Cramps - very early pregnancy

[OptimisticRealist2024]

Looking for some reassurance/someone who had been where I am!

I had a miscarriage in July (my first pregnancy, I was 11 weeks) so am a little downbeat about this one. Found out last week with very early test that I was pregnant but cycles have been a bit unpredictable since I miscarried so have agreed with DH I'll wait this week out in case I come back on my period and then take another test.

No period as yet but I've had the most intense cramps since Wednesday. At first I thought they were one-sided but it's now sort of general cramps rather than in one specific place. I've been taking paracetamol but it hasn't always done the trick. Would quite like a glass of wine to see me through!!

Is this normal? I didn't have these last time and don't tend to get period pains so the last time I get anything like this was when I was miscarrying. They come and go and I can go for a walk but I don't know how far along I am (between 4 and 5 weeks, probably) so imagine it's too late for implantation? And also assumed everything was a bit stretched already as this is my second pregnancy?

Yeah I’ve got cramps and had them the whole time. I’m 6w5d. Deffo don’t have the glass of wine just yet 😂 this is also my second pregnancy but that wasn’t full term

Relieved I'm not the only one! Hope everything goes okay for you this time ❤️

I remember having really bad cramps with my son early on and having to lie in bed they were so bad. My next pregnancy which ended in a MMC I didn't have any cramps. My current pregnancy (20 wks) I remember having cramps around 5 weeks as I was nightshift and miserable because of that anyway! So hopefully it's a good sign for you and you have a healthy pregnancy 🩷

Yes, had them here too! We'd been trying and I remember necking painkillers whilst telling DH "well I'm definitely not pregnant this month because I'm having the worst damn pms cramps." Now have a healthy 100 mph DD asleep upstairs.

Hope it all goes well for you OP ❤️

I had cramps with my first pregnancy and it was a miscarriage. The second pregnancy I felt the same and said to my husband I felt like I was going to start bleeding at any minute and here I am with that baby lying beside me 2 years later.

I remember saying to my husband at the time the onset of my period and the cramps I had in both pregnancies (one MC and one full term) were all literally the exact same.

i’m 11 weeks pregnant atm and had the same a few weeks ago and was given a scan to make sure all was ok and thank goodness all good. The midwife said it can be just the uterus expanding causes the cramping

I'm 22 weeks now with my first pregnancy but I remember in the beginning (I found out at 3w5) just how much I was convinced id MC because I had cramps and side pains and back pain also a really heavy dull feeling in my uterus. Well here we are! If there's no bleeding I'm sure it's fine xx

When I was pregnant with DD1 I had such terrible early cramps around 5-6 weeks that I was up in the bathroom for an hour each night. Having had a previous loss I was utterly convinced I was miscarrying. Obviously I was wrong.
Fingers crossed for you OP 🌈

Thanks everyone ❤️ Starting to spin out a bit - I have a dull strain-ache feeling sort of above my groin (right at the crease where my leg meets my hip, roughly where my ovaries are) but only on one side and starting to wonder 1) if it's ectopic or 2) I'm losing my mind. It almost feels like muscle strain but I can't seem to stretch it away. No bleeding, no shoulder pain, and could probably manage to hoover the house if it weren't 6am...

Yeah, I had excruciating cramps for the first 3 months with DC1

I'd be surprised if you haven't had that ache before you found out and your just hyper alert because your pregnant. I had sharp shoulder pain too and went to hospital every 48 hrs for bloods to rule out ectopic and once I knew it wasn't ectopic I realised that my shoulder pain was something I got commonly and just never picked up on or made a big deal or (my left shoulder always takes a hit from the job I do) I've had many aches and pains the whole way through so far. There's nothing you can do to change the outcome of this OP remember that so extra stressing on top won't change any outcome..if your cramping bad enough epu might get you in for an early scan..if paracetamol eases the pain..then they probably won't. This stage is always hard as it's to early to know for sure what's going on. The chances are it's probably fine xx

Thank you ❤️ I think you might be right. I have a tendency to fret about my health so the "trust the process" approach is a bit imprecise for my brain! I'm completely prepared/expecting for this pregnancy not to be viable so think I'm looking for reasons. I was surprised I got pregnant so quickly but will probably only accept it when I'm holding a baby tbh.

I haven't been out for a run in a couple of weeks because of the weather, half expect it's my body's way of telling me it wants to get off the sofa!

Thank you! Fingers crossed for safe delivery for you and your rainbow baby ❤️

I know things vary a lot by area, but where we are there was an email advice service you could use in the early stages of pregnancy. I sent them a message when I had similar and they called me straight back to suggest I go to our local Early Pregnancy Unit to be checked over. They said a bit of pain here and there was understandable, but if it's sustained then merits a closer look. I had a scan and all was fine, and it settled after a few weeks I think. After a bit of online research it sounded like it might be hormones affecting digestion. Wishing you all the best, OP 💐