cramping and pregnancy

Cramping and pregnancy go hand in hand. Pregnancy puts a major strain on a body, and nowhere is this more evident than in the expanding belly. As the baby grows, the added pressure on muscles, joints, ligaments, and surrounding organs can lead to cramping and discomfort. Knowing when and why cramps are likely to occur can help you recognise which ones are cramping and pregnancy related and which ones may need a doctor's attention. Ligament cramping and pregnancy is particularly common and whilst it can occur any time during the pregnancy, they'll be more noticeable between fourteen and twenty weeks. During this time the uterus is growing and putting pressure on the ligaments, but it hasn't grown so large that the pelvic bones help support it.

Some women encounter cramps during sex, both during and after orgasm, but again this is a common experience in cramping and pregnancy. This occurs because a pregnant woman‘s blood flow to the pelvic area increases; this, combined with the normal increase of blood flow to the genitals that occurs during sex, can result in cramping and a low backache. In studies of cramping and pregnancy it has been found that as early as the fourth month, but usually in the sixth or seventh months, women will experience what may feel like mild menstrual cramps. This is the uterus tightening in what are called Braxton-Hicks contractions (named after the doctor who identified them). These "practice" contractions are getting the uterus ready for the hard work of pushing the baby out when ready to give birth. They are an accepted ’player’ in cramping and pregnancy and can last anywhere from 30 seconds to two minutes, and will become stronger and more frequent as the due date approaches.