What about Cramps During Pregnancy?

If you are pregnant and having cramping, you are probably concerned. Whether the cramps during your pregnancy are mild or quite severe, you wonder whether they are normal and when to be concerned.

What Causes The Cramping?

The cramping during your pregnancy can be caused by several different things. Some are nothing to worry about, others signal a serious condition that your primary care physician or midwife should be aware of.

First of all, when you are newly pregnant the egg implants on the wall of the uterus. This is usually 8-10 days after ovulation, and often occurs before you even know you are pregnant. There is often cramping accompanying the implantation.

Also, there are many changes happening to your body. The stretching of the uterus can cause cramping during pregnancy, as can the stretching of the ligaments that support the uterus within the body as it grows. This continues throughout your pregnancy, but is most prevalent from weeks 14 – 20. After that time, the pelvic bones help support the growing uterus.

The changes of pregnancy also cause many women to have constipation or gas. These can lead to cramping. Sometimes some light exercise can help to alleviate the cramping, or letting your body rest.

If other symptoms accompany the cramps during your pregnancy, like spotting, bleeding, or abdominal pain, you should check with your midwife or doctor – they can determine if what you are experiencing are normal cramps during pregnancy or if they are something more serious. Cramping with these can be a warning of either a possible miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy, both of which should have medial attention.

A special type of cramping during pregnancy that happens nearer the end are called Braxton-Hicks contractions. They are felt when certain muscles (they take turns) tighten up and can last anywhere from less than a minute to two minutes. They become stronger and occur more frequently as you get closer to your due date. These are considered "helpful" and as "practice contractions," though they can be somewhat painful, and you may want to shift position – lay down, or get up and walk. They can be distinguished from true labor contractions because they only involve certain parts of the uterus at a time, and "real" contractions involve the entire uterus.

Also later during pregnancy, cramps during pregnancy that come with diarrhea or back pain can be the beginning of preterm labor. These can be regular contractions that are getting to be at regular intervals, or have bleeding or abdominal pain with them, or vaginal leaking. All of these should be taken seriously, and you should consult with your midwife or doctor right away.