Abdominal cramps

Occasional cramping – similar to period pains – during the early part of your pregnancy is nothing to worry about and is likely due to your muscles stretching as your uterus expands.

Pregnant women are bound to worry about miscarriage but during a normal, low-risk pregnancy, cramps like those described are nothing to worry about.

If you’re worried about ectopic pregnancy, it might reassure you to know that by the eighth week of pregnancy most ectopic cases have already been diagnosed. However, if your cramps are very strong, concentrated on one side and worsen on movement, seek medical advice immediately. Sometimes these symptoms will be accompanied by vaginal bleeding dizziness, nausea and shoulder pain.

It’s also common for pregnant women to feel cramps after they orgasm. This doesn’t mean your baby is being hurt and they won’t cause a miscarriage, so don’t panic. They’re often accompanied by lower backache and therefore a good excuse for you to get your partner to give you a nice back rub. Assuming he isn’t asleep, of course…

If the cramps you’re having are very painful, or are accompanied by vaginal bleeding, call your OB-GYN or nurse-midwife straightaway.

If you have any unanswered questions, use our answers page to gain wisdom from other moms or our resident experts for all those pregnancy queries.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.