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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Period cramps way before period due? Implantation?

89 replies

Tally89 · 19/05/2024 10:29

Hi - looking for some advice.

Has anyone else had strong cramping before their period is due? I'm very regular and due on my period next Wednesday, but I've had cramping all last week. It's been quite intense! Normally I just get a bit of cramping the day of my period or the day before. Could it be implantation?

The weird thing is, the cramping has now kinda stopped today. So I'm super confused! Not really any other symptoms, other than I'm bloated (what's new?!) and a bit headachey for past few days.

Me and my husband did the deed around my ovulation which was a week ago last Sunday or Monday, which would make me 7 days DPO approx.

I can't bear to test yet as I don't want to be disappointed and get my hopes up in case it's a BFN!

OP posts:
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Original poster
Tally89 · 25/05/2024 05:04

@KittyFantastica So sorry to hear about your MMC. 😞

It's the cramping mid-cycle that is off for me too! I thought it could be ovulation but it's carried on from around when ovulation most-likely was (I know due to CM) and now when my period is due. Fingers crossed you get your BFP soon my love!

OP posts:
daisiesandpeonies · 24/05/2024 22:40

Tally89 · 23/05/2024 17:56

@narwhalsarereal ah yes, interesting! My cramps have been pretty bad since that early too. Some of them made me wince. Having to wait a week is so hard! I'm waiting a few more days til I have well and truly missed my period before testing. I've had a headache, dry mouth, feeling like I'm coming down with a cold, and waking up at 4am ravenous, and where my boobs would normally be sore during a period they aren't. Fingers crossed for you!

@daisiesandpeonies thanks for your reply! Do you remember if you felt like AF was coming, like a heaviness down below, but it just...wasn't showing up?

Edited

Maybe - I remember it feeling as if the blood was going to come out at any moment, and thinking "ugh why can't you just start already so the bloating stops", but it never came! It was quite gastric, I had bad wind Blush

KittyFantastica · 24/05/2024 16:51

I've never, ever had cramping mid-cycle before, but I had mild cramping for two days and also bright red spotting on what I believe is 4DPO and 5DPO. It's been like a mini period in the middle of my cycle. Seems to have eased off today though. I also couldn't pinpoint ovulation despite testing 3 x a day with OPKs and I've managed to track it every time before. It's annoying.

I'm 9 weeks post D&C after a MMC in March and also had a chemical in January. It took 7 weeks for my period to return and this is my first cycle since the miscarriage, so I'm guessing my hormones are still out of whack. I don't think I'll be pregnant this time as my cycle is clearly not back to normal, but the stress of having to guess whether ovulation took place and when my next period will come is not fun.

In my previous two pregnancies, I never had a single symptom except a bubbling and bloated crampy feeling from about 10DPO the first time. Nothing the second, I just knew when I'd ovulated. Weird how it can be different each time!

Original poster
Tally89 · 24/05/2024 16:22

@jellyfish2 Might just be that it hasn't been long enough yet for it to show. Sending positive vibes!

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jellyfish2 · 24/05/2024 15:18

@Tally89 I hope so too! I have only tested with easy at home tests so keep thinking there's a bit of hope but I don't feel like I did when I've been pregnant before so not hopeful.

Keep me updated 🥰

Original poster
Tally89 · 24/05/2024 14:46

@jellyfish2 I'm really hoping this is our cycle and AF stays away! I'll update on what happens next whether it's AF or AF has truly been missed.

I guess I'm trying not to overthink as my cycle has been a little longer on the odd occasion and I will be so bummed out if I've psyched myself out again. It's so weird with the feeling like AF is going to start any minute, and I check, and it's just CM. 🤷‍♀️ I wonder if anyone else is in the same boat as us this month.

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jellyfish2 · 24/05/2024 14:15

No not yet but I'm expecting it on Monday, possibly Sunday. Still getting cramps on and off so assuming normal pms symptoms now. Negative test again this morning, no more testing until af comes.

Sounds quite promising for you?

Original poster
Tally89 · 24/05/2024 13:10

Any sign of AF @jellyfish2 ? I'm cycle day 30 and max length for me usually is 32 so I'm trying my best to wait and see if AF arrives this weekend.

Having a fair amount of watery CM so I keep thinking AF has arrived!

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Original poster
Tally89 · 23/05/2024 17:56

@narwhalsarereal ah yes, interesting! My cramps have been pretty bad since that early too. Some of them made me wince. Having to wait a week is so hard! I'm waiting a few more days til I have well and truly missed my period before testing. I've had a headache, dry mouth, feeling like I'm coming down with a cold, and waking up at 4am ravenous, and where my boobs would normally be sore during a period they aren't. Fingers crossed for you!

@daisiesandpeonies thanks for your reply! Do you remember if you felt like AF was coming, like a heaviness down below, but it just...wasn't showing up?

OP posts:
narwhalsarereal · 23/05/2024 16:45

daisiesandpeonies · 23/05/2024 16:36

Could be! I've had two DCs. With my first I thought I was having bad PMS, but then it turned out I was pregnant. With my second I knew that I was pregnant days before taking a test, because I had the same sensation. It's so similar to PMS - bloating, cramping, headaches - but ever so slightly different (in a way that's impossible to recognise if you haven't felt it before.) Fingers crossed for you!

