Pregnancy causes many changes in a woman's body. Pain, discomfort, nausea and fatigue are some potential effects. Some abdominal cramping is possible. There are several reasons for this discomfort, and many of which are perfectly normal. A woman who is aware of the pregnancy may find the cramping to be distressing. Cramping is not always a sign of miscarriage, nor is it always a sign that something is wrong with the pregnancy. American Pregnancy Association points out that the first trimester consists of several changes leading to abdominal discomfort.
Harmless Cramping
Approximately six to 12 days after the estimated conception date, a woman may experience implantation. This refers to the event where the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining, where it will remain for the duration of the pregnancy. This occurs so early in pregnancy that the cramps are often thought to be an indicator of the menstrual period. The cramping may be mild and intermittent. Other harmless cramping includes round ligament pain (stretching of muscle tissues near the abdomen and in the pelvis), constipation and gas pains, states March of Dimes.
Miscarriage
Cramping and pain that occurs low in the stomach and is much stronger than normal menstrual cramps may be a sign of miscarriage. This discomfort is usually accompanied by bleeding from the vagina and the passing of tissues. Most miscarriages occur within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy but only an estimated 15 to 20 percent of pregnancies are miscarried, states American Pregnancy.
Problematic Cramping
Some very serious conditions can develop during pregnancy that can be harmful to the unborn baby and/or the mother. One example of such a condition is an ectopic pregnancy. When the fertilized egg implants somewhere other than the uterus, the term ectopic pregnancy is used. The fallopian tubes are the most common location of ectopic pregnancies. Abdominal cramping associated with this problematic pregnancy is sharp and accompanied by low stomach cramping. Another example is placental abruption, a condition where the placenta detaches from the uterine wall before or during labor, states American Pregnancy. This condition typically occurs within the last 12 weeks of the pregnancy. In addition to stomach pain, a woman will experience bleeding that is more severe than any other pregnancy spotting or bleeding.
Early Contractions
Braxton-Hicks contractions are quite common in pregnancy and may or may not consist of pain. These cramps and abdominal pain are not a sign of immediate labor. They consist of uterine tightening that can last 30 to 60 seconds or as long as two minutes, which is similar to a contraction during labor. American Pregnancy says the cause of Braxton-Hicks contractions is mostly speculated, and views vary between practitioners. One such speculation is that Braxton-Hicks prepare and tone the uterine muscles for real labor.
Preterm labor contractions are different from Braxton-Hicks contractions . These contractions are real and signify that labor is in process. Contractions considered to be preterm are those that occur any time prior to the 37th week of pregnancy. These cramps are in the pelvis and cause pressure in the abdomen. There will be many other symptoms with preterm labor, including a low, dull backache, stomach pain that may or may not be accompanied by diarrhea, regular contractions of the uterus and/or tightening of the uterus.
