Cramping and terrified

[adviceneeded1990]

Finally 5 weeks pregnant after 4 rounds of IVF.
I’m on 800mg of progesterone via 2 pessaries a day and the cramping and constipation (which I’m assuming isn’t helping the cramping) is so bad. I’m convinced every time I feel it that the pregnancy is ending. It isn’t unbearably painful or anything but I’m just so aware of it all the time. Any tips on how to either stop it or relax? Or reassurance that it’s normal? 😭

I can only offer a hand hold. I hope someone will come along with wiser words. Pregnancy is very scary but so often a scary sign turns out to be nothing and all is fine and I expect that's the case here.

I think the best thing you can do is take your mind away with a walk, a bath, a good book, a film etc. anything to divert your attention.

I will be thinking of you and crossing everything that all is as it should be.

I've been cramping on and off for a couple of weeks, it's apparently very common. Could we just the constipation or your uterus stretching! Try and relax, changing position helps me!

Just googled it and they are the top two things to expect with progesterone pessaries...

• Mild Cramping: Expect some mild cramping, which might be similar to menstrual cramps, especially in the early weeks of pregnancy.
• Bloating and Constipation: These are common side effects of progesterone and can contribute to abdominal discomfort.

So absolutely normal and hopefully others who have experienced this will come along and reassure you.

Can you try and ease the constipation with some fybrogel or movicol to see if that helps keep you more regular. I’m taking a fybrogel every other day at the moment which is helping. If you are backed up that could be causing the cramping.

@adviceneeded1990 In case it helps, don't have experience with pessaries or IVF...BUT I had awful cramping at the beginning of this pregnancy from weeks 4-6. I even got a scan because they thought it could be ectopic. It wasn't, it was just settling in pains (apparently). Everything was fine and I'm 29 weeks now 😊 So it could just be a normal pregnancy thing rather than IVF/pessaries.

Good luck OP! 🍀

I have a 3 month old and cramped on and off the whole pregnancy. Particularly most in first trimester