Normal cramping vs pregnancy during TWW

[wildraisins]

TTC for four months now and I have been tracking my cycle and learning some odd things!

I almost always get cramps about 10/11DPO, which then go away for a few days, before AF arrives around 15DPO!

This is very frustrating because I confuse it it with implantation bleeding and get my hopes up. I have the same this month too - currently 12DPO and had cramps yesterday and the day before which are now gone! :-/

Does anyone else get these random cramps days before their period, which then clear up? How do you tell the difference with real implantation cramps?

@wildraisins

Following your post for more info on this.

As I have been experiencing mild cramping over the past couple of days.
AF isn't due till 16th but I don't normally get any signs it's on it's way until the evening or day before so I find it so bizarre.

I'm just having to wait it all out till next weekend 🤞

Early pregnancy symptoms and PMS symptoms are very similar, there is no definitive way to tell them apart. Some women experience cramping throughout the TWW whether they're pregnant or not and others experience no cramping whether they're pregnant or not. A better symptom to monitor is CM, if conception has not occurred then CM generally dries up in the luteal phase and goes sticky. If conception has occurred CM stays wetter, creamy and there will be more of it. Again the rule doesn't apply for everyone but that's generally how it works.

Thank you @ButterscotchBabe.

Thanks @ButterscotchBabe My CM is really variable. I had lots more than usual this month so again that got my hopes up a bit, but it's now starting to dry up so I think I'm out :(

I was just wondering if there's anyone else who gets this particular annoying pattern of cramping, which then eases for a few days before AF! And if there is any difference in the way it actually feels if it is implantation.

Both times I have been pregnant the cramping has been exactly the same as normal PMS - so I usually get intermittent cramps from about 8dpo to AF, it comes and goes and totally random it seems! Exactly the same when PMS and pregnant.

Had slight implantation bleed at 7dpo with one pregnancy, and just felt a huge wave of nausea at 9dpo with second which made me test on FRER. Other than that I could not tell the difference! FX for you xx

Thanks @Amz6219Amz6219 that is really helpful to know! I am def overthinking it all haha

I never got any cramps in the tww when I was pregnant.

Found this on the Clear Blue website, hope it helps! x

Hey @wildraisins I got my BFP yesterday morning, AF was due Sunday. I didn't test as I felt exactly the same as I do in the lead up to AF with cramps. The only differences were I had heartburn twice in my TWW and really stiff nipples.

Other than that it was exactly the same as every other cycle.

Hope that helps xx

All the bfp results I've had have resulted in exactly the same cramps. Only difference is when I am pregnant my nipples do a weird fizzy kind of feeling and grow bigger. All other symptoms are always the same for me 😃