Congrats on your pregnancy, Ness, I don't think I've said that yet!

Yes, cramping like period pains is normal, most women report this at some stage. I had no bleeding, next to no M/S (four times in pregnancy, only twice in the morning), slightly tender breasts, but I put that down to hitting them to see if they were tender.

I had a dating scan at 9w (due to irregular cycles and me finding out I was pg at 8w along) and we did see a heartbeat, but much before 10w is a bit hit-and-miss with what you see. Plus at 9w it's just a blob with a flutter that you're told is a heart; at 12w you can see a head and a tail-end and tiny stubby limbs. So much more exciting! But if you want to insist on a scan then do so - for us, it was good to reassure us that it was a baby and not a brain tumour messing with my hormone profile!