first time mum-to-be needing some help :)

[wuzzlefraggle]

hi, i've been posting on MN for a few months now (on the conception threads mainly) and would very much like some help with this litle question :)

Im 8 weeks pregnant (yay!!) on Monday, and every so often (for about the last 3 or so weeks) ive had little aches in my stomache. not very many, maybe one or two a day, they dont last long (maybe about a few seconds)all i want to know really is if any1 else is experiencing them and if they are normal to be having, any other info or advice is always welcome too...this is my first time at this lol... and as this is my first baby, i thought it best if i ask the expertise of mumsnet

thanks ladies :) oh, and happy, healthy pregnancies to all that are

sounds very normal to me, i had aches and pains till about 12 weeks, just as you describe. Just think of all the changes going on in there, the growing, stretching and everything.... its just stuff getting ready for a growing baby. Only worry if you have persistent pain, heavy lasting cramps or bleeding. Otherwise, dont worry its normal, although I found it really unsettling. hope that helps

agree with spinach - it is perfectly normal, and the more you worry about it the worse they seem to get, so try to relax! Congrats on the pg.

think it is very normal. I think a lot of it is the ligaments loosening and stretching at this stage.

I think it just the stretching going on.
It will come and go IRRC. It can feel quite painful as i remember, which makes sense, there's alot of growing to be done.
It doesn't hurt much when the second one is in there- suppose it is all saggy next time
Good luck with the pg

hi wuzzle. Congrats on your preg . I had these little pains and like you was paranoid that they meant something bad, but they really don't. ASIAK, it is either your ligaments starting to stretch and soften, or it could be implantation (your embryo getting a good grip on your uterus). Don't worry

wow, thank you all for the fantastic replies!! its really good to hear that its nothing to worry about, to be honest ive ben thinking about it more and more and working myself up a little bit (silly, i know) so now i can just relax a little more and deal with the nausea, yuk...roll on 2nd trimester lol. although im sure that these little pains are going to be nothing when it comes to the actual labour, eeek!! any tips on that sort of thing is welcome too...

thank you for all the congrats and well wishes (its still a little surreal in a way)
spinach - congrats on the bfp btw :) and to any1 else that is expecting xoxox

wuzzle - congrats!! If you thought ttc was bad you now have all the pg and birth qs to ask!! Fun though :o

I had niggles all the time when first pg - silly nhs direct had me in a&e for seven hours convinced it was ectopic. But no, perfectly normal and shes asleep upstairs (for now!)

As for birth my advice is be prepared for all plans to go out the window :) Be 200% confident that you can and will do it and all will be fine. I spent months aginising over the perfect birth plan and ended up with a 24hr labour, ventouse delivery and every intervention known to man - however, i did get there and dd was and is perfect. Biggest advice - Have a baby, not a birth :o :o :o

Good luck and congrats again :)

wuzzle, I'm 9 weeks today (1st timer), and have a lot of little twinges, or little aches like a constant period pain which goes on and off, or a sudden pain if I stretch. Also sometimes funny jumps in my stomach. I'm assuming this is all normal and is just the rapid growth of the little bubbeleh and its home!

wuzzle, perfectly normal in my experience too. Congrats on your pregnancy

thanks Rubymummy. i have been tryin gto tell myself that when birth is nearing, im going to try and go in theer with a positive mind, like you said, i want a baby, not a birth (never heard it put like that b4, but it makes a LOT of sense lol)

Gemmitygem - i think you are on the due in Oct thread with me...yeah, ive felt the wierd twingy feeling when i stretch too so ive tried to stear clear of stretching, although i must admit, i do tend to forget myself sometimes :/ congrats on the bfp by the way

Thanks Calvemjoe, its good to know that im not on my own here with these non worrying (phew!! lol) tummy pains.

Hi Wuzzlefraggle - congratulations! your aches and pains sound very normal to me, everything is stretching in there!!

Just to follow on from what RubyMummy said about possible ectopic - if the niggling feelings/pains/aches are on one side in particular, and become more prolonged, make sure you get yourself checked out. My first pregnancy was ectopic, and they are so easily missed. If you are at all worried, you can have an early scan to check. Don't mean to scaremonger, just to raise awareness!!

thanks lahdeedah, id much rather hear all the possible bits and bobs that could be happening :) the pain seems to be more centered to be honest and doesnt happen much or for very long. tis ok lol, i know you were'nt trying to scare me.

what actually happend with an ectopic pregnancy, if you dont mind me asking?? (oh my god im clueless)

I remember having various wierd aches and pains when pregnant with DS. I always got them checked out, just in case and to put my mind at rest.

There's lots of growing and stretching and changing going on inside and thats what I was told that it is - which makes perfect sense.

Ectopic pregnancy is when the egg doesn't make it into the womb and starts growing outside, usually in your fallopian tube. It is treatable with drugs if caught early enough, but usually requires surgery and can be fatal. Unfortunately mine was missed at first - it's a very long story - but I ended up having an emergency operation to remove the embryo and one of my fallopian tubes.

Fortunately I conceived again three months later and now have a happy, healthy 11 month old DD!

It is quite rare by the way - but every woman trying to conceive should be aware of it cos it can happen to anyone.

im so sorry that u had that happen lahdeedah, it must have been a terrible experience for you.
it must have made it an even more special thing to have your dd though :) I am really happy that it all turned out good for you and thank you for explaining a little more in the the ectopic pg for me. BY the way, your name is FAB!! lol

I had an ectpoic nearly 3 years ago. Caught it early after ongoing light bleeding, didn't even realise I was pregnant (lots of stress, marriage breaking down - it was virtually the imaculate conception!)
Treated with methotrexate which destroys rapidly dividing cells.
Happy to say that although I was then v worried about ever getting preg again am not nearly 31 weeks and can't wait for the middle of May.
Early scanning and blood hormone levels is how they decide if it is an ectopic/miscarriage or viable baby.
Good Luck

Clearly that should read now nearly , not not nearly!!!

fenny - congrats!!!!! may, oooh not long to wait now

Wuzzlefraggle - having DD so soon after definitely helped me get over it. It was just one of those things, you just have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get on with life! Glad you like my name!!

fenny1 - that's great that they caught it so early with you. This is the reason why there should be greater awareness of ectopic pregnancy, then more women would be able to be treated with drugs and not have to resort to surgery. Congrats to you, best of luck with the new baby!

thats a realy great attitude to have towards it lahdeedah :)

yeah good luck with the new baby fenny :)

Thanks for asking this questions wuzzlefraggle and congrats on being pg [smiIe] I only found out I was pg on Thurs and the rumblings started that day. When I got home at night there was a tiny bit of spotting so panicked madly. Then read about implantation cramps and felt a bit better about it all. The spotting stopped almost as soon as it'd started and now I'm left with the weird rumblings and aches.

Was wondering how long this will last, but you said until about 12 weeks for you spinach, so I guess I'll just have to get used it it! As if being knackered all the time wasn't good enough!!

Of course I mean BAD enough - brain already turning to mush????

In my experience, little aches, pains and niggles = perfectly normal

feeling crampy & bloated, like your Af is due = also perfectly normal, especially in first few weeks

pains that make you stop what you are doing/lie down/take pain killers = not normal, get medical advice

worrying about everything all the time = so normal its almost a compulsory part of being pregnant

Thanks KristinaM - helped put my mind at rest. Didn't stop me having a crazy dream last night (I think that's that last part - worrying about everything!)

no thats normal as well. Dreaming about crazy or terrible things, like putting the baby in the washing machine or driving off with it on the roof of the car or the baby being born and looking like an alien