Tell me about your first trimester cramping ...

[Anonymous]

Title says it all. I am 6-weeks along and have started to have fairly consistent bad cramping, including some sharp pains. Not what I would describe as severe, but definitely not mild.

A recent missed miscarriage has me convinced this pregnancy is doomed as well, but I would be interested to hear others' experiences with cramping. How bad was it? Was it a precursor to miscarriage?

I called my Dr to see if they could do an early ultrasound but they advised me against it as cramping is normal and they may not be able to see anything, in which case, I would be more anxious ...

[Anonymous]

It’s normal with my second I had them more intensely

[Anonymous]

I got sharp one sided cramping around 6 weeks with both of my healthy/successful pregnancies. It was a cyst - apparently it's common
to get them post ovulation. It was harmless and I never spotted or anything.

The pain was always very brief but sharp.

[Anonymous]

As your uterus expands, it hurts, frankly. Could be totally normal.

[Anonymous]

I’ve had some cramping (6weeks too!), but I’m not worried at all. I’ve heard of so many women with cramping at this point I time.

[Anonymous]

I also had cramping from 4 weeks - 8 weeks. I am now 16 weeks! I read somewhere that it is just your uterus expanding to make room for placenta and baby.

[Anonymous]

I had some cramping, more with my first than my second. Felt like mild menstrual cramps, and lasted for many weeks. My doctor wasn't concerned and didn't even bring me in for a check when I called to ask about it. Everything was fine! And, if the cramping is a miscarriage about to happen, not to be blunt, but nothing to do about it anyways.

I also had an ectopic pregnancy and the difference was quite stark- felt like I had appendicitis or something. So at least in my one person's experience, I wouldn't worry.

[Anonymous]

I posted above- I should clarify that the cramps felt mild to ME, but I am very used to bad menstrual cramps with every cycle. If i hadn't been pregnant I would have taken some motrin and used a heat pack, because they were bothersome. But they werent keeping me awake at night or preventing me from concentrating on my work, like my "Regular" cramps do.

[Anonymous]

Some cramping and light brown spotting...

He's now a very healthy 17 year old.

[Anonymous]

I've had two miscarriages and two healthy pregnancies. I was told that either cramping OR spotting can be okay, but both together is a bad sign.

If you are confident you're at 6+ weeks, an ultrasound should show a heartbeat and give you and Dr a sense of what's going on.

I would try to take it easy and rest as much as possible.

Good luck OP!

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. No spotting (yet) which is comforting. I am just surprised by how bad and constant this cramping has been -- worse than when I miscarried last time actually.

First ultrasound is planned for 8/30 so will see if I can hold out until then to learn more since dr. didn't feel like coming in at this point will be valuable.

As PP pointed out, nothing that can be done if it is a miscarriage.

[Anonymous]

I posted above that I had quite bad cramping I also had a brown spotted discharge from a cyst…a whole fun duo…so …just take it easy and wait.

[Anonymous]

I did have cramping during my successful pregnancies. Mostly from bloat, it felt like. The miscarriage cramping I had was 10x worse than period cramps and I had spotting along with it.

You could ask your doctor to order a beta hcg draw for peace of mind. It's frustrating in the first trimester when there's really nothing you can do but wait.

[Anonymous]

I'm 7 1/2 weeks and have had some seriously bad cramping. Once it was so intense (I was literally on the floor in a cold sweat) I did end up going in for a scan to rule out ectopic. I asked what I should do if it's that bad in the future, and my OB said to wait 20-30 minutes and see if they are getting progressively better or worse. The doctor said it's very normal and could be anything from the uterus expanding to constipation.

[Anonymous]

Cramping is totally normal and healthy.