- It is very normal to experience mild cramping or pain similar to that of your monthly period when the fertilized egg implants itself into your uterus. Many women experience some cramping around the time a period would be due, and it is generally harmless if not accompanied by heavy bleeding or severe pain. Taking a warm bath or shower or placing a heating pad or hot water bottle on your abdomen can help ease implantation pain.
- The ligaments that support your uterus begin to stretch during pregnancy to accommodate the heavier uterus, causing sharp stabbing pains or dull aches in either side of your uterus. This type of pain is most common in the second trimester, but can occur in the first trimester as well, especially in women who have had previous children. If you suffer from these cramps, make sure you take a break and rest for a while. You might also try to avoid rapid changes in position since that often triggers ligament pain.
- Pregnant women are susceptible to urinary tract infections, and about two to four percent of pregnant women will develop them. They tend to spread to the kidneys more quickly in pregnant women, probably due to hormonal effects and the position of the organs during pregnancy, so prompt medical attention is important to avoid some of the more serious complications such as pre-term labor. If you have any type of burning during urination or persistent lower back pain, call your doctor or midwife.
- Due to the increase in progesterone during pregnancy, which slows the passage of food through your digestive tract, constipation is a common culprit of mild abdominal pain throughout pregnancy. You can help your system regulate itself by making sure you drink plenty of water and by increasing your fiber consumption. Prenatal vitamins also frequently cause constipation, so do mention it to your health care provider so they can adjust your medications if necessary.
- Occasionally, a fertilized egg will implant in a location other than a woman's uterus, often the fallopian tubes. In these cases, the pregnancy cannot safely develop in that location and the woman needs medical care promptly in order to avoid serious complications. If you have any type of abdominal tenderness, severe cramping, bleeding and especially pain that worsens with physical activity or coughing, call your medical practitioner immediately.
- If your cramps begin to occur in a rhythmic pattern, increase in severity and/or are accompanied by bleeding, you might be having a miscarriage. A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy at under 20 weeks gestation, and according to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) can occur in 10-25 percent of all identified pregnancies. Call your doctor for guidance if you are experiencing any type of bleeding along with moderate to severe cramping.
