6 weeks pregnant, how normal is cramping feeling?

[therumoursaretrue]

I am 6 weeks + 5 according to my calculations; only found out on Wednesday and had first doctors appointment Thursday. This is my first pregnancy and was unplanned; but OH has been fantastic support so far and despite all the shock, nerves and massive amount of 'sorting out' we need to do (financially and otherwise) we are both pleased.

I am not letting myself get excited yet however as have not told anyone -we will tell parents soon but nobody else till 12 weeks.

Anyway, I am experiencing cramps and occasionally sharper kind of 'twinges' in my tummy and since I am completely clueless right now and have nobody to ask I am not sure if this is normal or something which I should have followed up. I don't want to be running to the doctor every 5 minutes if this is a regular part of early pregnancy.

Did anyone else have a similar experience early in their pregnancy or think I should go to my GP and ask for an early scan?

Thanks in advance :)

[ColonelBrandon]

Very common, and got them with all of my 3 pgs, particularly around the time my period would have been due. Crampiness on and off for a month of so actually. And not wanting to alarm you but with my second I had some bleeding and with my third quite a bit! It does not always equate to a mc.

I don't believe you will be offered a scan unless you present with more symptoms.

Hth

[therumoursaretrue]

Thanks! It's so easy to worry when you aren't sure what is and isn't normal. As I havn't told anyone yet I'v been googling anything I'm not sure about and as you might expect panicking!

[ColonelBrandon]

You're welcome. And it's so natural to worry about every twinge and change in your body and think the worst. And of course being pg and your body adapting and making amazing changes means you get a lot of them!

It doens't help that the first scan at 12 weeks feels so far away too.

Apart from MN of course, have always found the BabyCentre a good website when expecting, it has lots of reassurance and good advice.

[therumoursaretrue]

Yes doctor has referred me for booking in "a few weeks" and feels like such a long time before I will get to speak to anyone again or see baby at the first scan.

So glad to have found MN! Will take a look at Babycentre too.

Thanks so much.

[The3Bears]

Dont worry about it, I had these when expecting ds between 6-8 weeks and now im expecting again (i think im about 8 weeks now) I had them again at about 6 weeks so I wouldnt worry at all, It's just your body changing and stretching. :)

[Garliccheesechips]

Yup- I had these too in first trimester. They go away though. (To be replaced by heartburn, wind, constipation, ligament pain, backache, leg cramp...)



Congratulations.

[therumoursaretrue]

Thanks ladies, nice to have a bit of reassurance :)
Even if Garliccheesechips now has me dreading all the symptoms to come...(and craving a chippy!)

[LoveInASnowyClimate]

I had them for most of my first trimester - found it worrying despite all reassurances to the contrary but all was fine. Congratulations!

[therumoursaretrue]

Glad to hear everything was fine with you Love, I am naturally quite anxious so I probably will still worry untill I get to see for myself everything is on track at first scan but glad to know it isn't out of the ordinary.

And thank you, feels so nice to be congratulated

[McPhee]

I had this for over a week, so try not to worry, it's fairly common. Lots settling down inside and building work is starting

[LoveInASnowyClimate]

If it's an option, could you have a private early scan? I had one at eight weeks and it definitely helped with my anxiety that the cramps were something sinister.

[franke]

I had this. I remember it particularly with my last (3rd) pg when I had no inkling I was pg. I thought the pains were just my period being a bit late. But it wasn't my period......

They should ease off but may come back in a few weeks along with some brown spotting - implantation bleeding.

Easy for me to say, but try not to worry and congratulations - I hope the 9 months sails by!

[therumoursaretrue]

Yes Love I thought of this, money is tight but I had my birthday last week and was going to use my birthday money for a 4D scan a bit further on but might be worth just using it now for an early scan if I can't put my mind to rest. I know what I am like worry wise...(have spent last 2 years worried sick that I can't conceive despite no evidence of this) so might be worthwhile just to give my head peace! Maybe see how I feel about it in a few days, suppose it is only natural to be anxious too.

Thanks McPhee will try not to let it worry me!

Yes Franke I do too, especially these few weeks till my scan. Thanks :)

[The3Bears]

It seems like ages till your first scan but believe me it goes by so quick, the best advice I can give is to relax getting stressed and worried isnt going to help you and pretty soon you'll see your baby on your scan. Save your money for a 3d/4d scan I had one when pregnant with ds at 27 weeks and it was amazing! So worth it

[therumoursaretrue]

Yes I know I should try not to worry. Think once I have told parents and have someone close to home to chat to it will take a lot of the anxiety out of it for me.

