Treat Cramping During Early Pregnancy

Treat Cramping During Early Pregnancy

Get answers to your early pregnancy questions about cramping and spotting.

Cramping during early pregnancy is common and often nothing to worry about. However, because of the risk of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, if you have cramping combined with spotting during early pregnancy, contact your care provider for advice.

The main reason for cramping during early pregnancy is uterine expansion and, possibly, ligament pain—also called round ligament pain. The round ligament is one of several ligaments that support your uterus and keep it in place as it expands in your body. Most of the time, this pain occurs in the second trimester as your uterus grows, though some reports describe it in early pregnancy. For more information about having a healthy pregnancy, check out Baby Bump Fitness to learn how to stay active and healthy during pregnancy. If you have other pregnancy questions, see the links at the end of this article.

The uterus may also cramp in early pregnancy because it is a muscle that can stretch and move, and it must expand to make room for the baby. The cramping should be similar to light to medium menstrual cramps. If you have strong cramping, contact your care provider.

In addition, some women experience light cramping as their fertilized egg implants in the uterus—a process called implantation. Often, women do not realize they are pregnant when this occurs. Another possible cause of cramping is an ovarian cyst.

The following information may help you deal with cramping pain in early pregnancy.

1. Heat. Heat works well for ligament pain and cramping. You can try an electric heating pad or a disposable heating pad such as a ThermaCare. If you do, be careful not to get too hot.
2. Water. A warm bath (not hot) may relieve cramping. It may take some weight off your ligaments, and the heat may relax your muscles and ligaments.
3. Take a Tylenol. This should be your last resort, but a little Tylenol is safe during pregnancy and will probably take care of the cramping. Most experts agree that a little Tylenol is safe (more has possibly been linked with birth defects), though you may want to talk to your care provider before taking Tylenol. You should never take aspirin or aspirin products (Ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin) during pregnancy because they have been linked with birth defects and severe bleeding during delivery.
4. Increase your fiber and water intake. Some women are constipated in early pregnancy, which may cause stomach pains. If you feel you are constipated, start by changing your diet. In addition, many care providers say that Maalox and Mylanta are fine during pregnancy, though you should double-check with your care provider first.
5. Take care of yourself. If you are tired, hungry, or stressed, a minor pain may seem worse. Make sure you get plenty of rest and eat well. If stress is a problem, consider changing your work schedule, asking for help from friends and family, meditation, or yoga.
6. Abstain from sex. Some care providers recommend abstaining from sex if you have cramping. This is not because combining sex and cramping causes problems, but because sex can cause a little spotting. While spotting due to sex is nothing to worry about, the combination of the two symptoms may confuse you and make you think you are having a miscarriage.