The cramps have eased but the backache is unreal, along with a bad headache & dizziness now too.

Wish I could go to sleep & wake up in a week to test

daisiesandpeonies · 23/05/2024 16:36

Could be! I've had two DCs. With my first I thought I was having bad PMS, but then it turned out I was pregnant. With my second I knew that I was pregnant days before taking a test, because I had the same sensation. It's so similar to PMS - bloating, cramping, headaches - but ever so slightly different (in a way that's impossible to recognise if you haven't felt it before.) Fingers crossed for you!

narwhalsarereal · 23/05/2024 13:16

I'm 5/6dpo & I've had horrendous cramps this morning, those ones that make your legs ache....exactly what I have on my first day of af.
Feel really nauseous too which could be the pain.

I'm not due af till next Friday but I feel like I'm about to start

jellyfish2 · 23/05/2024 12:10

Tally89 · 23/05/2024 12:04

and my hubby says, just stop thinking about it! 😹 @jellyfish2

Edited

If only it was that easy 😅

Original poster
Tally89 · 23/05/2024 12:04

and my hubby says, just stop thinking about it! 😹 @jellyfish2

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jellyfish2 · 23/05/2024 11:58

Tally89 · 23/05/2024 11:50

@jellyfish2 sorry about the negative test today, but, as long as AF hasn't shown up you're still in with a chance my love! Don't lose hope.

I'll keep you updated. I keep feeling like AF will come and then I'll feel very silly! 🙃

We just like to torture ourselves don't we!

Original poster
Tally89 · 23/05/2024 11:50

@jellyfish2 sorry about the negative test today, but, as long as AF hasn't shown up you're still in with a chance my love! Don't lose hope.

I'll keep you updated. I keep feeling like AF will come and then I'll feel very silly! 🙃

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jellyfish2 · 23/05/2024 11:37

@Tally89 that all sounds promising! When I found out I was pregnant it was because I had such a dry mouth when I woke up so I tested.

I stupidly caved and tested this morning, smu at 9dpo and negative 😞 I guess I'm still not out completely but feel like I am now x

Original poster
Tally89 · 23/05/2024 11:33

@jellyfish2 No sign of AF yet, but it could be a longer cycle for me 🤷‍♀️

I had cramps this morning and thought that AF was here, but it didn't start. I now also have like cotton mouth/ dry mouth and v slightly dizzy??!! I'm determined not to test until I have officially missed my period, but that will be this weekend.

But then I feel like AF could start any second, and keep checking.

How are you getting on?

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jellyfish2 · 22/05/2024 19:36

This is my first TTC since the MC in Feb. My first period was so light that I panicked so skipped last month to see if it would come back more normal and it did. My first pregnancy I conceived the first month I used ovulation sticks and the second one (the MC) was first time too so hoping it's quick this time too but I don't feel so lucky. Any sign of AF?

Original poster
Tally89 · 22/05/2024 10:32

Yes, that's exactly what happened to me too! Up at 3/4am and not able to get back to sleep. Headache too. No nausea though, just cramping. I have everything crossed that this is our month @jellyfish2

My husband is in the US at the moment so it's definitely been so hard to try and time our visits with ovulation but I think the timings lined up pretty well this time. Technically this would be our 3rd cycle of trying with breaks in between due to long distance. Which cycle is this for you?

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jellyfish2 · 22/05/2024 10:22

Hopefully it just doesn't arrive.
I woke up at 4am and couldn't get back to sleep, had a headache when I woke up and felt a bit nauseous. I'm ok now so who knows! Only 8dpo and it's dragging in.

Original poster
Tally89 · 22/05/2024 09:28

Hi @jellyfish2 no AF not here yet, but i keep checking as it feels like it could any second. I also woke up last night with quite bad cramps that lasted for about 30seconds which was a bit odd too.

My cycles are normally 28 days but on a few occasions they can be 29 to 32, so it could be that it's a later cycle this time.

How do you feel?

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jellyfish2 · 22/05/2024 07:57

@Tally89 how are you feeling today? Has af showed up?

IOYOYO · 21/05/2024 21:40

I did. Both times it felt weird and also stronger than normal. With my first pregnancy, I was so bummed out because I was convinced my period was on the way. But it was just a bit…off, and then I got a bfp. I recognised it a bit better the second time around. I’m really crossing my fingers for you.

Original poster
Tally89 · 21/05/2024 21:08

@jellyfish2 I guess I'm scared to get a BFN again so I am avoiding testing :( I think I will wait and see if AF comes tomorrow and if not, then I will test.

And no I definitely don't normally get cramping like this before my period, I usually just get it on the day of AF or maybe the day before a little bit. I also normally get sore boobs but I don't have that at all right now. Fingers crossed for you too! x

@IOYOYO did you have cramping for a a long while before your period that made you think AF was coming but also just felt different to normal?

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