Glad to hear it was worth it, I told bf I was going to spend birthday money on 3d/4d scan and he told me I was mad and should save it for when the baby is here but I know when he see's the scan he will appreciate it!

[FTM1]

Hi to the rumours are true, I'm only 4 weeks pregnant and am getting frequent cramps and strange twinges just like last time I was pregnant - last time I went full term and had our son. The advice I would give would be to make sure you relax as often as you can - do you find if you put you feet up or sit and relax the cramps reduce? Also if certain movements like crouching down, stretching etc. bring on the cramps best to limit them.
As the others have said they will eventually go to be replaced by other lovely symptoms to remind you you're pregnant!

Also may be worth telling one of nicer GPs at your practice because they may offer you a scan on NHS if cramps & twinges carry on, as they did for me last pregnancy few years ago.

Hope this helps.

[therumoursaretrue]

Thanks FTM1. Have been sitting down for the last while and definitely noticed a bit of a difference. Think relaxing a bit more is key!

[franke]

"Think once I have told parents and have someone close to home to chat to it will take a lot of the anxiety out of it for me."

Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to confide in your parents. It's such a huge thing to deal with on your own. You won't jinx anything, really. I told a few people (mum, close friends etc.) before the magic 12 weeks and it did really help. I found it quite stressful keeping it to myself for all that time with other people e.g. work colleagues, especially as I was slumped over my desk at times with the sheer fatigue of early pg and they didn't know why

[scarletforya]

I got these. Around the same time too. Twingy cramps. It worried me as they were all on the left hand side, felt like the fallopian area.

Anyway, everything has been fine at the scans and they said the placenta is on the left so the twinges were probably that growing and settling in.

Hope all is well with you OP

[PoppyS34]

Congrats! :)
I had lots of cramps, pains and twinges, (and some spotting/bleeding 6-7 Wks, but all was ok, and am 9 +4 now.

Had a private scan last week which showed all was spot on track growth wise.

MN was a godsend with trying to work out what was 'normal', as was whattoexpect.com and babycentre

Good luck, and I hope the time between now and 12wks scan goes quickly :) x

[Reggaegirl]

I had really bad cramps in my 2nd pregnancy at the start 5-13 weeks stage. No blood though. Think cramps without blood are OK unless unusually severe x

[Daisydukke]

Hi, I've just come across this post. I'm 11 weeks and have been suffering cramping on/off for the last week or so. Tonight's episode was quiet uncomfortable with cramping that felt like mini contractions, there has been no bleeding and they are not severe. Does anyone have any tips to soothe the pains?

[justhayley]

Ouch I remember those! Mine were really bad, waking me up at night and literally making me cry. I had them before I knew I was pregnant up until about 7 weeks. My GP referred me to the early pregnancy unit encase I was having a miscarriage, I had 2 early scans at 5 & 7 weeks. Unfortunately I didnt no about mumsnet at that point so didn't realise how many women go through the same thing & my doctor panicked me rather than assuring me.
I'm now 24 weeks so it all worked out well although I'm sure it's normal and even though loads of us go through the same thing id get it checked out jut encase then you can have piece of mind!
Congratulations on your pregnancy xxx

[Poweredby200mgofCaffeineaday]

I had these a lot around that stage too, kept feeling like period was about to come on. I wouldn't worry, I think it's quite normal.

[therumoursaretrue]

Thanks everyone, great to hear other peoples experiences and know that this isn?t out of the ordinary! Love your name Poweredby200mgofCaffeineaday that gave me a giggle...I?d love a cup of coffee as energy is flagging but I can?t seem to stomach the stuff in past few days :(

Franke I plan to tell them today/tomorrow, I still live at home so there is no point at all trying to keep it from them till 12 weeks, have already been told I look like I?m putting on weight!

Scarlet glad to hear it was nothing to worry about with you, good luck with rest of your pregnancy :)

Thanks Poppy. Yes I?m so glad to be able to come on here and chat to other people in same situation, does really help to put your mind at ease when you are not sure what to expect!

justhayley That sounds like my GP...every time I go to them I come out feeling ten times more anxious! I spoke to bf about it last night and we are going to see about an early scan if the pains get any worse but I?m glad to know they seem to be very normal and nothing to worry about for the most part.