“I'm pregnant and feel like I have period cramps?”

It can be normal due to round ligament pain but I suggest you see your obstetrician to be evaluated.

Having ‘period cramps’ or muscle cramps can happen throughout pregnancy. Remember, your uterus is smooth muscle, it will increase in actual muscle mass as well as it will grow and stretch without rupturing and then be able to handle labor and contract to push out your baby when you are ready to deliver. In the 1st 12weeks of any woman’s 1st pregnancy, the uterus grows for the 1st time and a lot of cramping is quite normal as this is ‘new’ for the uterus, it’s used to cramping to expel the lining every month as your period. Then from 20-30weeks, the fetus and uterus grow at the fastest rate, at 1cm/week when your doctor or midwife actually measures you with a tape measure. So fast growth of muscle can sometimes result in ‘growing pains’. Then from 30-40weeks, the fetus puts most of its actual weight on and the uterus will slow down its growth. This is the normal course of events. However, sometimes cramping can signal not so normal things; there could be problems with the placenta that you may see as external bleeding or spotting; contact your doctor immediately. You may have uterine fibroids that are also stimulated to grow as well as your uterus grows and sometimes the fibroids grow FASTER than the uterus and cause trouble. Sometimes you will actually develop an ovarian cyst that can grow and twist on itself and that can be a surgical emergency. And don’t forget there is your GI tract that is getting pushed around; if you had prior endometriosis, prior GYN surgery, or pelvic infection, there may be scar tissue that is getting stretched and it’s going to let you know! Always report cramping to your doctor; more than 90% of the time it will be the normal muscle stretch of the uterus. But that’s why you have a doctor; it’s their job to make certain that there is nothing else going on. You may require an ultrasound to check on uterine fibroids or placenta or to see if an ovarian cyst is present, but an ultrasound will not help if it is GI in nature. Personally, I had to deal with scar tissue and bowel obstructions from a ruptured appendix that had happened 10years before and it resulted in being operated on in the middle and at the end of my pregnancy, including a bowel resection. So bad things DO HAPPEN, even to doctors!

Suggest calling your ob/GYN for further evaluations. If you don’t get them try to contact them.

You should report cramping to your OBGYN.