Should I Be Concerned About This Dull Ache?
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
I think I am pregnant as my period is now 2 days late and it's never late! I'll find out tomorrow. If I'm lucky enough to be, I know I'll never get into see my GP this week, so I wonder if you can help with a query I have.
For the last 2 days I have been having a dull ache-like pain, to the left of and up slightly from my pubic bone. It is nothing like my normal period cramps, just a dull ache. Every now and again it is on the other side of my pubic bone too, but not as much. Is it anything to worry about?
ANSWER
This early on, it is unlikely that the pains you mention are due to the pregnancy. The occasional woman does feel "growing pains" this early, but it would be uncommon.
The fact that you feel them on both sides is a good thing, it eliminates the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy.
-- Cynthia, CNM
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared 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.
