Cramps In Early Pregnancy?

[Bas27]

Hi all
I am very early on in my first pregnancy, at 4+2.
I am in the process of trying to make a doctors appointment but because of the shortage of doctors in my area the waiting lists are quite long.

I am worried that something is wrong and this may be ectopic. Or maybe I've just been paying too much attention to doctor google.

The cramps I've been getting are intermittent and at times one one side.
When they are present, I would assess the pain at about 6/10.
I can still move around and function.
It feels like a very dull but reasonably strong ache.
The best way I can describe it is that it's like being punched in the stomach, but very lightly and very quickly.
*My questions are, what is a normal amount of pain? Did anyone have one sided pain and have a healthy pregnancy?
*
I will be getting into the doctors next week and asking him/her, but until then I was hoping you lovely ladies had some more anecdotal answers.
Thanks for reading x

I had pains around 4 weeks but they built up over the day before becoming quite unbearable. I called nhs direct as it was a Sunday evening after speaking to a nurse and doctor on the phone they gave me an emergency appt for concern that it was ectopic. It was all okay and I think I had just been overdoing it! If your worried at all then I would call nhs 111 and they should be able to determine whether it requires more urgent attention! I did have some mild pains throughout at various stages but this was more once my bump started to grow and I guess things were shifting around in there. Sorry I can’t be any more help

I had cramps from early on and at week 9 they were excruciating accompanied with bleeding, I was convinced of the worst but had an early scan and surprisingly everything was fine, and I am now 28 weeks. I experienced cramps up until about 12 weeks. Hoping for the best for you xx

@charley39 thanks for the advice.
I just rang 111 and they suggested to make a doctors apt. Within 24 hours.
Very nervous now.

@lemonnmeringuepie thanks for the success story. That's really lifted my mood!

@Bas27 hi, I am 4+3 and having bad cramps as well. At times it feels like dull period type pains, but then I randomly get very strong pains low down that stop me in my tracks. I’m really hoping it’s just growing pains because that’s literally what it feels like, like my insides are being stretched! I’m trying not to worry as my pain varies in place and doesn’t seem to be in one particular side but I’m still quite anxious. I was going to mention it to the midwife because I’d got my first appointment a week today but it’s been moved back to two weeks today instead :( I’m going to see how mine go for the time being. X

@bas27 try not to worry I know it’s easier said than done. I’m sure they are just more wary at the early stage because of the risk of ectopic but I’m sure everything will be fine xx

I had cramps that felt like period pains right up until about 7-8 weeks, sometimes quite severe. I’ve also had brief sharp pains on the Rt side on and off all the way through. I’m 20 weeks now and all is fine.

It’s good to get checked out in case of ectopic pregnancy but try not to worry too much, the risk of an ectopic pregnancy is about 1% so that means about a 99% chance that it isn’t.

Thanks @charley39 @Charlotte1x @Darkstar4855
I went to the doctors today and they said that it's likely to be a uti and gave me some antibiotics.
They are going to keep a close eye on me though.
You've been very reassuring!

@Bas27 glad that’s all it is (even though it’s obviously not ideal!) and glad they’ll be keeping a close eye on you too. X

I'm 9+2 weeks and I've only just stopped having cramps similar to yours.

I was worried too because they felt too intense to be harmless. They were completely normal though, so try not to worry.

My cramps were worse than period pains and I had them more on one side than the other.

Pregnancy is such a worrying time, but try to relax and know your body is going through rapid changes at the moment, so it's bound to be a bit crampy.

I had a LOT of cramping with my first pregnancy, which was a normal straightforward pregnancy. It can be totally normal. But if you are concerned then it will put your mind at rest to speak to a doctor, so I would do so.

I had them all through my last pregnancy. 11 weeks in this time and it's the same, cramps all the way through and I expect it to carry on. Even though my experience tells me it's nothing to worry about, it's hard not to but you've done the only thing you can do, which is to check with a doctor. Congratulations, btw!

Thanks to @Pepper123123 @WhirlingTurkey and @SharpLily for the kind reassurance. ❤️ I'm happy to know that this is classed as normal.
For anyone who digs this thread up in the future however the results have come back and there is no infection. I have another doctors appointment tomorrow where hopefully they will explore this a little more as I'm now in near constant and quite severe pain. It is much worse than period pain and I'm currently (as every night this week) on the sofa with a hot water bottle feeling like crap and trying not to worry.

@Bas27 hope you’re ok? I’m still having cramps and I’m so anxious. Mine aren’t there all the time though, I have 2-3 excruciating ones per day, lasts about 20-30 seconds and I’m doubled over with it, can’t even stand up. I don’t know what contractions feel like because I’ve never been pregnant before but it’s what I imagine it to be like. I’m thinking of ringing the doctors tomorrow but don’t know what they can do with me only being 5 weeks x

@Charlotte1x thanks for the reply honey!
I'm in reasonably high spirits considering I think. I have had two sets of about 5 minutes of excruciating pain once on Friday and another today. I'm feeling slightly reassured by the fact that there has been no bleeding. But I will definitely not downplay this at the doctors tomorrow. I don't know what they can do but they need to do something!

@Bas27 I really hope they do something for you too and put your mind at ease. Maybe they’ll book you in for an early scan?
Let me know what they say because I think I’m going to end up calling them myself as well x

I went to the doctors yesterday and the doctor seemed unconcerned. He did all the same tests as the one I saw last week and told me to go to a+e if it got any worse.

This morning he rang me and said he had been talking to the doctor I saw last time and that they thought I should go to a+e now.

Myself and DH went to a+e and we're referred to urgent treatment.
Saw a nurse, then doctor then referred again to gynaecology.
Now seen a nurse who has taken blood this time to measure hgc levels and waiting to see a doctor and if they are high enough to do an early scan to "rule out" ectopic.

@bas27 I hope everything is okay! Thinking of you. At least in some ways you can get some answers hopefully x

Ectopic is what I have been worrying about too. But last couple of days I haven’t really had as many pains so I’m just waiting and monitoring it at the mo. Fortunately my first midwife appointment is next week.

I’m really glad they’ve done something for you though and hopefully this will help to put your mind at rest. Very strange how the doctor seemed unconcerned but changed his mind! 😒 x

Ah please don't stress!!EXACT same thing happened with me Hun. I went over a week with 'pregnancy of unknown location' as they thought it was ectopic after seeing nothing on my scan at all. I had quite excruciating stabbing and full like pains from about 4 weeks - 10 weeks! I'm now 13+4 and baby is just fine! Please please please try and think positive as I probably done more damage by stressing! It's probably nothing to worry about hugs xx

Have you thought about ovarian cyst? I had one and it became enlarged and I think that's what caused SOME of my pain x

I was the same from about 5 weeks onwards. I kept getting awful cramps, and I was convinced something was wrong.
Had checks done etc and everything was fine, apparently it’s normal to feel some pain even that early on. Your body’s preparing for a big change

Thanks for all the comments guys. You've been so positive and reassuring.
I had a scan on Friday and everything seems ok.
I've got to go back for a check up and second scan next Friday. I think because it's so early they couldn't see the baby and they just want to check it yet everything is normal.

@Kate123cl I have wondered about cysts. I guess I'll just have to keep an eye on it. Main thing is that baby is in the right place.
How are you feeling today @Charlotte1x ?

@Bas27 Definitely! If they didn't see a cyst on this scan then is likely you don't have any glad all is ok x