Shoulder pain early pregnancy

[nemumx]

According to my last period I am 9 weeks pregnant, although I think I am a few days less with my cycles being a tad bit longer than usual recently.

I have experienced cramps on and off since before getting my bfp, some days really bad! But they eased off around week 6 apart from the odd stabbing pains on my left hand side which I assumed were just ligament pain as when I cough or sneeze I get pain there too.

Yesterday I had shoulder pain in my right shoulder all day, starting at the top and leaving an ache all down my arm. It's still here today, iv just had a little google and it's scared me that I may be having an ectopic pregnancy???

Iv had no bleeding but a couple of the other symptoms such as nausea and constant bloating and feeling of fullness but I believe these are also symptoms of a healthy pregnancy.

I had my bloods checked at my midwife appointment last week and haven't heard anything back yet.

Do you think I should ring the hospital?

Yes, please ring the hospital. Hopefully, it is nothing serious but it could be a sign of an etopic pregnancy.

I would get checked over just to be on the safe side, I hope everything is ok

Definitely get it checked - better safe than sorry.

Yes, or indeed go in. It's possibly nothing, but if it's an ectopic, it's a life-threatening emergency, so best not to miss it.

I would since shoulder pain is potentially a sign. It's best to get it checked and if it's fine you won't be worrying anymore.

I would say to ring them. They may be able to reassure you but will almost certainly ask you to go in to be on the safe side and finding out is better than sitting worrying about it. If there's a problem you can get care early and if everything is OK then you just got a chance to see your LO a bit earlier than you would otherwise.

Definitely get checked over

So I had this although much earlier on... from 3-5 weeks and I’m now 9 and 3 and I still occasionally get it. For me in the end I think it ended up being from my boobs growing but I would get the pain in my shoulder tip, shoulder blade and all the way down my arm. I told my gp and she referred me to the EPU to be on the safe side, it turned out to be ok but I definitely don’t think you should ignore it. Call your midwife or gp to get a referral to EPU xx

Shoulder pain plus positive pregnancy test? Go straight to hospital.

It's probably nothing, but you are definitely NOT being paranoid or silly. Get it checked.

Thank you everyone!

I rang the advice line she said shoulder pain has nothing to do with pregnancy and is probably indigestion so to ring my gp, what the hell?

So I rang the early pregnancy unit instead and they have booked me in for a scan for in the morning, said it will possibly be internal to get a good look with my cramps being one sided. Again she didn't really ask questions about my shoulder pain?

They don't need to ask anymore questions, they've identified that there may be a risk of ectopic so booked you in. If you get any other symptoms today or they get worse please call them again, in case it needs to be escalated.

Who did you call the first time? Please submit feedback, the person needs retraining.

I am glad you are going to have a scan.

Am concerned about the advice the advice line gave you though.

Wow you need to complain about that advice line, that woman could kill someone.

Well done for calling the EPU as well and getting the care you need. Much better to be on the safe side with something like that. They will be able to tell you exactly what is going on tomorrow so there's nothing else you need to do right now (unless symptoms change). They'll probably start with an external scan - if they can see baby that way they wouldn't need to do internal as well. If they can't tell exactly what's going on externally they'll do an internal scan. Unpleasant but painless. Good luck for tomorrow.

Again she didn't really ask questions about my shoulder pain?

Because at 9 weeks ectopics are extremely rare and Likely would have ruptured by now unless hcg levels were very very very low

Shoulder tip pain is always talked about in the context of being the main ectopic symptom but it's caused by internal bleeding reaching the diaphragm - I've had 2 ectopics- both ruptured and trust me you know about it before the shoulder pain part

Thank you. I will be a nervous wreck now until my scan!
Will unfortunately have to go alone too due to childcare so really praying for good news.

Just to add, I only get pain on my left side too along with the shoulder pain but baby is very much in my uterus (I’ve had multiple scans). So whilst important to get checked out, it does not mean for sure that there’s something wrong.. I’m only saying this as I remember thinking there could be no possible other explanation except for ectopic... I was wrong apparently it just is a pregnancy pain for me. Hope it’s the same for you x

Please do. I had an ectopic and it needs to checked. Could just be muscle strain but best for them to check it out x

Had my scan, baby is where it should be with a heart beat thank god I even got a picture!

Thanks everyone who advised me to get checked, I'm so glad I did x

Wonderful news! Any idea what the shoulder pain is?

She said it is most probably indigestion or trapped wind and my pains on my left side of stomach are probably stretching pains. I have another scan in 2 weeks for another look

@nemumx yessssss!! Such good news, so happy for you! More scans too :) x

Congrats @nemumx I still get it now and then but I find it much easier to ignore as I know it’s nothing serious. Hope you have a happy and healthy pregnancy x