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thread: Cramps early in first trimester?

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    Haha's world
    290

    Cramps early in first trimester?

    Hi ladies,

    Has anyone experienced strong cramps in the first few weeks of a pregnancy, and it all turned out to be fine? I'm only 4 weeks along and have been having mild cramps on and off since about 10DPO! But they haven't been enough to bother me, as I read this is common due to uterus stretching. This is my second pregnancy so maybe things are stretching quicker? But this afternoon they have become stronger, still not as bad as menstrual cramps but persistent enough to bother me! It's kind of freaking me out. It's also on the right-hand side, which might be because I have a double uterus, if the embryo has implanted in the right side.

    Anyone have any advice??

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Jan 2012
    WA
    420

    Absolutely! I get ouchy cramps from 4weeks every time.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    Haha's world
    290

    Oh, thanks Ambersky! It makes me feel so much better to know when others experience the same thing. I also just read that it can be ligaments stretching, which I should have remembered from the first time around. Hopefully it's that!

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Nov 2011
    Perth
    1,090

    Hahamama, I had horrid, extremely painful cramps from about 6-7 DPO. I thought I was just having a sucky period because I had ovarian cysts. I did a test 3 days before period was due and +, GP test following morning + but due to cramps sent me for urgent internal ultrasound that day to check for ectopic. All fine and I had 12w nucheal scan this morning

    Seriously, they were horrible cramps. I considered going to ED a couple times.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Apr 2006
    Perth
    4,203

    Definitely normal. The right sided pain could also be that you ovulated from the right and the corpus luteum is therefore on the right and that's giving you pain/cramps. Mine was pretty ouchy until about 12 weeks.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    Haha's world
    290

    Cramps early in first trimester?

    Thanks everyone! That's made me feel much calmer. It is so persistent. Also feeling a heaviness down low too, like pressure. Didn't get any of this the first time around! So nice to be kept on your toes!

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    Haha's world
    290

    IDK if this is a dumb question, but what is the corpus luteum? I googled it but the explanation didn't make much sense to me! Is it something that is always there or only when you fall pregnant?

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Add CKJ on Facebook

    Dec 2011
    Central Coast NSW
    502

    I've been hospitalised and had emergency scans due to pain! Still don't know why and I'm 20 weeks. Mine are on my lower right hand side and feel like someone is stabbing me with a knife. Bub likes to sit on the right and that's also where my placenta is.

    Hope the pain doesn't last too long for you

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Apr 2006
    Perth
    4,203

    I might get this slightly wrong but close enough hopefully for you to get the right story - its what's left after the egg has burst from the follicle that comes from your ovary. It is then responsible for secreting hormones until the placenta takes over and starts feeding bubs. Depending on how high your hcg levels are, the corpus luteum can be "stimulated" by the hcg and that can cause it to sort of rupture over and over again, causing the pain. I had pregny injections, which are hcg, until I got to 12 weeks and the nurses at my FS said that the additional hormones I was taking made it worse, but that anyone could expect cramping pain to stabbing pain until 10 odd weeks. The pain can come and go for no apparent reason, but I found if I stretched in bed, lifted something heavy (getting DD2 out of the bath was the first time I really felt it) then it was excrutiating.

    I had an ectopic pregnancy years ago and the pain was so severe I was worried this time around that I had another one.

    Not a stupid question (or if it is we're both dumb!!). Before this pregnancy I didn't know what it was either.

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Sep 2007
    Brisbane
    5,729

    Totally normal . And my cramps made me think AF was always just around the corner, I couldn't tell the difference between the two at all. HTH.

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    Haha's world
    290

    Thanks Maruschke, it all helps!

    That's a way better explanation than on Wikipedia, Lulu! Lol! Thanks for clearing that up.

    Thanks cmkm, though the pain doesn't bother me so much, it's more worrying about what it might mean! Such a stresshead, sigh...
    Last edited by Hahamama; March 12th, 2012 at 08:48 PM. : typo

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Oct 2010
    Gold Coast
    2,638

    I had same thing last pregnancy and I stressed too, was sent for early us to make sure it wasn't ectopic and all was fine but had a few more early scans just to keep checking cause I kept getting it till 9 wks

    Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Mar 2008
    North Northcote
    8,065

    yep! i get them alllll the time. it seems to be more intense each pregnancy....does my head in! you would think that so many pregnancies in i'd be an old hand at this, but nup, each pregnancy is new and just like the first time...only more tired lol.

  14. #14
    Registered User

    Mar 2009
    Haha's world
    290

    Jellybean - I'm going for an u/s next week, will only be 6 weeks, to check that it's not ectopic. Will be a relief to see that everything is in the right place and doing what it's meant to!

    Cassius - I hear you on the more tired! Congrats on your pregnancy, too!

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Mar 2011
    Sydney, Australia
    1,240

    Yep I got my first ouch cramp yesturday, I was standing up after sitting down, yikes. Its just all those bits stretching. Try not to worry

  16. #16
    Registered User
    Follow Oaktree On Twitter

    Mar 2010
    Gold Coast - QLD
    192

    I'm only 4 weeks with my first pregnancy and I'm cramping like AF pains so this is normal?

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Mar 2011
    Sydney, Australia
    1,240

    I get a massive one if I get up too fast, stabbing in my right side. HTH to you x

  18. #18
    Registered User
    Follow Oaktree On Twitter

    Mar 2010
    Gold Coast - QLD
    192

    HTH what does that mean?

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