Dull period type stomach and back ache at 10 weeks.. should I be worried?

[Minniemee]

I'm currently 10 weeks pregnant with my first and yesterday I started getting what I can only describe as a dull type of 'period ache' in my stomach and back. It isn't cramping but feels as it normally does the day or so before you begin your period where it's a constant heavy ache that you know is there . I keep constantly checking every time I go to the toilet to see whether I've started bleeding but there's nothing there so far, no spotting.

I'm worried that this could be the beginning of a miscarriage? Could anyone please give their experiences either way? I feel so anxious

Cramping is normal so not necessarily a sign of something bad.

I had a mmc a few years ago and the bleeding started before the cramping in my case.
In this current pregnancy I had a whole day of cramps and it worried me but there was nothing wrong. You can call the midwife or hospital for advice. They might say take a paracetamol and if the pain doesn't get better after that call them back.

It could very well be gas. It all gets so confusing in there with so many sensations being so similar. How are your BM?

No don’t worry. I started with cramping and low back pain at 10 weeks, I’ve had scans and everything is fine with baby. It’s normal. I have had a mc before and I was in pain, real pain not just back ache or period type cramps.

Don't worry too much , if anything try and see if you can ignore it ( easier said than done ) cramps seem to be so normal in pregnancy , so much is happening in your body , if it does get worse , do call your midwife for advice ..wishing you all the best xxx

I had lots of cramping and weird twinges including that "heavy" feeling you describe, throughout the first trimester. All fine.

Thank you so much ladies, that has really helped put my anxiety at bay slightly - I wouldn't even say it's hugely painful as it's more niggling, it's more that it just feels dull and heavy like I could bleed at any moment. BM are relatively normally but I am hugely bloated after eating.

Thanks so much, just praying everything is ok in 2 weeks at the 12 week scan, did anyone else find the wait agonising? I had an early scan at 7 weeks which was fine but if anything it's made me feel more anxious something is going to go wrong. Xx

I'm also 10 weeks and today I've just started having some really painful dull ache in my abdomen. I think I have cysts on my ovaries which is causing it as it comes and goes every week. Tonight feels like something is pressing on my bladder a really dull ache like a period

@Beau2020 that's exactly what mine feels like! Sorry you're experiencing it too x

Hi @Minniemee, I'm also around 10-12 weeks and I had a similar back ache over the weekend although it's eased off a lot today. I had a miscarriage and I found with that the bleeding had started before I had any pain and when the pain started it was very intense cramping, definitely not a dull ache. It's very hard at this stage because you just assume any kind of pain is related to the baby but as others said it could be gas or bloating so unless it's intense I'd try not to worry. I found a hot water bottle on my lower back helped a lot with the pain. Hope everything goes ok for you x x x

Sorry @Minniemee just want to clarify I meant I had a miscarriage in a previous pregnancy. Sorry that wasn't clear in my post and I didn't want to panic you!

@FH27 thank you so much for replying- so sorry to hear about your previous miscarriage but huge congrats on your pregnancy and sending lots of love for a healthy baby bean!

As everything is growing you will feel more of a heavy feeling and tightening, I am almost 12 weeks now. I assume all is normal. It’s never painful and I feel in more at night. Got my 12 week scan tomorrow, it has been a very long wait but had two private scans along the way.

Also I think your suppose to avoid too much heat like hot water bottles early on but I may be wrong

If memory serves, it's the ligaments stretching to accommodate the growth.

Hi @OlivejuiceU2, from what I've read hot water bottles are ok as they don't raise your core temperature. I try and only have it on for 5 minutes at a time and not directly against my skin. I also only use it on my back and not on my stomach. I would think with these precautions it's ok but sometimes its so hard to know for sure what's ok and what's not..

@OlivejuiceU2 good luck with your scan today! Hope everything goes well x

Ive been having this .. and at 15 weeks. Went to hospital in a panic but all was fine. Dull and heavy sounds good to me. think it's just everything growing - all part of the weird and wonderful pains and feelings of pregnancy. At 10 weeks chances of losing are low so hang in there! If you can have a scan privately then is good to put your mind at rest good luck!

Thanks @Minniemee it’s was amazing see LO dancing around! They put me 4 days ahead too. I’m 14 weeks today and find I’m have more tightening and stretching, nothing painful.

Your ligaments down there are stretching to accommodate your growing baby, west you're feeling is very positive!

Hi @Minniemee , what was the outcome of this for you??? I'm experiencing exactly this right now at 9 weeks after a previous healthy scan. Constant cramping for 24 hours coupled with brown blood (not much, but constant). I've been referred for a scan but it's a few days away...

@Tor88 I now have a healthy and very active 18 month old so all was fine! If you are at all concerned however go to your EPU especially if you have some brown spotting just to get checked out. Wishing you the best x

Thank you, yes constant brown spotting for past 24 hours. I rang midwife this morn who referred me to a&e who referred me to EPU, who will contact me in a few days. I'm thinking of going for a private scan tomorrow though as pain is getting worse, sigh. Glad it all worked out ok for you, trying to cling on to a little hope! Thanks for replying xx

@Tor88 , how did your scan go? Really hope it went well. I am currently reading this thread as I am 9+1 and having back ache!
Hope everyone has a hap0y sage pregnancy! Xx

@Kerryw93 I'm afraid mine did turn out to be a miscarriage. And I've since had a second one too so it's all fun and games here 😂!!

But I really don't think you need to worry about backache, I had plenty of back ache whilst the little bean was still developing so I think it's probably a good sign. The bad signs, I've learned, are cramping coupled with spotting coupled with a drop in pregnancy symptoms. That's what I've experienced with both of my MCs, to the point that I was absolutely sure I was having a second one before it happened.
But I think anyone of those symptoms in isolation is probably a sign of things progressing (e.g. cramping could mean it's growing, shifting etc).

I hope this doesn't stress you out - these forums are a real mixed blessing when you're trying to keep calm during a pregnancy!! Just remember the odds are totally in your favour, MC at 9 weeks is unlikely so I bet it's all good ☺️🧡 Good luck with everything, I'll be back here if and when I pass the 9 week mark in the future checking every symptom under the sun haha.