A woman’s body goes through many changes during pregnancy. Some will be totally unfamiliar and new, while others might be things that they have experienced before, completely outside the pregnancy. If you are pregnant, some of the changes might seem frightening and strange, but they are really normal traits of being pregnant.
For instance, cramping during pregnancy is one of the earliest signs that a woman is going to have a baby and it might be something that you are familiar with if you experienced it during your regular menstrual cycle.
Cramping During Pregnancy: What you need to know
As mentioned above, the cramps that you experience during pregnancy might be similar to the ones you have during menstruation. You could experience two forms of cramps throughout your pregnancy.
If the cramps come eight to ten days after you conceive, this might be a sign that your body is going through something unusual. The cramps can be very mild to very severe. You can get cramps in your back, legs, and abdomen. These are likely to occur once you are pregnant and they might not require treatment if you are not experiencing unusual symptoms.
Generally speaking, pregnancy cramps are not symptoms for you to be alarmed about but you should pay attention to their severity and frequency. The cramping symptoms can come and go throughout your pregnancy, but the ones which come severe and sharp suddenly can be an indication that you have a problem, maybe even early labor.
The information below will highlight some of the possible reasons why you might experience menstrual cramps throughout your pregnancy.
Cramping During Pregnancy: The Early Part
This period would be the first 4 months of your pregnancy.
You can feel cramps in the early part of your pregnancy when the uterus stretches and then expand to hold your baby and supply adequate space for growth.
When this happens, the ligaments which support the uterus will expand and trigger mild cramps inside the abdomen.
When the embryo is implanted one week after ovulation, you will feel a similar pain to what you would experience during menstruation.
This will happen during the first eight to ten days of the implantation. You will feel cramps once the embryo setts inside the uterine lining.
Gas and constipation can also cause you to have abdominal cramps as well as pain during pregnacy. In addition, the gastrointestinal disorder can trigger pelvic cramps and backache.
Ectopic pregnancy, which is a very serious condition, can cause abdominal cramps and pain in one side of your body. You might also notice spotting and bleeding, symptoms that would need immediate medical attention.
Spotting and bleeding that is accompanied by rhythmic pain in your lower body and heavy abdominal cramps can indicate that you are having a miscarriage. You need to get a medical check-up done right away if you are experiencing these symptoms.
Cramping During Pregnancy: The Late Part
This period would follow your first trimester.
If you are feeling cramps in your abdomen and back this could be a sign of preterm labor. In addition, you may experience extreme fatigue and diarrhea.
Braxton hicks contractions come at irregular times during late pregnancy, usually in the third trimester when the uterus stretches and relaxes. Your doctor will tell you that this type of cramping is much like labor pain. It is often referred to as false labor.
You can experience round ligament pain in the second as well as the third trimester. The stretching of the uterine muscles and ligaments will cause mild cramping.
Leg cramping often occurs when the body lacks essential vitamins and minerals. The muscles in your legs will cramp up if they are dehydrated or not relaxed.
This can cause an intense, debilitating pain that affects your sleep, so you need to drink a lot of water and add more minerals such as calcium, phosphorous and iron to your diet.
Treatment for Cramping During Pregnancy
When you are pregnant, you have to be very careful about the movements of your body. Sudden and quick change in positions should be avoided. You must not put a lot of pressure on your back.
Bend slowly to get relief from back pain. If you have a gas problem, you can do brisk walks and mild exercises to get relief. Professional body massages can also be very helpful during pregnancy.
If the pregnancy cramps are getting worse, you should not hesitate to seek medical help. Go to the doctor immediately if you notice things like sudden tenderness in the abdominal area as well as heavy vaginal discharge, blood clots, and bleeding. These could be possible signs of miscarriage.
You might have a ruptured fallopian tube if you are feeling a severe, stabbing pain in your lower abdomen. It is very important to get a proper diagnosis to confirm your symptoms so you need to get help from a healthcare professional as soon as possible. You can ask your doctor if you need more information about cramping during pregnancy.
