First time pregnant - bad cramps

[UKinUS]

Hi everyone, this is my first time posting. We just found out we are pregnant for the first time last week, I’m 4+6 and with having health anxiety every little sensation concerns me!

In the run up to my period I had dull mild cramps but period never came, mild cramps continued after positive pregnancy tests but past few days the cramps have been more painful for about 10 mins at a time. I’ve had to lie down a few times they’ve been so uncomfortable. I do have IBS and we were just on vacation eating poorly for 4 days so I’m wondering if it’s just the combination of new hormones and my IBS causing them. It does feel gastro but then sometimes menstrual like. No blood at all and still strong pregnancy tests, sore breasts, and light headedness.

Has anyone else experienced painful cramps in early pregnancy? Thank you!

Cramps are normal in pregnancy but i was basically told if it gets to the point of pain pain rather than discomfort to see a doctor. I'd ask to be referred to the Early Pregnancy Unit if I were you just in case. It's likely to just be growing pains mixed with IBS but it's better to get these things checked out.

Good luck

I had literally the same thing as you around 4/5 weeks and also worried about it at the time. Also suffer from IBS.

I'm 6+5 now and cramps have mostly disappeared, had a scan yesterday and saw the heartbeat so all is well.

First pregnancy for me too, totally understand the anxiety, I contacted my midwife when it became quite strong and she put my mind to rest. Seems it's very common and IBS can aggregate it. Eating little and often has been helping.

Thank you for the quick response @Bells3032! Yeah it’s definitely painful, but I do have pain all the time with IBS too. I’m British but living in the US so I think I probably just call my doctors office for things outside my appointments (still figuring out the system here!). Will do that if it continues the next few days. Thank you!

Hi @fleur89, thank you for sharing your experience! It’s reassuring that you had the same and also have IBS. My IBS pain can be really bad and it’s normal, so it doesn’t usually scare me, but I’m so sensitive now I know I’m pregnant. I think I’ll contact the docs office if it continues- I don’t have a scan until Aug 1st and don’t think I can wait until then if it stays this way. Thank you!

No worries, see how you feel and talking to a doctor or midwife can really help settle those nerves.

I too find I'm in a lot of pain from IBS every now and then. Early pregnancy bloating doesn't help matters! I'm drinking peppermint tea once or twice a day

I have IBS as well & have had painful cramps throughout my pregnancy. I'm 20+5 now & still getting them very frequently. Add in round ligament pain & PGP & I just have a world of pain. Sorry this is probably no consolation 😂

Yes, completely normal.

Very like period cramps - in the early stages the embryo is implanting and then everything is growing and stretching so you do tend get cramps and aches and pains throughout.

Congratulations!

@JackJack84 oh no I’m so sorry! That sounds awful. Yes I’m getting them about twice a day right now and pretty sure now that they are extremely bad IBS gas pains. I’ve always had painful IBS but this is really quite intense!

@BusySittingDown thank you so much! And thanks for the reassurance! I wasn’t expecting such intense cramps so it surprised me.

Just in case anyone reads this and wanted an update-
I ended up calling the doctor because I was up two nights in a row crying with pain (although it still felt gastro and was in the center low abdomen, it scared me it was so painful). They got me in for a same day ultra sound and all looked exactly as it should for 5+3. Sac and yolk were in the uterus, the little embryo couldn’t be seen at that time but that’s normal the doctor said, and she thinks the pain is my IBS plus normal pregnancy constipation and cramps combined (because I have no other worrying symptoms either). She also said as long as there are no other symptoms arise, I should be good just to wait until my scheduled 8 week ultrasound. Put my mind at rest for anything serious, and now need to figure out how to relieve this pain!

@UKinUS

Just in case anyone reads this and wanted an update- I ended up calling the doctor because I was up two nights in a row crying with pain (although it still felt gastro and was in the center low abdomen, it scared me it was so painful). They got me in for a same day ultra sound and all looked exactly as it should for 5+3. Sac and yolk were in the uterus, the little embryo couldn’t be seen at that time but that’s normal the doctor said, and she thinks the pain is my IBS plus normal pregnancy constipation and cramps combined (because I have no other worrying symptoms either). She also said as long as there are no other symptoms arise, I should be good just to wait until my scheduled 8 week ultrasound. Put my mind at rest for anything serious, and now need to figure out how to relieve this pain!

Thank you for the update, I was wondering how you were getting on.

Doctor said exactly the same thing to me when I approached her with the same symptoms early on.

Hope you're feeling a bit better now, it's reassuring to see a professional and have them confirm all is in check. Experiencing such pains is so worrisome in these early days!