Cramps During Pregnancy

Are you pregnant but don’t know because you haven’t carried out the test yet? If yes. You must be going through a lot of confusion. During the initial stages of pregnancy, many things just resemble menstruation.

Cramps, mood swings, cravings, vaginal discharge, bloating, and body aches. All of these symptoms are common in both menstruation and pregnancy. So, as long as you haven’t carried out your pregnancy urine test or got your HCG levels checked you can’t be sure if you have conceived or not.

But, once you are confirmed about your pregnancy these symptoms get a different meaning. Cramps during menstruation are considered normal and we take them lightly but cramps during pregnancy are not always taken for granted.

Today in this article we are going to have a detailed insight into cramps during pregnancy. What do these cramps mean and when we should rush to our doctor to avoid any complication? Just keep on scrolling to know more about pregnancy cramps.

Different phases of pregnancy cramps

The whole journey of pregnancy consists of 9 months. It is further classified into 3 stages and each stage is 3 months long. They are known as:

1. First trimester (week 0 – week 13)
2. Second trimester (week 14 – week 26)
3. Third trimester (week 27 – week 40)

All these three trimesters have different symptoms and different things to handle. The most crucial and delicate stage of pregnancy is usually the first trimester. It demands extra care and attention to avoid any complications.

• During first-trimester pregnancy cramps feels like menstruation cramps. Cramps during pregnancy (1^st trimester) are often because of implantation. Implantation occurs when the fertilized egg is rooted in the uterine wall. Usually, pregnancy cramps are short-lived and go away on their own after some time. Your body is preparing itself for the upcoming baby’s development. The uterus expands and the attached muscles and ligaments are stretched which causes cramping in the lower abdomen.
• As the first trimester is successfully passed, your body has done most of its work and it has prepared itself for the development of the baby. Most of the unpleasant symptoms of 1^st trimester like Cramping, nausea, vomiting, etc. are gone by now. 2^nd trimester is considered to be the dreamiest phase of the whole journey. But, it doesn’t mean that you won’t feel any pregnancy symptoms. Cramps during pregnancy (2^nd trimester) are also a common phenomenon and it happens because of round ligament pain. The uterus keeps on stretching making room in the abdomen for the growing baby and the round ligament that supports the uterus also stretches with it. It causes a sharp stabbing pain in the abdomen which goes away after a short time.
• During 3^rd trimester your baby has gained a lot of weight which causes the uterus to put pressure on all organs and adjust in the abdomen. This crowd and pressure in the abdomen cause cramps which later on can be considered labor pains as they get intense.

Cramps during pregnancy are very common and you should not get worried about them. But some situations need serious attention and you may need to consult your doctor as soon as possible. We will discuss those conditions in the next section. Don’t stop scrolling and just jump to the next section.

When to worry about it?

Cramps during pregnancy can be a symptom of a serious underlying condition. Never ignore cramps during pregnancy if:

• Cramps are on one side of the lower abdomen and they don’t go away after a long time.
• Stabbing pain in the stomach for more than an hour
• Vaginal bleeding, unusual discharge, or vaginal cramping
• Cramps for a long time along with backache, shoulder or neck pain.

If you experience any of these conditions during your pregnancy always rush to your gynecologist. It can be a reason of:

• Ectopic Pregnancy: Pregnancy in which fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. The egg can’t grow normally resulting in serious cramping and pain. Ectopic pregnancy is a serious problem and should be treated as soon as possible.
• Threatened miscarriage: Pregnancy in which fertilized egg is not growing normally because of any genetic or chromosomal disability also leads to miscarriage. Vaginal bleeding accompanied by constant cramping should be consulted by a doctor.
• Preeclampsia: Preeclampsia is high blood pressure with protein in the urine. This protein discharge causes severe pain and cramps in the upper abdomen.
• Preterm labor: Cramps during the last trimester of pregnancy can be a sign of preterm labor (i.e. premature delivery). Rush to your doctor to avoid any complications for the baby and your own health.
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs): Vaginal and urinary tract infections are very common during pregnancy. If the body’s natural immune system fails to fight against them, it can get serious and should be treated. UTIs can also cause severe cramps in the abdomen and vagina.
• Placental abruption: Before the birth of the baby, if the placenta detaches from the uterine wall that can be a life threatening condition for the baby and the mother both. It is accompanied by sever cramping which doesn’t go on its own.

All of these above-mentioned conditions are very serious and need proper treatment and advice from your doctor. Don’t ignore these signs out of laziness to go to the doctor because it can cause serious lifetime complications.

Takeaway

Summing up the whole discussion, it can be concluded that pregnancy is a very sensitive stage of a woman’s life. It needs special care and attention to every minor thing that is happening in your body. Cramps during pregnancy can be a common symptom but at the very same time cramps during pregnancy can be life-threatening. So, the best advice is to consult your doctor as soon as you experience cramps during pregnancy.