Cramp in 2nd trimester?

[AprilZ]

I had some cramps and spotting in week 6 but was sent for an early scan and all was declared well. Now I'm 17 weeks and I'm getting intermittent cramp again in exactly the same spot as earlier (just to right of centre, low on belly). I can't seem to find anything about cramps at this stage and no-one I've chatted to seems to have heard of it.

I had a midwife appointment last week but it was quite rushed and we had a lot to do and to be honest it hadn't been that bad so I didn't get to ask, but typically it has been worse over the weekend. Has anyone else had anything similar, and should I be seeing someone about it?

[KellyTrip]

It's not related to spd is it? Is it around your pelvis or pubic bone?

[AprilZ in reply to KellyTrip]

Thanks KellyTrip - no not really, it's on the front of the bump near the centre. Pretty sure it's not a joint pain.

[k44tew]

There's a few things that could be causing it I think - possibly stretching pains, which can happen at any point and can sometimes be quite painful and cramp like. Or, like KellyTrip suggested, possibly spd, which can commonly start around this point in pregnancy (but also much sooner or later!).

I would make a point of mentioning it to your midwife though, simply because she might want to check you over and check your urine - I had cramping in the second trimester which turned out to be uti's and kidney problems, so the earlier they catch and treat it, the better. Not to scare you, but untreated Uti's *can* bring on premature labour in severe cases, so I'd just mention it to your midwife or gp, just to be on the safe side.

Hope it eases up soon and is just everything stretching out to accommodate baby

[AprilZ]

Hi k44tew, thanks for this - I looked at the description of spd and I don't think it matches - it's about level with hip bone but nearer the centre line. Maybe it's just stretching, I'd be surprised if this was so consistently all on one side but there seem to be lots of surprising things about pregnancy!

I'll give it a couple of days then drop my midwife a line if it's still sore, just in case.

[Clearslug]

Hi there, I know what this is as had the same around 16/17 weeks (I'm now 21 and it's stopped). It's the stretching of the ligaments that hold your uterus in place. Obviously it's a lot heavier now and putting pressure on the ligaments, which can cause mild to mid discomfort, particularly down your right hand side as this tends to be where the uterus goes as it grows. Nothing to worry about, my midwife said it's really common and it won't last long. Mine seemed to be worse during the night, so even though I barely had a bump back then (it's still small now!) I invested in a maternity pillow to rest my stomach on as it eased it a bit. Hope that helps! X

[AprilZ in reply to Clearslug]

Hi Clearslug, thanks so much, you're the first person who has said they also had this and I was getting worried! I didn't know about the uterus growing to the right but this could well explain it.

Coincidentally I bought a wedge pillow at the weekend but have been using it to stop rolling onto my back rather than round the front! I think I will need to invest. Which pillow did you buy, out of interest? I saw a few in Babies R Us but they all looked really cumbersome.

[Clearslug in reply to AprilZ]

No problem, and glad it's put your mind at rest.

I bought a great maternity pillow from Mothercare:

mothercare.com/pregnancy-ca...

It's been reduced in the sale so a good time to buy - great for resting your bump on, but also to wrap your legs round to alleviate any hip or back pain - and sooooo comfy! It's big, don't get me wrong - we have a king size bed and my husband gets pushed over a little, but it's worth it! X

[AprilZ in reply to Clearslug]

Thanks, that has definitely gone on my wishlist!

[KellyTrip]

Is this your first pregnancy? I think if so then the others have made a good suggestion with the stretching. I am on my second pregnancy so my body is already stretched lol. I do remember more 'tugging' pains the first time around! Let your midwife know though!

[AprilZ in reply to KellyTrip]

Yes it's my first one, should have said that before. It does feel like tugging sometimes, I've been imagining the baby yanking the placenta like a bell cord trying to get attention! I will drop a note to the midwife but I feel more relaxed about it now.