramps are just as easily cured.

[Anonymous]

Could it be your round ligaments stretching? Sometimes that feels like cramping, but it's stronger pain. I second the water and rest, though, if they are cramps. I'm 24 weeks and just experienced something similar after a day with more strenuous physical activity than normal. Water and resting on my left side really helped.