Abdominal cramping

[MrsAggie]

I'm 17 weeks and I've had some mild abdominal cramping this past week that can feel like menstrual cramps at times but its normally less intense. Last weekend I felt like I had to constantly pee even if I only peed a little. I was starting to think it might be a UTI so my doctor squeezed me in today. Urinalysis was negative and they're sending in a culture to be safe. My doctor said everyone feels different things when they're pregnant so it may not be abnormal for me. Today was a little scary until they found baby's heart rate was good and my cervix is closed, thick, firm, and high. So yay for no signs of labor.

Does anyone else feel abdominal cramping or did when they were around the gestation I'm at?

[curbsideprophet]

Sounds normal to me.

[FastHands]

I had a few bouts of cramps that were just like menstrual cramps, even in intensity. I vividly remember crying, because I just knew I was going to start bleeding any second. I had looked up the on-call # for my dr and was just waiting for the bleeding before I called. That first bout was about 16 weeks ago now, and I never did spot or bleed. I think those were the strongest I've had them, but it wasn't the only time. At my next appt, dr said it's not uncommon and that generally-speaking, it's only *sharp* pain or pain with red bleeding that is concerning to them.

[Odonata]

Yep. I had them. There were times I was so sure I was about to start bleeding, especially since my first two pregnancies were miscarriages. It felt the same, like the very start of bleeding. So apparently normal symptoms match some of the abnormal ones. Fun, hu?

I did not bleed and I still get them from time to time. I just remind myself that my uterus is stretching a lot.

[MrsAggie]

Y'all are making me feel a lot better. Thank you!

[awick14]

I'm not as far along as you are and have had cramping on and off every 3-4 days. But it's not bad it's just noticeable. (If that makes sense.) my doctor says that cramping with no bleeding is normal for all stages of pregnancy.

[zarapipe]

I had them around that time too.

[jorja]

I definitely had some. Sort of like period cramps, but not as intense. I just wrote them off as my uterus stretching mixed with some round ligament pain. They never lasted long or got more intense, so I never worried.

[anaps28]

Same pains experienced here. I'm glad everything was OK with baby.

[toutsuite]

When I was 17 weeks 1 day, I had cramps like what you are describing. This was after a scary bleeding episode though. My doctor chalked it up to my cervix being irritated, "normal" growing pains and possible slight dehydration. She told me to drink tons of water which I did and they went away. Maybe try drinking tons of water and see if that helps? Whenever I have experienced them since that's what I did and it has made a huge difference.

[Bonita]

Yes I had that same issue when I was around 17 weeks...it went away and I have been good for a few weeks :-)

Also, I had the same issue with peeing too...It seems to have also been getting better, I just assume that maybe my bladder is getting pressed on in same way or something.

[azurely]

Yep, it's normal. I notice it when I have been too active or haven't been drinking enough water.

Next time it happens, if they're really bothering you, try drinking some water and laying down on your left side. That usually helps me.

[KaraOrNot]

Yep.

[MrsAggie]

The weird thing is I drink tons of water everyday. At least 8-14 glasses, typically on the upper end. Drinking water doesn't seem to help but I'm on my feet a lot for my job so maybe that contributes.

[jorja]

Jul 26, 2014 9:55:00 GMT -5 MrsAggie said:

The weird thing is I drink tons of water everyday. At least 8-14 glasses, typically on the upper end. Drinking water doesn't seem to help but I'm on my feet a lot for my job so maybe that contributes.

Now that I think of it, they happened a lot at work for me, too (you're a nurse as well, right?). I usually tried to take a little break and sit down for a few minutes when I could.

[melsamoony]

At right around 16/17 weeks I had mild cramping. I think it was just my uterus growing and stretching.

[pickel]

I had some pretty awful cramping from 16ish weeks to 19ish weeks. It freaked me out but all is well and good with the baby and it went away around 20 weeks.

[toutsuite]

MrsAggie - are you feeling any better? Were you able to take it easy today?

[blushing]

Yip, I had cramping around then too. I have been told that its stretching of the uterus(?) that causes the cramping. I had it again at 31 weeks, and it was worse.

[MrsAggie]

Jul 26, 2014 22:03:46 GMT -5 toutsuite said:

MrsAggie - are you feeling any better? Were you able to take it easy today?

I'm doing better today. I was exhausted so I slept a lot. I think I felt baby moving today

[sillygoosegirl]

I was told cramping can be a symptom of dehydration.

[formerlyllizzyb]

So normal in my experience. I do stay hydrated and try to rest, but I apparently just cramp and contract in my pregnancies.

[picksthemusic]

Could be early BHs. I know that when I have BHs, I constantly feel like I have to pee (which I usually do - a full bladder triggers BHs for me), and I feel crampy. Just make sure you're drinking a TON of water, and getting some rest.