Cramps (but no bleeding) + NO morning sickness... thoughts?

[neutronflow]

I'm 8 weeks pregnant with number 2 and have been having mild cramps for the last week or so, this week they seem to have become a little stronger, more like a moderate version of 'stitch'... there's a constant feeling that something is a little 'off' in my abdomen. I understand cramps are actually a little more common in subsequent pregnancies than first ones (lacking in uterus tone or something that sounds equally judgmental!) and so I wouldn't be particularly worried except...

I have had pretty much NO nausea or sickness. With DS I was plagued with it, sick every morning and nauseous through the day. I've had slight feelings of nausea in the evening if I've been exceptionally tired, but nothing that even comes close to first time around.

I haven't, however, had any bleeding, which I'm hoping is a good sign, or at least, not-a-bad-sign.

If it was just one thing out of the cramps / the no-nausea, I wouldn't be as concerned, but both? Hmm.

The other question I have is... with worries at this stage, who do I speak to? My GP? Or a midwife? You see, I haven't actually had my booking appointment yet (scheduled for just over a week away) so technically I don't have a midwife...

(Also slightly complicating things is the fact that ds(8) doesn't know about the pregnancy yet, so arranging a doctor/hospital appointment around the occasional afternoons he is at his dad's house wouldn't be easy (and my dh works full time)...I haven't told work yet, and it's really hard to get time off for dr appointments due to being in a school and it being the start of term. So if they did book me in for - say - an early scan, how quickly could they see me?)

Thanks!

Sorry that you are concerned.
Where I live they do not regularly give out early scans and they have to be done via midwife or GP referral. However other areas may have more capacity for reassurance scans ( I hope so) - but I would imagine they would be in the working day. We had a private scan on a Sat with previous pregnancy ( did not this time) due to work issues. My one experience of EPU was a 2hr wait and was a nightmare as I had not booked enough time out of work!
It is tricky telling work so early at start of term - I am thankful I get my 12 week one just before term starts here! If it helps I have no nausea or symptoms at all.

Thanks Rooibos. I've scoured the internet and it's all either perfectly normal or I'm about to rupture from an ectopic pregnancy, depending on where I look. I'm near Liverpool, and I'm not sure what the policies are yet as I've not had my booking appt. Might just wait and see (as no bleeding)... but it is certainly worrying me a bit.

not an expert but the 2 people I know who have had ectopic a had excruciating pain before 6 weeks.

So hopefully all is well and maybe you avoided nausea this time round! I have had 2 boys and was not sick/nauseous with either so assuming boy again here!

I was sick as a dog with ds so maybe this is a sign I'm having a dd? As for ectopic - sorry to hear about your friends, though it's useful to know. The Internet is useless sometimes though - either I should expect agony and blood, or mild cramps could be a sign. It's also not that helpful knowing whether to go to the doc … or ring the hospital despite not having seen them yet. We could consider a private scan I suppose as we have a few bob put aside for emergencies …

When you see your mw next week hopefully she will either reassure you or book one for you?!

Fingers crossed! X

I was completely symptom-less with DS1, aside from a random, rather scary diarrhoea episode at about the time of implantation. With DS2 I had the concerning cramps & such bad nausea that I lost 13% of my body weight in the first couple of months. Every pregnancy is different, try not to worry about it, I know that's easier said than done!

How bad/constant were the cramps AGnu? I am torn between thinking it's just my now-ancient creaky untoned uterus making its displeasure known at being asked to stretch a second time, and Something Really Awful.

I was aware of cramping feelings at some point on most days for about 3 weeks starting around 4 weeks - after the first week I started to feel less concerned because I assumed that if it was anything scary then I'd have known it by then. It just felt like I should be expecting my period at any moment. I spent a lot of the first 12 weeks of that pregnancy googling twins & our local NICU so I knew what to expect because I was convinced that it was such a different pregnancy because I was having twin girls...

If you are really worried, you could either try your local EPU (ours offer early reassurance scans from 8 weeks) or see your GP.
I've just had an ectopic removed (at 7 weeks). Had hardly any symptoms, only a little cramping and no bleeding whatsoever before the operation. That doesn't mean that you are having an ectopic, if you aren't throwing up constantly, though. Nobody in my family has ever had morning sickness, which is why the lack of symptoms never really worried me. I have, however, had a previous ectopic and had been on Clomid, which is why my GP referred me straight away when I was got the feeling that something was a little "off" again. Last time, I also had no pain and very little bleeding. I seem a bit odd in that respect, but I'm not complaining.

I had a lot of on and off cramps up until about 8 weeks pregnant, but no nausea or vomiting - for which I was thankful! But the cramps were horrible, stop what you're doing and breathe through it type cramps. Worse than period pain.

I told my GP about the cramps and he said so long as there was no blood not to worry about it. Also my cramps were always all over my lower abdomen and never one-sided, which I think can be a warning of something sinister. He said just to take paracetamol which was useless advice since they came an went with no pattern.

After 8 weeks, my cramps completely vanished. What a relief! Just had my 20 week scan, all is fine. Hope you're the same.

I had cramps every day up to about 12 weeks. I was convinced every time I went to the loo that I would be bleeding (what with that and the early pregnancy weeing I was hardly out of the loo!). My baby is 4 months old and snuffling away at my breast now! I'm no expert, but I don't think it's necessarily reason to worry.

Elle--the cramps up to 12 weeks, same as you, were so nervewracking to me...after two miscarriages, I was totally certain, like you say, every time I went to the loo that I'd bring the paper back covered in blood.

It didn't help that one day, when I was just barely 6 weeks along (but thought I was further, due to my cycle apparently having been very long the month I conceived!), I wiped and found exactly that. I promptly freaked out, scheduled an early scan, and cried tears of joy when we saw a heartbeat. Now I'm almost 16 weeks, past the big 'danger zone,' and just the other day felt fluttery kicks for the first time!

At 9 weeks, I had my booking appointment and was really worried as my morning sickness that had stared at 3+4 and seemed to disappear at 7.5 weeks. I was really worried, still had some cramping, at times momentarily more severe but nothing major or concerning. Fast forward to week 10 and the vomiting is back and even worse! Now 11 weeks and still having a bit of cramping.

This midwife wasn't concerned that my MS had disappeared even though I was convinced something was wrong. Apparently sickness now is often as the placenta takes over so you never know, enjoy the lack of sickness bc it might be just around the corner.

Neither my Dm nor mil had vomiting so I feel a bit miffed that I do grr! Fingers crossed everything is fine at the scan, but I think morning sickness can just be random and can't read too much into it.

If you're really worried, you could book an early scan. I work in a school and have booked my scan during a free so I can just slope off.

Good luck!

I've had 2 girls. One pregnancy was plagued by nausea and vomiting, the other I had one week of feeling a bit peaky, so I wouldn't read too much into the lack of nausea. That said, if you're worried about the cramps it's probably worth seeing your GP or maybe ask to be put in touch with a midwife.