18+5 bad cramps, especially in my back

[ImpYCelyn]

I've got period pains in my abdomen, but very low down into my pelvis, and really bad cramping in my back.

In my half-asleep state at the supermarket I asked DH to run and get me some paracetamol as I was getting a really bad period And then I had a horrible moment when I remembered I am pregnant and panicked. It feels exactly like the start of my back labour with DS.

Please tell me it's Braxton Hicks, I didn't have them last time so I don't know what they feel like.

Thanks :)

The :) is to encourage you to tell me positive things, please.

cant give you any advice but im just coming up for 18 weeks myself and ive been having period like pains myself - perhaps another growth spurt or the like??

I had terrible pains with my first pregnancy. Awful, nauseating, cold sweat type aches at about the same time. Turns out I needed a big fat poo. That was confirmed by the OOH doc I made DH call when I was sobbing. More fibre and water? Hope it's that. I am thinking if you can post on MN it cannot be that serious

I second the possible constipation suggestion. I've had awful, painful constipation in both my pregnancies. The first time I had dh on the phone to nhsdirect thinking I might be in labour.

Eat prunes and Allbran.

I'm 20 weeks & have been having the same thing on & off for 2-3 weeks now. I panicked initially but nothing has happened. I'm still pregnant, baby is still moving. I've put it down to one those thing. It is a bit unnerving though.

I am 21 wks now and have had this on and off the whole time - I can definitely second the 'big fat poo' post. I got some Fybogel (bleurgh) from the GP and poos are still painful when they are imminent (sorry..) but much better than it was.. Sorry for the plop chat before 7am! HTH..

Thanks everyone.

I had the cramps on and off all night, but they eased off for good at about 6. They really felt exactly like the 1st stage of my last labour, so I was really worried about them.

Definitely not constipation though, I'm having absolutely no problems in that area

I think it might be either one of those things or early BH. I'm seeing the MWs next week, so I'll just mention it to them.

It could also be a UTI in which case you need to treat it sooner rather than later. If you start to feel crampy again, I'd just take a sample to be dip tested to be on the safe side.

In your shoes I really wouldn't wait until next week, I'd phone the midwives and ask to get seen asap as there could be a number of potential (treatable) issues at play.

Ok, well I now have back cramps again. So I've phoned the midwives, but I've missed their office hours. I've left a message and hopefully they'll call me back.

I don't think it's an emergency so I don't think labour ward will appreciate me calling.

I phoned the GP to see if they could advise. They've booked me in for 3 today, but have told me to keep trying to speak to the midwives in the meantime.

Thanks again :)

How did you get on?

Hope you're doing ok.

Hey, thanks for asking, not doing brilliantly.

The GP isn't entirely happy, my abdomen is very tender, but soft which is apparently a good sign. He managed to find the heartbeat, so baby is fine for now.
My BP and pulse were fine, but by the time I saw him I was feeling really generally pretty ill, and I'm feeling worse today. He was worried by the overall look of things.

But he said his hands are a bit tied by how far along I am though. I'm too far too along to be seen by the EPU, and the labour ward and FAU won't see people until they are 25 weeks. So he can't get me seen.

He's also worried that I might have a non-pregnancy related problem.

My 20 week scan is next week, so he wants me to see how that goes, unless things take a turn for the worse, in which case I have to go to A&E.

Hi Imp
I am a midwife and i wanted to let you know that around this time in pregnancy your uterus is having a growth spurt and period type pain is not unusual. I would not worry as long as you are not bleeding. It is fine to take some paracetamol if you need to. HTH

Thanks 3ofeach. That's really reassuring.

I just got off the phone with my midwife who is really unimpressed by my GP. She's annoyed he hasn't dipped my urine, and has basically done nothing else.

She also said it's rubbish that I can't call the FAU. She said they're not supposed to see me, but if I'm still in pain then they will.

So if it stays as it is I just have to drink loads of water (in case of UTI) and wait for my scan on Monday and appointment on Wednesday. If it gets worse I should call the FAU.

Thanks again everyone :)

Please get your urine dipped! A mner lost her baby recently due to a nasty UTI amongst other things. If you have a UTI you need antibiotics. Please don't wait and let them mess you around. Hopefully all is fine but I would err on the side of caution.

I would go along to A&E and get properly checked out in a hospital with facilities. Although you seem pretty stoic, I would be petrified if my wife were in your position and I was expected to wait until next week.

Well I've been feeling rubbish all day. I have a terrible headache, sore throat, watery eyes, stiff joints etc. Which I think may be due to my flu jab (last Monday) or it's just a bad cold. So I'm wondering if the cramps were just part of that coming on.

I'm going to phone the GP first thing tomorrow morning, say I'm feeling worse and also that the MWs would like my urine dipped, so hopefully we can deal with/rule out a UTI.

The cramps have stopped though, and I've felt the baby wiggling, so I'm really hoping they were just a passing thing.

Thanks for your advice, and thank you for your concern - I was feeling a bit like no one cared except me

I'm going to bed now.

Hi @ImpYCelyn I know this conversation was 12 years ago! But I am having the same symptoms as you and I just wondered how your pregnancy went and what the outcome was?