Cramping in Very Early Pregnancy?
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
My period was due on Feb 18th. On Feb 18th, I started getting cramps, that made me believe my period was coming. Days went by with the cramping, but no period. I took a HPT today, and it came back positive, but I'm still having the cramping. It feels like my period is about to start any minute. Is this normal? Could it have been a false positive on my HPT, and my period really is on it's way?
ANSWER
Nope, you conceived and it sounds like you are having normal "growing pains." If you see bright red blood, then it is possible that you have miscarried. I'd suggest prenatal care asap, and if you are not already taking prenatal vitamins, stopping caffeine, alcohol, drugs, and tobacco, eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise, now would be the time :-).
-- Cynthia, CNM. PhD.
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Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, teaches in the College of Nursing at Seattle University and is President of the American Association of Birth Centers. She also practices midwifery at Valley Medical Center where she cares for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
Cynthia hosts a monthly "Ask the midwife" chat as well as answers questions via our expert section.
Listen to Cynthia live on Pregnancy.org Live: Before, During and After.
